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 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)

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…

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 research administrator is seen as one who provides an environment conducive to the performance of research by allowing the principal investigator to spend as little time as possible with administrative paperwork. A protocol routing sheet and a checklist for protocol submissions are provided. (MLW)

Managing an individual's career rests with that individual, although the research administrator's organization should participate in the process. Personal values clarification, work preferences, work characteristics, skill inventory process, and the difference between a development discussion and a performance review are discussed. (MLW)

This paper reports on a project to create and integrate an institutional research function into the executive-level policy decision making process at a private university. The paper identifies ten problems that needed to be overcome; they include: timeliness, consideration of qualitative factors, the limited scope of institutional research…

A review of the literature on university faculty research productivity found a consistent set of 12 characteristics common in research-conducive environments. Findings included (1) the leader has a disproportionate impact through his influence on all the other characteristics, and (2) participative governance is important in promotion of research…

Guidelines for managers of university research groups cover securing resources, personnel, and services and choosing collaborators, as well as organizing, supervising, and controlling research activities. Attention is directed to: orientation of personnel; reporting mechanisms; boosting morale; the needs of different personnel; handling travel,…

The Austin, Texas,Independent School District's Department of Management Information has developed a set of guidelines for responding to requests for information about the schools, as well as requests for research subjects. Procedures for handling external requests have been grouped into five categories. (1) Research: applications must be approved…