What metrics should research managers track to ensure success?

Research management is a vital skill for anyone who wants to advance their career in academia, industry, or policy. As a research manager, you are responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating research projects, as well as leading and supporting your team. But how do you measure your performance and impact as a research manager? What metrics should you track to ensure success?

1 Project metrics

Project metrics are the indicators that measure how well you are managing your research projects. They include aspects such as scope, budget, timeline, quality, and risk. You should track these metrics throughout the project lifecycle, from initiation to closure, and compare them to your initial goals and expectations. Project metrics can help you monitor your progress, identify issues, and make adjustments as needed. They can also help you communicate your results and achievements to your stakeholders and sponsors.

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Nino Gvalia 🔬🎓

🧪 || Empower Lives With a Lab Behind the Scene || Passionate BioChemistry Enthusiast || 🎓 Master’s Candidate in Biochemistry || 🔬 Exploring the Wonders of Science 🌟
Research managers play a crucial role in ensuring the success of their projects 🚀. To measure and optimize performance, it's essential to track key metrics such as project timelines ⏰, budget adherence 💰, and the quality of research outcomes 📊. Keeping an eye on team collaboration and communication 🤝 can enhance efficiency, while monitoring stakeholder satisfaction 😊 ensures the overall success of the research initiatives. By embracing these metrics, research managers can navigate their projects toward triumph and continuous improvement! 🌟
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2 Team metrics

Team metrics are the indicators that measure how well you are leading and supporting your research team. They include aspects such as collaboration, engagement, satisfaction, productivity, and innovation. You should track these metrics regularly, using surveys, feedback, and performance reviews. Team metrics can help you assess your team's strengths and weaknesses, foster a positive and inclusive culture, and motivate and reward your team members. They can also help you develop your team's skills and competencies, and address any conflicts or challenges.

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3 Impact metrics

Impact metrics are the indicators that measure how well you are achieving your research objectives and outcomes. They include aspects such as publications, citations, grants, awards, patents, and policy influence. You should track these metrics after the completion of your research projects, using databases, reports, and media coverage. Impact metrics can help you demonstrate your value and contribution to your field, institution, and society. They can also help you identify your areas of expertise and differentiation, and pursue new opportunities and collaborations.

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Raj Stanley

Director @ Rivermind Consulting | Researcher | Research management Coach
It is important to keep the metrics at minimum when it comes to research management. From my experience, I focus on two categories of measurement 1) Stakeholder Impact metrics (e.g. Budget, Quality) 2) Society Impact metrics (Influence, Citations, Patents)
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4 Personal metrics

Personal metrics are the indicators that measure how well you are developing your own research management skills and career. They include aspects such as learning, growth, satisfaction, and goals. You should track these metrics periodically, using self-assessment, reflection, and feedback. Personal metrics can help you evaluate your strengths and areas for improvement, set realistic and achievable goals, and plan your career path. They can also help you balance your work and personal life, and cope with stress and challenges.

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5 Benchmarking metrics

Benchmarking metrics are the indicators that measure how well you are performing compared to other research managers or organizations. They include aspects such as best practices, standards, and rankings. You should track these metrics occasionally, using external sources, such as reports, surveys, and reviews. Benchmarking metrics can help you learn from others, identify gaps and opportunities, and improve your competitiveness and reputation. They can also help you network and collaborate with other research managers or organizations.

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6 Balanced scorecard

A balanced scorecard is a tool that can help you integrate and align all the metrics that you track as a research manager. It is a framework that allows you to define your vision, mission, and strategy, and translate them into four perspectives: financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth. For each perspective, you can set objectives, measures, targets, and initiatives that reflect your research management goals and priorities. A balanced scorecard can help you monitor and evaluate your performance and impact as a research manager, and communicate them to your stakeholders and sponsors.

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