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Managing Producer User Relations in Research Science Institutes Dr. Laurie Cohen, Loughborough University This research has as background and ESRC-funded study into the changing role of managment in public sector research institutions, a qualitative study based on case studies in seven Research Council institutes. Following the publication of "Realising our Potential", the government White Paper on the future of science and technology in the UK (1993) and review processes such as "Prior Options", public sector research institutes have found themselves in an increasingly market-driven environment, an environment which emphasizes fiscal objectives, performance measurement and the achievement of short-term aims. The scientist/managers interviewed in this study identified two key issues as central to the context in which they now operate. The first is that of securing funds through commissioned and contracted research, and the second is an increased emphasis on accountability. Fundamental to both of these issues are questions about the changing nature of knowledge production and dissemination, the relationship between discovery and application, and about the interaction between knowledge users. Indeed, these emerged as central and permeating themes in our interviews. Most significantly, scientist/managers maintained that secure, long-term relationships with their (often diverse) users were crucial to their organisations' future commerical and scientific success. It is these issues which form the basis of this research. Specifically this research will:
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