Research Systems & Technology
Research Systems and Technology
Working with Management Information Systems
Purpose:
- Collect and collate accurate data to enable the institution to monitor key performance indicators and to make evidence-based decisions about policy and strategy
- Provide accurate and accessible information to enable staff at different levels in the institution to monitor performance and plan for future activities
Activity:
- Collecting and collating data on research proposals, awards, outputs, impact
- Collecting and collating data relevant to Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers
- Measuring success rates through linking awards to proposalsEstimating income through linking award documentation with proposals
- Producing financial models
- Producing reports and report commentaries, such as analyses and forecasts
- Collaborating with the senior management on planning and budget-setting
- Carrying out sector benchmarking
- Sharing information with relevant bodies (research committees, department heads)
- Sharing information with the senior management team
- Collaborating with colleagues, to contribute to external presentations/reports
Core Skills
- Analytical – identifying key information issues, sector benchmarking, monitoring impact
- Technology –programming and coding; systems development and maintenance; narrative and quantitative reporting; use of AI and machine learning to automate processes
- Numeracy – producing financial models
- Interpersonal – seeking and verifying information, building effective relationships
- Communication – external and internal report writing; networking; collaboration
Underpinning Knowledge
- Information technology principles, specialist programmes and AI
- Institutional research strategy
- Statutory reporting
- Internal finance systems and procedures
- External research environment and key stakeholders
Examples of behaviour:
- Aggregating, utilising and interpreting management information
- Considering cost benefit analysis implications of decisions
- Identifying the information and knowledge to respond to stakeholders’ needs
- Exploring other stakeholders’ perspectives to help reach agreement
- Conveying written and oral information in a clear and accurate manner, to specification
- Making suggestions how AI and new technologies can help increase process accuracy and efficiency
Purpose:
- Ensure that management information systems meet the current and projected requirements of the institution
- Monitor the effectiveness of management information systems and support changes to the system, as required
- Ensure that the research team members have the skills necessary to input, access and analyse data and produce reports
Activity:
- Evaluating current and new management information systems and processes
- Designing new management information system processes when needed
- Training users on the corporate reporting tool
- Managing projects to implement management information systems
Core Skills
- Analytical – managing and compiling complex data
- Project management – implementing new systems and processes in line with the project cycle
- Effective managing projects and programmes
- Listening and responding to feedback
- Communication – writing/communicating clear specifications
Underpinning Knowledge
- Research system architecture, data pathways and data mapping
- Institutional Research Strategy
- Institutional management and finance systems
- Procurement guidelines and policy
- Equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, policy and practice
- The impact of technological advances on research management, including enhanced efficiency, improved resource allocation, ethical considerations and governance
Examples of behaviour:
- Speaking and writing by using clear succinct and impactful language
- Aggregating, utilising and interpreting management information Creating opportunities for skill sharing across the team, including latest technologies
Purpose:
- Use the management information system to make sound, evidence-based decisions that influence institutional policy and strategy
- Identify opportunities to select and implement information systems applications that support achieving strategic business goals of the organisation
- Ensure that the management information systems provide effective and efficient support for the research and research enabling functions
Activity:
- Aligning information systems with institutional strategy
- Formulating information systems strategy
- Measuring and reporting on the effectiveness of management information
- Ensuring integration with other corporate systems and information
- Ensuring that all corporate systems owners act from a point of shared understanding of the management information needs
- Staying abreast of the digital shift and emerging technological trends, to ensure the vision and strategic plans are future-proof, agile and sustainable
Core Skills
- Analytical – identifying strengths and areas for improvement
- Interpersonal – providing constructive feedback, ensuring colleagues understand requirements of management information
- Strategic planning – seeing the big picture and building sustainable realistic plans
- Systems thinking – making decisions informed by the complexity and interdependence of agendas, systems and processes
- Influencing and negotiation – navigating differences and conveying information in an inclusive, clear and persuasive way
Underpinning Knowledge
- Organisational contexts and their interdependence
- MIS strategy models and methodology
- Research system architecture and its interdependence with IT architecture
- Equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, policy and practice
- The impact of technological advances on research management, including enhanced efficiency, improved resource allocation, ethical considerations and governance
Examples of behaviour:
- Making informed decisions and taking responsibility for them
- Taking time to understand and diagnose problems by considering the whole picture
- Creating opportunities for skill sharing across functions and teams, including latest technologies
- Exercising informed judgement, aligned with the institution’s strategic priorities
- Aggregating, utilising and interpreting management information to achieve optimum outcome
Making Statutory Returns
Purpose:
- Provide administrative support to ensure that the statutory return is completed and filed, in line with schedule
- Produce accurate and comprehensive data for the return
Activity:
- Disseminating guidelines (such as HESA, HEBIS, REF, RAS) researchers and colleagues
- Drafting a timetable for submission
- Liaising with research support services, finance, Human Resources, student services staff at local and central level
- Capturing, verifying and following up on relevant data at local and central level
- Collecting and collating data for various reporting strands
- Obtaining final approval from authorised personnel
- Submitting the proposal
Core Skills
- Project Management – overseeing the preparation of the return
- Interpersonal – liaising and collaborating with staff around the return requirements
- Problem Solving – dealing with inconsistencies
- Information Management – collating, analysing storing data
- Analytical – checking data and filling the gaps
Underpinning Knowledge
- Research environment
- Statutory return guidelines
- Stakeholders
- Legal requirements
- IT systems and AI programmes to support the process
Examples of behaviour:
- Responding to a number of projects running simultaneously, in line with schedule
- Identifying the information and knowledge required by various stakeholders
- Demonstrating broader awareness of the role of the return, in meetings and conversations
- Using understanding of other functions and perspectives to achieve what’s required
- Demonstrate effective planning of own workload
Purpose:
- Co-ordinate team workload and team’s strengths to ensure that a high-quality return is produced, to schedule
- Ensure that systems and processes underpinning the production of the statutory return are effective and fit for purpose
Activity:
- Scheduling and prioritising own and colleagues’ workloads and strengths to meet deadlines
- Employing appropriate strategies to ensure that researchers and colleagues meet deadlines
- Building strong relationships between central and local research support services and other professional services
- Developing systems and processes to capture, store and analyse data; and to report on the basis required for the return
- Monitoring systems and processes for data accuracy
- Sharing management information from the statutory return with the senior management team, in a timely manner
Core Skills
- Analytical – developing and monitoring systems; data analysis and interpretation
- Interpersonal – liaising with staff to meet deadlines, building relationships
- Influencing – communicating the importance of making returns and associated deadlines
- Communication – presenting information to the senior management team; reporting
Underpinning Knowledge
- Research environment
- Statutory return guidelines
- Stakeholders
- Relevant technologies, systems, AI tools
- Equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, policy and practice
- The impact of technological advances on research management, including enhanced efficiency, improved resource allocation, ethical considerations and governance
Examples of behaviour:
- Aggregating, utilising and interpreting management information
- Using understanding of other functions and perspectives to achieve what’s required
- Prioritising effectively: distinguishing between important and urgent tasks
- Demonstrating good knowledge of the key stakeholders, who influence the project
- Being effective in gaining buy-in without having any direct authority
- Creating opportunities for skill sharing across the team, including latest technologies
Purpose:
- Monitor and ensure the institution responds to new statutory requirements and issues raised through the process of making statutory returns
- Ensure that the management information systems provide effective and efficient support for the research and research enabling functions
Activity:
- Developing new processes to reflect changing external requirements
- Making decisions based on management information collected for the return
- Staying abreast of the digital shift and emerging technological trends, to ensure the vision and strategic plans are future-proof, agile and sustainable
Core Skills
- Analytical– making evidence-based decisions, developing appropriate systems
- Problem Solving – developing systems to meet changing requirements
- Horizon Scanning – monitoring changes in the external environment and acting on these changes
- Influencing and negotiation – navigating differences and conveying information in an inclusive, clear and persuasive way
Underpinning Knowledge
- Research environment
- HE environment
- The digital shift: relevant technological trends in the sector and globally
- The impact of technological advances on research management, including enhanced efficiency, improved resource allocation, ethical considerations and governance
- Equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, policy and practice
Examples of behaviour:
- Modifying departmental / organisational strategy to adapt to changes in the wider environment
- Scanning the wider environment to seek opportunities to help the organisation thrive
- Articulating the purpose of change and the context within which change is happening
- Identifying and piloting innovative approaches into institutional and departmental operations, such as using AI and machine learning to automate tasks, improve accuracy and redistribute resources
- Role-modelling inclusive language and inclusive behaviours in written and oral communications
Additional Resources
