This article addresses two questions relating to research: (1) what is the best environment in which to carry out research and (2) what is the best way to manage employment in order to maintain this environment? It focuses on research management in UK higher education, but attempts to generalise beyond a specifically national context. The article discusses how existing practice has evolved and highlights several problems that have arisen. It draws on the experiences of researchers at the University of Sheffield to explore the consequences of current practice and to make recommendations for research management in general. (Contains 1 table.)