Citation analysis as a practical tool for managers and entrepreneurs: selected scientometric concepts relevant for business model improvement

摘要

Entrepreneurs often face the challenge of hiring academic researchers who could provide know-how or serve as potential business partners, collaborators or expert consultants. Since hiring experts may be costly, it is essential that only the best specialists be used. I describe some quantitative scientometric tools (such as h-index and gindex) aimed at evaluating academic quality of institutions or of individual researchers. Such tools provide information that is easily accessible, comprehensible and merit-based, although they must be used with caution, since disciplines differ in the absolute values of indexes. I show how to use scientometrics in a comparative manner to document low output and poor quality of the publications of Polish academic authors in the area of business and management. I also argue that some governmental procedures for rewarding academic excellence are not effective because they reduce incentives for publishing academic papers in English.