This Brief presents a new model for business development-MERge-to be implemented in
practitioners' professional development in general and in the context of STEM (Science
Technology Engineering and Mathematics) initiatives particularly in industry educational
institutions and public sector organizations. The authors aim to contribute to the field of
innovation and entrepreneurship by merging and consolidating different methodologies and
insights borrowed from the meta-professions (referring to skills that can be expressed
meaningfully after one has gained disciplinary and professional knowledge) of management
education and research. Targeting three key groups-practitioners in industry academic
institutions and public sector organizations-this model proposes that all practitioners can
further develop their unique expertise as well as new skills while acknowledging and applying
the three meta-professions in their initiatives on-going work and personal lives. The authors
acknowledge that in the postmodern era where barriers between disciplines are falling in every
aspect of professional life managerial educational and research skills are becoming
increasingly essential and interdependent. Featuring case studies that illustrate how the MERge
model is implemented in practice this volume presents practical tools for integrating these
key skills in a wide variety of initiatives in business teaching and research contexts.
