The balance of power between a dean, faculty and management structure is always a difficult issue. His sentiments are shared by Stephen Watson, the new dean at Henley and the chair of the Association of Business Schools. Being a dean is a combination of tasks and it is a very difficult one. You must try to fulfil people's personal needs at the same time as fulfiling the needs of the school. The EFMD runs a new deans seminar each year, to try to help potential deans think through the problems they will have to face.
Experienced deans are also on hand to outline the pitfalls.
And the ABS is also poised to launch two development programmes next year, one for current deans and a sec ond for academics on the dean career path. Topics covered will include funding and public relations, as well as the opportunity to meet experienced deans and outside experts with an international dimension. For current deans, the programme looks at ways deans can take the process forward. Of course, the difficulty of combining a dual role is not the only reason why it is so hard to fill the position. Being a dean is very much a full-time job.