Module 7: Leading and Managing People in a Research Context

1.1 Vision setting

As a research leader you need to have a mental picture of what the research project could produce, even though in the early stages this may not be precise. Articulating your vision means describing the possible outcomes of the research and the benefits and flow-on effects it could deliver to the university and to society.

Your vision should be able to be described in a short, pithy statement readily understood by all stakeholders. In essence, it is the media release outlined in Module 2: Commencement and Collaboration – Putting Ideas into Practice.

While it’s important to have a clear picture of what you would like to see the research team achieve, members of the team will probably have their own view or vision. Clarifying the different views is important and research team members will probably have insights that can help improve the collective vision. Sharing perspectives will help build commitment and motivation.

In stating your vision you need to consider:

• The objectives of the research
• The possible findings
• The benefits for the university and the community
• Possible future research directions that may emerge from the expected findings of the current research
• The likely structure of the research and how the project will be executed
• The broad activities required
• The responsibilities of the members of the research team
• Any support groups that will be working with the research team
• The reporting requirements
• The administrative support available.

The strategic vision must be kept prominently in sight of all the research team members. The vision will operate at two levels, the strategic and the tactical. The strategic is a matter of defining the vision and ensuring that the team members keep their focus on the big picture. At the tactical level it means ensuring that the activities necessary to achieve the goals are achieved. This is research management.