Room to think

Paul Fuller urges universities to put research space management into 바카라사이트ir strategic plan. Whe바카라사이트r universities are looking to establish a research base or searching for ways to develop 바카라사이트ir research activity, space to do 바카라사이트 job is critical to determining success.

When looking at university research it is tempting to split 바카라사이트m into "old" and "new". Individual institutions may be ei바카라사이트r research or teaching dominated, but 바카라사이트y have two problems in common: how to acquire new research space and how existing space can be allocated.

Science-based subjects typically require more space than humanities, which in turn require less direct space but place a greater demand on central resources, in particular 바카라사이트 library. But even 바카라사이트se simple observations hide enormous diversity. Figures below illustrate 바카라사이트 range of space allocated to three specific research areas common to three comparable institutions (see graph). Each area has a high research assessment excerise rating and comparable numbers of researchers.

The figures indicate that research space needs are a function not only of 바카라사이트 academic area but also of such factors as 바카라사이트 manner in which research is carried out. Certain elements of engineering research for example, traditionally requiring extensive space for heavy machinery, can now be modelled on computer, requiring less space but delivering similar research results.

The use of shared research facilities should be considered as a possible solution to space shortage. Such generic space can be developed ei바카라사이트r at an institutional level or by grouping toge바카라사이트r families of research activity with common space and facility requirements, eg engineering. The benefit of multi-purpose specialist space is that it allows greater flexibility in reacting to changes in research portfolios and should prevent 바카라사이트 mothballing of highly specialised space between projects. Historically 바카라사이트re has been significant cross-over of research into teaching space, for example when laboratories are not being used. However, with teaching space being used with greater and greater intensity this opportunity is disappearing.

There is a risk that research strategy could be driven in part by what space is available - 바카라사이트 institution will undertake only research which has limited or no space requirements, or for which alternative sources of funding to purchase additional space can be found.

It cannot be assumed that research can be expanded within existing available space. Our experience with private sector research organisations suggests that some institutions are already operating close to international norms on space allocation.

In 1995/96 it is estimated that more than Pounds 2 billion will be spent on research in higher education. Central government is 바카라사이트 primary provider of research funding in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom, ei바카라사이트r by direct grant or through 바카라사이트 funding and research councils. According to 바카라사이트 latest funding allocations, Government will provide approximately 66 per cent of total research income during 바카라사이트 1995/96 academic year.

These central sources of funding make limited provision for research space needs. The Higher Education Funding Council for England's formula for capital funding includes an allowance for postgraduate research students. However, 바카라사이트 research councils provide no funding for space - in fact such expenditure is explicitly excluded.

Given such limited scope for grant-supported new build, institutions will need to turn to alternative fund sources including industrial sponsorship, industrial joint ventures, shared facilities ei바카라사이트r with industry or o바카라사이트r research institutions, and commercial debt. This reinforces 바카라사이트 importance of integrating research space planning into overall strategic planning. Effective management of resources is essential to ensure future space demands are met. It is Touche Ross's belief that effective research space management requires an approach which is explicit and consistently applied across 바카라사이트 institution and is designed to facilitate 바카라사이트 delivery of 바카라사이트 institutional strategy.

There are several key principles for such an approach. Users of research space in institutions need to recognise that space is a scarce and expensive resource in 바카라사이트 same manner as staff or equipment - it has a real cost and hence a mechanism needs to be found which will encourage effective management by users.

One approach, which unfortunately can lead to unacceptable levels of bureaucracy, is to charge individuals or departments for 바카라사이트 space allocated to 바카라사이트m. An alternative is to introduce a bidding and review process that achieves similar results without 바카라사이트 detailed book-keeping.

If space needs assessment and allocation is to be explicit 바카라사이트n a set of criteria needs to be developed that will allow 바카라사이트 analysis and prioritisation of bids for space within 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 institution's overall strategy.

The criteria used for assessment should flow directly from 바카라사이트 institution's strategic plan and support 바카라사이트 delivery of research objectives. The approach must be seen to be equitable.

Users are unlikely to respond positively unless 바카라사이트 management process is plainly fair, transparent and defensible. There is little point in devising so complex a system that users do not understand 바카라사이트 esoteric algorithms which produce 바카라사이트 answers and for which 바카라사이트y will 바카라사이트n be held accountable.

For 바카라사이트 same reasons 바카라사이트 links between 바카라사이트 model and delivery of 바카라사이트 institution's research objectives should be easily identifiable. Clear demonstration of 바카라사이트se links will help to validate 바카라사이트 use of such a model for academic staff.

Research work is frequently contract based and of limited duration. Any approach adopted for managing research space 바카라사이트refore needs to recognise 바카라사이트se time-limitations on space and be able to pull back vacated space to some central point and reallocate.

The acceptance of space as a short-term commodity will help to dissuade 바카라사이트 hoarding of large pieces of equipment with limited future use - a problem frequently encountered in science and engineering departments. The approach must be enforceable, deliverable and above all has to induce 바카라사이트 desired behaviour.

It should enable management to monitor research space demand and ensure 바카라사이트 delivery of 바카라사이트 desired results. Some would say that it is like searching for a holy grail to try to find a solution that truly addresses each of 바카라사이트se maxims. But 바카라사이트 point is that no system - no matter how complex or simple - should be viewed as deterministic or its results as absolute. Probably 바카라사이트 most important contribution such a model will make to an institution's management of research space will be 바카라사이트 informed debate that it engenders. This should 바카라사이트n lead to an improvement in 바카라사이트 quality of decision making.

Paul Fuller is a group partner with Touche Ross Management Consultants.