Contributing factors to the development of liability-type relationships are discussed, along with practical suggestions for restructuring the role of the research administrator. An agenda for further conceptualization and research is included. (Author/MLW)

The role of the research administrator in assuring that ethical judgments are made is discussed. Included are some of the ethical questions faced in providing advice and judgment on policies, procedures, and issues that conflict with each other and that may represent very different value systems. (JMF)

University-managed research differs greatly from industry-managed research in terms of budgeting, staffing, and decision-making. Procedures at the University of Guelph are cited that use an integrating control system to manage a project. For journal availability see HE 509 147. (LBH)

The DELTA Chart acts as a communication device by displaying project needs in flow-chart form. Its five elements are: Decision box, Event box, Logic box, Time Arrow, and Activity box. It can also provide the administrator with better planning and monitoring capabilities. For journal availability see HE 509 147. (LBH)

No group (within an organization) can be entirely harmonious, but conflict is not an altogether disruptive factor. A delicate balance is required to obtain the advantages and restrict the disadvantages of organizational conflict. The causes and forms of organizational conflict are examined. (JMD)

A detailed analysis of the research administrator's profile compares seven categories of Society of Research Administrators membership (Academic Medical, Academic Non-Medical, Hospital Medical, Foundations and Non-profits, Industry, Government, and Other) with educational attainment and the 21 Priority Interest codes of the membership. (MLW)

Members of the Society of Research Administrators and their neighbors were surveyed for their reactions to a trade-off decision in funding research: whether to pay more in administrative costs for more institutional accountability or pay more for research with less accountability. Research administrators opted for the former, the public for the…

The ways and means for an Office of Research to promote research on the campus and consequently serve as a faculty advocate in research are discussed and illustrated through case histories. Motivating faculty, which includes creating the proper environment and attending to faculty needs, is the method discussed for promoting research. (JMD)

University administrators should study the various organizational approaches used for managing interdisciplinary research (IDR) in their institutions. More aggressive, innovative approaches to IDR management should be adopted. Available from: the Society of Research Administrators, 2855 East Coast Highway, Suite 225, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.…

Publications related to sponsored programs of agencies and foundations that are used by research administrators are reported, based on a questionnaire survey of 650 of those administrators. The frequency of usage and effectiveness of the publications are also noted. For journal availability see HE 509 147. (LBH)

A random sample of members of the National Council of University Research Administrators were queried about their job goals, functions, and career patterns in an effort to define various roles within research administration. (MLW)

The School of Chemical Sciences at the University of Illinois has developed a user-oriented financial management system to meet the needs of project managers for financial reporting that were not met by the central accounting system. The system presents detailed budget obligations and expenditures data needed to plan and monitor daily research…

Because of the growing significance of R&D expenditures, the importance of some rational approach to planning and budgeting is seen as being imperative. It is proposed that more studies on the question of project cost and duration estimates be conducted. A bibliographical survey is included. (MLW)

Research administrators can avoid falling into bureaucratic traps by (1) understanding what is important and what is subordinate to it; (2) becoming a better manager; and (3) improving public relations by being more accessible, soliciting complaints, consulting, supporting clients, making the rules work for clients, and educating clients.

A survey of 125 higher education research administrators provides a personality profile to supplement existing demographic profiles of the occupation. The profile was found to be much like the average adult profile and the university researcher's, with a few differences found when individuals were subclassified by age, gender, and specialization.…