With the exception of academics, occupational groups within universities remain relatively under-researched. Based upon qualitative interviews with 27 research administrators in 19 UK universities, this article reports on a small-scale qualitative project to investigate the workday worlds of these "boundary-crossing" and…

The increasing complexity and diversity of a typical portfolio of research awards coupled with advancing technology makes successful implementation and delivery of system benefits more challenging than ever. Moreover, the role of systems in knowledge management is a fundamental issue faced by all research active organizations. One of the principal…

PRINCE2, which stands for Projects in Controlled Environments, is a project management method covering the organisation, management, and control of projects and is widely used in both government and commercial IT and building projects in the UK. This paper describes the application of PRINCE2 to the management of large clinical trials…

This study adopted Jarzabkowski's (2005) qualitative, activity-based strategy as practice method to investigate leadership and management of interdisciplinary work. Interviews were conducted with 10 academics in Australia and the United Kingdom. Challenges raised by leaders of academic work can be grouped at various levels according to which…

Examines the organization of contract research in the United Kingdom and the current system's benefits and problems for employers, employees, and sponsors, as well as policy initiatives. Concludes that the current system is deeply flawed and policy has failed to address the real issues. Fundamental changes are recommended. (Author/MSE)

It is suggested that approaches to research assessment vary according to national context. In the United States, higher education is dominated by market forces; in Britain and Australia, emphasis is on interinstitutional competitiveness; in northern Europe, focus is overall system efficiency. Performance indicators and peer review of research are…

Policies, commissioning bodies, methods, and criteria for both internal and external evaluation of research at universities in eight countries (Finland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, France) are compared, and the effects of evaluations on the finance, structure, and research problems are examined. (MSE)

This article introduces the issue of articles on research assessments and rankings. It focuses on the British Research Assessment Exercises (RAEs) and New Zealand's Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF). It contrasts these with systems that are not tied to funding formulas and emphasise quality enhancement rather than quality assurance. It…

Results of a recently implemented British rating scale for universities are analyzed to obtain a multidimensional picture of the government funding agency's perceived research rankings of the institutions. The analytical method and results are discussed. (MSE)

The nature, benefits, and costs of relationships between higher education institutions and industry are outlined and analyzed according to economic theory, and alternative systems for handling the relationship and reducing costs are considered. (Author/MSE)

There are many funding schemes in existence for small projects in educational development, but fewer equivalent research schemes. Data from an evaluation of two schemes at one institution are used as the catalyst for considering such schemes in wider contextual and theoretical perspectives. The evaluation analysed success rate data, project…

The British experience with nationwide research quality assessment exercises and newly-introduced measures to improve research program accountability is described. Consequences for institutions of higher education and for the system as a whole are examined, using the University of Glasgow (Scotland) as an example. Utility of performance indicators…

This study examined the allocation of government research grants to universities in the United Kingdom in the context of the current funding system which distributes such grants based on universities' performance in the marketplace. Marketplace performance indicators include academic staff and postgraduate student counts, grants from Research…

Explores how far British government policies influence academic values and ways of working through an examination of the United Kingdom Foresight Programme, a governmental effort to set priorities for research through identification of emerging technologies and markets. Feedback from scientists and social scientists found shifting attitudes toward…

Foresight analysis is proposed as an alternative to strategic planning in the scientific community, and its use by individual funding agencies to develop research resource allocation strategies for specific scientific fields is explored through an analysis in the field of cardiovascular research. Methodology is explained, and preliminary results…