Dean hits out at the 'physics envy' of many leading business schools

Professor Arthur Francis, 65, said some senior academics prefer "blue skies thinking in ivory towers" and researching management as an abstract phenomenon rather than as something which can help make the UK more productive and competitive.

He called for UK institutions to adopt the proven methods of engineering and medical schools and sports scientists to engage more closely with companies.

"Some business schools are missing a trick," Prof Francis told the Yorkshire Post. "If research programmes are developed in collaboration with business then it's going to make them more relaxant and more likely to affect economic growth."

Many staff at business schools in Britain and the United States are unhappy with their image as "trade school trainers" and aspire to higher academic status and greater legitimacy within their universities, said Prof Francis. He calls this "physics envy".

"It's rather beneath their dignity to to be seen as working at a trade school and be doing anything that's of practical benefit," he said.

Prof Francis added that there are senior management scholars in leading UK business schools who treat research aimed at increasing productivity and competitiveness as an irrelevant political consideration.

He quoted the Dean of a Russell Group university business school as saying "many people made the mistake of thinking that the purpose of business schools was to help managers manage better".

Prof Francis urged his counterparts to learn from the models of engineering and medical schools, which are committed to educating and training professionals and are closely engaged with professional practice.

He praised the close links between sports people, trainers, coaches and sports scientists in the pursuit of record-breaking sporting excellence.

"Sports scientists are doing research that is clearly informed by the needs of coaches and sports people themselves," he said.

"What they can find out will directly improve teaching and coaching practices and all other things associated with getting better performance from sports people."

The comments develop the theme of Prof Francis' summer lecture last Friday, entitled Profits, performance and well-being: How business schools can make a difference, which was attended by business leaders and dignitaries from Bradford.

Prof Francis told the audience: "Business schools and businesses need to work closely together – both to produce professional managers who can lead their enterprises effectively and to produce innovations that continue to deliver growth."

After the lecture, Sir Ken Morrison, the veteran retailer, officially opened the business school's 12.5m new campus development, which he said "brings distinction to the city and further enhances the reputation of Bradford".

Prof Francis retires later this summer after a distinguished academic career, including 12 years as Dean of the business school. He trained as an engineer at Ford Motor Co and Imperial College London before entering academia.

He spent three years on secondment as senior fellow studying British competitiveness for the Economic and Social Research Council.

During his career, he has authored or edited eight books and more than 60 articles.

The new Dean, Dr Sarah Dixon, the head of MSc programmes at the University of Bath and a former international strategist with Shell, starts work in September.

A changing environment

Yorkshire's business world has become a great deal more professional over the last 12 years, according to Professor Arthur Francis.

Asked how the business environment has changed during his tenure, the outgoing Dean said companies are more focused on activities and more knowledge intensive.

He added: "We have seen a continued move away from heavy traditional industry to business that needs a much greater knowledge base. Universities have provided a lot to that. Yorkshire Forward has played an important role in bringing all that together."

As for Bradford University School of Management, Prof Francis said: "We have grown hugely. Twice the size we were, hence the need for new building.

"We have much stronger research activity. The quality of our programmes has continued to increase."