Abstract
This thesis explores the conduct and outcomes of individual research projects where the focus of interest is the influence of administrative procedures on the research process. Data is from interviews with researchers and administrators in a school in one of the New Zealand universities, backed by a document review.
The context is international changes in university research management practices, linked to changes in science policy, public sector management, and increasingly stringent fiscal constraints. These changes are of interest to organisational studies scholars, university research managers, science policy-makers and administrators, and academic researchers.
The rationale for the study is that although issues associated with this topic are well rehearsed understanding and empirical investigation of their implications are limited.
Also, the literature concerning the organisational life of universities is characterised by theoretical plurality and a lack of empirical investigation. Exploratory research seemed indicated and grounded theory methodology was adopted. The aim was to produce descriptive data that reflected the realities of the principal actors involved and provide interpretations that could contribute to dialogue on this topic in the organisation studies community.
Using the research project as the unit of analysis provided an important boundary A research project life cycle model identifies phases in the conduct of a project, indicating research activities likely to be associated with administrative procedures. Data includes background information, administrative procedures operant in the research site, data 'tracking ' the progress of eighteen projects, and general views and comments.
The results provide detailed descriptive data grounded in practice about the research process linking research activities to administrative practices. Analysis identifies grant seeking procedures as critical factors. It is argued other factors can be readily masked by the immediacy of resource dependency considerations. The nature of external relationships, individual researcher autonomy, and professional research expertise are considered especially significant. The analysis also addresses the implications of the results for three substantive issues: the implications of change for the nature and quality of research, the introduction of managerialism into the universities, and the implications of change for university autonomy.
The conclusions address two themes. Firstly plurality in considering the organisational life of the universities is discussed from a theoretical perspective and in considering the introduction of managerialism in the universities. It is concluded that plurality is an important factor and poorly understood in empirical terms. The second theme explores research avenues that go beyond the descriptive account provided in this study to consider evaluation of different practices and their implications for research management. Two areas are considered. The first concerns ideas creation management and project development. The second concerns review and evaluation of the provision needed by researchers to support their research.