"Only academics with direct responsibility for teaching and research (aka deans) should actually rule," says Terence Kealey ("Emmanuel lights the way on self-governance", October 19). Why did I think it was professors, lecturers and the like that are directly responsible for activities such as research, in that they have ideas, write grant proposals, bring in money, supervise research and write papers? Read Wikinomics or The Starfish and the Spider ; they will open your eyes to how successful organisations function.
Douglas Kell, Director, Manchester Centre for Integrative Systems Biology, Manchester University.