Carolyn R. Dexter’s legacies: a broader perspective on faculty work productivity and impact

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the legacies of Carolyn R. Dexter through the lens of a broader perspective on faculty work productivity and impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used critical biography, a qualitative methodology, to explore and explain the development and contributions of Carolyn R. Dexter.

Findings

Carolyn R. Dexter was both a product and an anomaly of her times. By contemporary academic standards Dexter’s publication productivity was limited, yet her influence was strong on many individuals and organizations. She promoted internationalization of professional organizations and supported gender equality.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of authors’ interpretation is recognized.

Practical implications

Dexter’s career is an example of faculty work productivity and impact which is broader than publication productivity. This work illustrates the appropriateness of qualitative research, specifically, critical biography, in placing important management figures in context.

Originality/value

Studies focusing on women leadership at The Academy of Management, the preeminent professional association for management and organization scholars, are limited. Carolyn R. Dexter’s leadership provides a roadmap illustrating practical contributions of faculty productivity and impact beyond publications. Throughout her academic life Carolyn Dexter made her faculty work “meaningful” to the organizations in which she worked and to the people she encountered.

Citation

Monserrat, S.I. and Simmers, C.A. (2019), "Carolyn R. Dexter’s legacies: a broader perspective on faculty work productivity and impact", Journal of Management History, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 9-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMH-09-2018-0045