handbook-executive-leadership-of-research-development-pdf-v10

Principle 3. Create a competitive environmentA defining feature of research-intensive universities is a meritocratic culture in whichexcellence is pursued through rewarding success. As the international and nationalcontext for research has become increasingly competitive, these universities haveincreased their support for those interdisciplinary teams and research centres that areable to compete on the world stage in order to maximise their advantage. Researchproductivity is very unequally distributed. The fact that most research is produced by asmall proportion of academics is testimony to its highly competitive character.When linked to an inspiring vision and systems for assessing progress towardsthe university’s research ambitions, strong-minded research performance goals– including aspirations to increase research income – help to reinforce a sense ofcollective responsibility for raising research activity and outputs in the context ofexternal competition.What it means in practiceEstablish research management systems that mirror the externalenvironmentCreating a culture in which every member of staff takes research seriously willrequire internal systems that reflect external ones. Clear expectations of what countsas research performance must be established. Internal research grants should bedistributed through a process of strict merit-based allocation. Weaker applicantsshould have access to support to improve their applications; under no circumstancesshould there be an equal distribution of resources. Research support offices needto echo this competitive environment through maintaining systems that target teamsand individuals that are successful and those that show clear promise of success.“While it’s tempting to do veryserious strategic plans and SWOTanalyses (they are importantelements) often aspects of culturalchange come about by small wins.”Some key actions are required in the very earlystages of change to shift the culture from oneof entitlement to competition. These includeapplying the same research grant assessmentcriteria and evidence regimes as are used fornational and international grant applications, and raising expectations about thequality and quantity of research outputs and the forums for dissemination of findingsto international standards. It also means setting challenging performance targets forfaculties and research centres.Focus 2 — Taking an assertive-participative approach to leadership39