Introduction
University technology transfer conflicts stem from job insecurity
This research examines university technology transfer conflicts related to the love and hate between research faculty and technology transfer staff. We attempt to provide greater understanding of how research faculty’s personal values and research universities’ organization values may differ and why. Faculty researchers and tech transfer office (TTO) staff are perceived to be virtuous agents. When both are meeting each other’s needs, a “love” relationship exists. However, when these needs are not met, a “hate” relationship exists that is replete with doubt and uncertainty. Thus, this doubt and uncertainty create tension and subsequent conflicts.
Ethical concerns
There are many accounts where faculty researchers have not followed university policies and expectations. They often violate policy and ethical standards. Likewise, faculty report numerous examples of how TTO staff members’ negligence in servicing their attempts to be good institutional citizens have failed them. Thus, this paper explores this love/hate relationship and reveals numerous conflicts that call into question ethical concerns.
Conflict Management
This article provides a set of recommendations for reducing and potentially alleviating university technology transfer conflicts. Results from a thorough review of the literature on the relationship between faculty and university TTOs reveals that perceived job insecurity is underway. Some research faculty members as well as some TTO staff, unethically violate their university policies. Violations include faculty not disclosing inventions disclosures and the staff selection to not provide full services. There are ways to alleviate the conflict between faculty’s personal values regarding their inventions and university’s organizational values. There is a need to enact measures that build trust and reduce insecurity. We not only examine this faculty/TTO staff ethical conflicts, but we offer a set of recommendations. In summary, we believe these recommendations will reduce the likelihood of unethical behavior. They encourage greater institutional commitment and trust.