ARMA’s role in reducing research bureaucracy

On Friday the Government published its response to the Tickell Review. With aspirations to build “the world’s most agile, streamlined and fast-moving research system”. The Government recognises that bureaucracy has built up over time and now has the potential to impact on the time available to conduct research. The odd additional question here, or extra data point there, has now created its own industry, and has the potential to limit the accessibility of funding to those that are already familiar with the processes.

Funders will be asked to look at data collection on the impact of research and improve data flows between platforms. There will also be work to coordinate funding assurance and harmonise application processes. Government is keen to see trust built into the system both by funder of institutions and institutions of funders. There is also a recognition that for the changes being proposed, to assurance and grant management, to work they will often require new approaches within institutions.

The response acknowledges several areas of ARMA work including our Complex Collaborations report and our continuing desire to work collaboratively with the sector to ensure we have the resources to manage risks in international research. ARMA is part of the Government’s Bureaucracy Review Reform and Implementation Network, and our members are actively contributing to all the streams of activity. This reflects the growing recognition of the valuable insights that ARMA members have into the research system.

It is worth reflecting that every extra question or piece of data has been asked for with the best intention. The reality however is that much of this is never looked at again. Simplicity is easy to aspire to but in practice it takes an awful lot longer to do and requires much more effort. With a commitment to embed this ethos going forward there needs to be a simple mantra around additional asks such as “one in, two out.” This will keep the conversations going and resist the slow creep back to a bureaucratic future.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c532309c5b7f000c951b95/independent_review_of_research_bureaucracy_government_response.pdf