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research Study Is 'Call to Action' for U.S. Research Schools EARLIER THIS YEAR, the Research Universities Futures Consortium, a group of 25 U.S. public and private research universities, released "The Current Health and Future Well-Being of the American University." Funded by Elsevier, a global provider of science and health infor- mation, the report argues that U.S. research universities must adopt greater collaboration, communication, and productivity if they are to remain globally competitive. Brad Fenwick, professor and former vice chancel- lor for research and engagement at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, led the study, which is based on interviews with research directors at 25 leading research universities. The report cited several challenges to U.S. scholar- ship, including declining funding, increasing competi- tion for resources, intensifying compliance require- ments, and a loss of political and public confidence in the value of academic research. At the same time, the public's expectations for research to produce solutions to today's global challenges have never been higher. The report cited the need for stronger metrics to quan- tify the quality and impact of research. As one adminis- trator noted, "For the future of research universities and their faculty, we must … place greater emphasis on qual- ity rather than quantity and realign our rewards systems. But first, we need to do the hard work of agreeing on discipline-specific definitions of quality." Research universities, the report continues, also need to better communicate their value to society when it comes to solving social problems, contribut- ing to the economy, and promoting national innova- tion and security. "There is a growing recognition of the need for research intelligence and well-established performance and risk management systems," the authors write. "Yet, there is considerable dissatisfaction with current systems and a lack of coordination within and between institu- tions as each [implements its] own solution to what are often common needs." The report calls for the development of a shared national research and innovation agenda, which its authors believe would better position schools to strengthen the development and administration of their research programs and stay competitive in a global market for scholarship. The report is available at www.researchuniversities futures.org/RIM_Report_Research%20Future's%20 Consortium%20.pdf. The Habits of Extraordinary CIOs THE HAAS SCHOOL of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, has completed a multiyear research project through its Fisher CIO Leadership Program. The study examined the most important factors for success in the careers of chief information officers. The 21-page report was initiated by the late Max Hopper, who pioneered the use of the SABRE Global Distribution System, a reservation system first used by American Airlines and now used by airlines and travel agents worldwide. 48 November/December 2012 BizEd Concerned that many companies were failing to benefit from their expensive IT infrastructures, Hopper led a committee at Haas to identify 14 of the world's more successful CIOs—those who have had a major, enduring, and positive impact on their companies and industries. It chose CIOs from American Airlines, Charles Schwab, FritoLay, Cisco, WalMart, FedEx, Marriott, Levi Strauss, and six other companies. A Fisher Program team then asked them 12 questions about their backgrounds, successes, and missteps, as JORDAN ADAMS/GLOW IMAGES