The truth this article touches on is that it's not even really about citation counts anymore, it's about dollars. Via drug companies, private grants, federal grants, any sorts of money coming in from outside the university or hospital. I've sat on promotion meetings where people aren't publishing, but are bringing in 2 million dollar grants and "it's all ok".
This incentive structure distorts research. What to do about it? I'm not exactly sure but having university administrations who see research as a means to make money, rather than an end in itself, is not the way.
This incentive structure distorts research. What to do about it? I'm not exactly sure but having university administrations who see research as a means to make money, rather than an end in itself, is not the way.