FRLP Module 7: Managing People in a Research Context
Introduction
This module focuses on the activities a leader needs to undertake to assist team members perform at their best. It includes working with the group to set clear directions in the research and in understanding their role within the whole project, setting the tone and norms for respectful and innovative discussion and behaviour, providing a safe work environment, and recognising and rewarding achievement and efforts. It also focuses on managing team and interpersonal dynamics to make the best use of staff skills, knowledge and abilities, including addressing difficult conversations.The colloquialism 'people are our greatest resource' is especially true in relation to the financial investment in a research project. Between 60 and 80 per cent of a project's financial resources are directly invested through salaries and on-costs and indirectly through recruitment and development costs in the staff that deliver project outputs. Good leadership and effective communication is needed to inspire the best use of staff talents. Shortsighted cost cutting measures, such as not providing development opportunities, or poor occupational health and safety practices, may result in greater costs in the long-term through inefficient use of time, accidents or legal issues. Good people management is also good financial management.
Research projects require a tailored approach to people management. This module builds on the recruitment approach in Module 2: Start-up and Collaboration: putting ideas into practice to identify effective approaches to leading and managing members of a research team.
Aims
Module 7 aims to assist researchers to reflect on their preferred leadership style, the challenge of developing a context for creative research and the ongoing management issues within the distinctive research context of fixed-term employment and narrow time frames.Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module you should be able to:- identify the characteristics of a culture in which research teams identify and achieve appropriate goals
- understand the relevance of different leadership styles in a research context and the stages in team development
- introduce key characteristics of effective communication, negotiation skills and teams
- understand your responsibilities in creating a safe equitable workplace for the team
- provide tools and skills for researchers to plan and monitor activities to meet the requirements of the research plan.
Content overview
The module comprises the following three topics:- Challenges of managing and leading in a research setting
- Research leadership
- Managing individuals
<< Back to FLRP homepage