ISSCC '98

1

Deputy Director as a Partner in Center Leadership
Khalil Najafi Deputy Director Class of
2000 NSF Engineering Research Center in
Wireless Integrated Microsystems
(WIMS) University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan
48109-2122 najafi_at_umich.edu
2
Questions About Deputy-Director Position

• What does the NSF need or want?
• The most important functions of a deputy
  director?
• Major responsibilities?
• Nature of relationship with Center's director?
• Length of position? Term-limited?
• Degree of involvement in different aspects of the
  ERC (research, education, and industry)?
• Most enjoyable or disliked responsibilities?
• Most difficult/challenging or easiest
  responsibilities?

3
Most Important Functions of a Deputy Director?

• Provide leadership when the Director is not
  available. Director should feel confident that
  the DD is the best replacement if circumstances
  dictate it.
• Work closely with the Director in all facets of
  the Center operation (serving as a fully informed
  partner).
• Provide leadership in areas of expertise that
  complement the director's.
• Help the Director identify weaknesses and develop
  strategies for dealing with those weaknesses.
• Participate in strategic planning and maintaining
  a healthy research program.
• The Director has the final say on DDs functions
  and responsibilities.
• Above all
• Just be there to support the Director in whatever
  comes up.

4
Responsibilities of Some Current DDs

• Advisor to the Director
• Engaged and involved in all aspects of the ERC
• Oversight of a particular program
• Research
• Thrust coordination
• Oversight of testbeds
• Input on research directions
• Coordination with industry
• Education
• Oversight of underrepresented and minority
  recruiting
• University educational programs
• Administration
• Input on budget matters
• Coordination and recruiting amongst faculty
• Responsibility should bring with it authority,
  and this is not always the case. More
  responsibilities/control over budget matters.

5
Nature of Relationship with Director

• Much depends on the history of relationship with
  the Director
• Common goals
• Similar values
• Dictated by the need to get an ERC
• Some directors like to have control of
  everything, some like to involve everyone. DDs
  need to understand the Director and work to
  accommodate his/her specific needs.
• Be pro-active. Sometimes Directors do not
  realize they need help.
• Complement each other in research, education and
  industrial contacts.
• A truly synergistic partnership.
• Ultimately there has to be chemistry.
• Mutual respect.
• Friendship.

6
DDs Term? or Term Limit?

• DD should have the job as long (s)he enjoys doing
  it.
• DD should have the job as long (s)he is
  effective.
• Continuity and stability is critical at the
  leadership level.
• Long enough until new leadership is developed and
  matures.
• Adapt to changing situations.
• Should not be term limited.
• The Director should have the final say.

7
Degree of Involvement in the ERC

• The DD should be at the minimum informed about
  all aspects of an ERC, and perhaps involved or in
  charge of several major areas.
• If needed, DD should be able to replace the
  Director, temporarily or permanently, with
  minimal interruption to the ERC operation.
• DDs should be in charge of a major operation of
  an ERC that forces the DD to interact with a
  large group of faculty and students.
• The more involved a DD is, the more the Director
  can focus on the major strategic goals and
  functions of the ERC.
• DDs responsibilities should be defined with
  flexibility in mind so the DD can be moved around
  to fill in any gaps as needed.
• DD should be comfortable with the demands and
  needs of the position of a DD. The DD is there
  to serve the Director, and everyone else.

8
Most Enjoyable Aspects

• Contribute to the establishment of a sustainable
  institution that will have a solid positive
  impact.
• Involvement in all aspects of science and
  technology development challenges having greater
  magnitude than those routinely available to the
  individual investigator.
• The opportunity to participate in a leadership
  role in a very exciting new interdisciplinary
  field.
• Interaction with like-minded leaders in Science
  and Technology.
• Educating a whole new generation of scientists
  and engineers.
• In short, it is exciting, fun, and challenging.

9
The Most Challenging Aspects of Being a DD

• Range and diversity of challenges and issues and
  the time and effort needed.
• Managing time. Getting all the things done that
  need doing.
• Maintaining a positive outlook. DDs may be
  spending as much time as the Director, but they
  are not the one in charge making the final
  decisions.
• Maintaining the goals and objectives in focus at
  all times.
• Not letting momentary setbacks or day-to-day
  grind erode the enthusiasm and excitement which
  led to applying for an ERC.
• Understand the DD position and keep the interests
  of the group as a whole ahead of yours.
• Being isolated from home department and from
  enjoying all of the accomplishments of the Center
  due to administrative overload.
• Having to sometimes make hard decisions in the
  face of conflicting needs.

10
Personal Comments

• Although I liked my Director, Ken Wise, before we
  got the ERC, I have found more reasons to like
  him even more!
• Having an ERC is like having kids
• You will find joy in many little things you do
  not expect, like working with high-school kids,
• You also will experience discomfort which can
  distract you. But remember you cannot divorce
  your kids!
• One develops a closer friendship (professional
  and personal) with many people, especially with
  the Director.
• What we do has a long-lasting impact. Once in a
  while stop and smell the roses
• After all of this, it has certainly been a
  worthwhile experience for me.
• I am very grateful for having had this
  opportunity.

11

• On behalf of all DDs, I thank all of you
  Directors.
• We know that things become sometimes difficult
  for all of us,
• But we also know that no matter how bad it gets,
  it could be worse
• One could be the Director!