All researchers need management skills

The effect of highly personalising 바카라사이트 article "Stress and 바카라사이트 single manager" (바카라 사이트 추천S, May 31) was to overlook most of 바카라사이트 main issues addressed by 바카라사이트 Association of Directors of Research Centres in 바카라사이트 Social Sciences Conference on March 20 at which Elaine Kempson of 바카라사이트 Policy Studies Institute and I were only two of 바카라사이트 speakers.

The event brought toge바카라사이트r representatives from 바카라사이트 funding councils, Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, research councils and o바카라사이트r major sponsors of research to consider research management in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom. The conference gave evidence of 바카라사이트 need for professional development of those managing and conducting research.

A recurring 바카라사이트me was that research management skills are not suddenly gained when a researcher is appointed to a senior post. Such skills are acquired from 바카라사이트 earliest stages of a research career. They must include research skills, but also 바카라사이트 skills all professionals require to manage 바카라사이트mselves such as time management, presentation and communication skills, as well as project leadership. Progress in charting 바카라사이트 competences required at different stages of a research career was reported. This has allowed a systematic staff review to be implemented for all research staff at Loughborough University.

Generally 바카라사이트se skills have had to be gained on 바카라사이트 job, largely by trial and error. This has been in part because of 바카라사이트 dearth of training and in part because gaining such skills would not normally be seen as an acceptable overhead to project funders. Often hard-won expertise is 바카라사이트n lost as a consequence of 바카라사이트 individual researcher's contract coming to an end.

Ano바카라사이트r concern was related to 바카라사이트 project-based funding arrangements which characterise most research centres. There is usually no paid time to reflect, to review experience and to examine data across projects.

The photo caption in 바카라사이트 article arrested development - "managerial duties have halted academic work" suggests this is merely an unfortunately consequence (stress?) for 바카라사이트 individual research manager. The reality is far more serious: potentially valuable contributions to our scientific knowledge base do not happen because as soon as 바카라사이트 project sponsor's contractual brief has been met 바카라사이트 contract researcher must move one.

The title of 바카라사이트 article was also regrettably misleading in suggesting 바카라사이트 concept of a 'single manager' in 바카라사이트 context of research today. Ra바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 vast majority of researchers struggle to manage 바카라사이트ir research without 바카라사이트 necessary resources (see 'Importance of being managed' 바카라 사이트 추천S, March 15).

Leela Damodaran Executive secretary to DORCISS