12/06/2014 The Aggregation of Marginal Gains in Research Support Dr Odette Dewhurst Dr Randolph Haggerty The University of Leeds Who are we? Research and Innovation Support Conference Public Funding Manager – Research & Innovation Services Faculty Research & Innovation Manager, Environment Engaging with the Region 1 12/06/2014 Todayand Innovation Support Conference Research • What is the ‘marginal gains’ philosophy and why has it been so successful in sport • How can the philosophy be applied to research support and the importance of involving the specialist knowledge of back room staff • What interventions are available • A case study • The session will end with comments from the audience on how small improvements can be made in their services Engaging with the Region On Yer Bike... Research and Innovation Support Conference Engaging with the Region 2 12/06/2014 On Yer Bike... In 2009, Dave Brailsford set out to have a British No Brit of had the top 3 during the winner thefinished Tour deinFrance within 5 years... preceding 98 Tours. They achieved it in 3People years. thought he was mad. On Yer Bike... 3 12/06/2014 On Yer Bike... 1% The actions “The whole principle came from the idea that if you broke down everything you could think of that goes into riding a bike, and then improved it by 1%, you will get a significant increase when you put them all together”. Put simply... how small improvements in a number of different aspects of what we do can have a huge impact on the performance of the team 4 12/06/2014 The actions Team Sky focused on: • Vision • Technological improvements • Improved team communications • Morale • The individual Research Services: • Clear vision to excel at research and buyin from institutional leaders • The value the expertise of research support professionals & other colleagues • Better communication with academics, managers, HR, PR etc • Instil a research culture, celebrate success, clear team vision • Mentoring, training, career development The actions “Firstly, you need a team with the skills and motivation to succeed. Secondly, you need to understand what you want to achieve. Thirdly, you need to understand where you are now. Then, you need to put a plan in place to see how you can get from where you are now to what you want to achieve.” 5 12/06/2014 The actions Three levels…. 1: Technological gains: introducing low cost, undisruptive IT or equipment changes that improve service delivery experiences. 2: Process gains: changing processes, along with the improved use of metrics to focus resources on the things that really make a difference and from which marginal gains can be determined. 3: Leadership gains: small changes in overall strategic leadership and management that provokes new thinking in managers, and innovation within and between departments that improve efficiency, effectiveness and increased morale. On Yer Bike... Use of latest (legal!) technology in terms of kit – plus increased understanding of aerodynamics can decrease riders’ times by minutes. But.... There’s a reluctance to adopt and utilise such advances. 6 12/06/2014 Marginal Gains in Research Support So... What does all this have to do with research support? Marginal Gains in Research Support In an increasingly competitive and challenging research funding environment, small changes can make a big difference to success. 7 12/06/2014 Marginal Gains in Research Support Research support has 3 core functions • Getting funding • Utilising funding as best as possible • Maximising outputs Marginal Gains in Research Support Getting funding To improve need to: • Increase number of high quality applications, eliminating poor quality non-fundable submissions • Diversify funding sources –industry & international • Encourage collaboration • Develop best submissions possible • Cost in a way that is the most beneficial to institution • Normalize a research culture so staff apply & successful 8 12/06/2014 Marginal Gains in Research Support In practice: • Review staff and identify suitable funding opportunities for them • Share good practice – library of successful bids, existing PIs mentoring applicants, training events, collaborations with other institutions • Internal peer review by academics and research support professionals • Cost to increase fEC levels • Allow plenty of time to develop proposal Need to work with academic leaders (head of department, Dean etc) to ensure buy in. Need to create research culture! Marginal gains approach based on valuing back room team, same needs to be applied to research support Marginal Gains in Research Support Utilising funding To get better value from awards: • Monitor spending and fully utilise budgets • Provide PIs with options • Get best outcomes from sub-contracts, VAT recovery, HR etc • Procurement & purchasing Easier to develop marginal gains here but the focus is always on getting money in! 9 12/06/2014 Marginal Gains in Research Support Maximising outputs • Linking with press office / communications / marketing to publicises research outputs • Open access to increase citations • Capture for REF & impact case studies • Follow on funding and KE • Innovation Success breeds success! Positive outcomes develop a research culture and raise the expectations of staff. Marginal Gains in Research Support • Fellowships/first grant support (ESRC Future Research Leaders and AHRC) • Centres for Doctoral Training (EPSRC) • One bid per HEI (MRC Bioinformatics Centre) 10 12/06/2014 Marginal Gains in Research Support Selection and sifting Peer Review Pathways to Impact Communication Marginal Gains in Research Support A Case Study of a Large, Collaborative Bid: Infrastructure for collaboration: Leeds MRC Medical Bioinformatics Centre 11 12/06/2014 Marginal Gains in Research Support • • • • Up to £35m capital (for spend in 2014/15) plus £15m resource Funding for staff, projects and capability development Plan to fund up to six, five-year strategic awards. Fellowship funding is also available for recruitment of research leaders of the future in bioinformatics and computational biology. • Improve research foci in medical bioinformatics, building flexibly on the capabilities already in place in Universities and centres of excellence; • Support career opportunities for computational scientists, technologists, and programme leaders in medical bioinformatics; Marginal Gains in Research Support One bid per HEI Very short timeframe Many partners High degree of complexity University matchfunding Liaising with Estates 12 12/06/2014 Marginal Gains in Research Support • Series of facilitated discussion sessions to identify potential topics and Co-Is • Small, core team who met regularly, then a wider group who fed into discussions on the drafts • Strong communication within the core team • Clear delegation of tasks • Hard effort to develop smarter working! • Review & feedback Marginal Gains in Research Support 13 12/06/2014 Marginal Gains in Research Support Conclusions: What can we do differently? • A ‘Marginal Gains’ approach is an attitude. If we have aspirational targets and work at it, the improvements they will come! • It is the small things that add up. • Backroom staff know their stuff and should be consulted. Marginal Gains in Research Support Over to you We don’t know all the answers. What will you change? 14
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