MEL Institute is an applied research and consultancy center that aims to explore the role of personnel archetypes in meeting the challenges of today’s institutions. We are delighted to introduce you to the MEL Institute, an applied research and consultancy center that aims to explore the role of personnel archetypes in meeting the challenges of today’s institutions. Our work centers on the actions
of managers, entrepreneurs and leaders (MEL) in sustaining innovation in the global corporation. The genesis for founding the Institute came from our experience of observing organizations struggle to balance dealing with current complexities while – at the same time – preparing for future change. Raison d’être
Inability to attain this delicate balance has resulted in many otherwise adept companies failing in rapidly changing markets. Recent business history is replete with firms who have either gone to the corporate graveyard or are now sadly diminished. Over many years of observing and working with both SME’s and large international corporations, the MEL founders – Dr. Udo Dierk and Dr. Phil Dover – became intrigued by the concept of the “ambidextrous organization” and by the formal and informal roles played by various personnel in longitudinally guiding the firm. In particular, we pinpointed the integrative impact of three archetypes – managers, entrepreneurs and leaders – in sustaining the fortunes of the organization. This raises such questions as:
- What weighting of managerial, entrepreneurial and leadership practices leads to short and long term company success?
- What balance of skills should be evident in the top management and innovation teams?
- How are these weights impacted by contextual variables such as industry maturity, company ownership and cultural norms?
- What are the implications of these findings on such decisions as recruitment, training and designing the innovation process? Our Approach
We have developed a measurement tool – the MEL Index – that assesses perceptions on the role of managers, entrepreneurs and leaders within the organization while quantifying both individual and institutional competencies on these three dimensions. We are intent on bridging the interests of both practitioners – highly salient real-world application – and applied academics – rigorous conceptual underpinnings – with this initiative.
