The Cox Leadership in Academics: A Case Study on University Administration and Institution Building by Inspiring Multiple Rovers

Abstract

Cox refers to the person who sits at the back of the rowing boat and motivates and inspires the people so that the boat moves in right direction. This is to refer to the style of the person, who knows that the most important role here is to ensure that the collective energies take the boat to right direction so that the path is not deviated. This paper is based on a case study. The case study here is that of Suresh Gyan Vihar University, which has emerged as an important institution and got good academic ranking in spite of being a self financed institution. The author identifies the characteristics of the academic leadership and mentions how this leadership contributes to academic excellence. Based on a case study, the author finds that the leaders have created multiple leadership roles to give passionate leaders an opportunity to pursue excellence. The word rover refers to passionate leader, who is pursuing a particular goal. The Cox here refers to leader of the leaders, who tries to create common goals and ensures coordinated and collaborated achievements of the common goals. The author mentions the attachment and detachment of the Cox leaders in bringing balance to the rowing as the theme identified from the research study.

Keywords: Leadership, Academic Leadership, Institution Building, University Administration

JEL Classification: H83, I20, I23, I29, M59