U.S. Particle Accelerator School
Strategic Management of Research Labs
Sponsoring University:
Texas A&M University Extension
Course Name:
Strategic Management of Research Labs
Instructor:
William Barletta, MIT and Mei Bai, GSI and University Bonn
Purpose and Audience
Accelerator science and engineering along with science done at major research infrastructures are, for the most part, team enterprises whether they are conducted in a large (inter)national laboratory, a major research university, or an industrial setting. The successful research manager in any field requires a broad set of executive skills to maximize the scientific and technical effectiveness and output of their team. This course aims to develop strategic management skills for principal investigators and first line managers through upper-middle level managers.
Many of our examples will draw from our experience managing large accelerator research and operations enterprises. This course is designed to complement the course “Project Management for Scientists and Engineers ” that will be offered in the second half of this USPAS session.
Prerequisites
At least two years of graduate training in physical, chemical or biosciences. Some supervisory experience in a research laboratory setting (either government, industry or university) is preferred. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they meet the course prerequisites or have equivalent experience.
All students MUST have good Internet connectivity and a suitably private and quiet communication environment.
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they meet the course prerequisites or have equivalent experience.
Objectives
Understand the basic aspects of strategic management and leadership of team science in the setting of a research laboratory or research institution. Gain experience with organizational skills such as strategic planning, interpersonal influence, communications and strategic marketing.
Instructional Method
This course will be offered completely online in synchronous lectures and exercise periods. Lectures will be given for two hours in the mornings. The ninety-minute afternoon meetings will be devoted to “learning by doing” and interactive practice sessions in each of the organizational skills covered. This period will also be devoted to the homework assignments that will be given in preparation for the interactive sessions. We will arrange times for “office hours.”
The first exercise of the course must be completed and turned in prior to the first lecture. This submission will be an essential part of the organization of the business plan exercise to be presented as a final project. Presentations and in-class exercises will be recorded using Zoom. All students must submit a statement of permission to record to the USPAS office.
Course Content
The course content will follow closely the material in the textbook for the course. Many of the graded exercises will be found in the text. The lectures will start with a brief description of organizational models followed by discussions of the general measures of the scientific manager. Topics will include (a) measures of a scientific manager (b) business environment for research organizations (c) leadership in scientific organizations (d) forecasting and risk, (e) strategic planning and communications. Lectures on resource management include discussion of resource type, total cost of doing business, financial basics, make/buy decisions and setting priorities. The discussion of strategic plans and business plans transitions to the strategic marketing module. This module will include proposal preparation, scientific presentations, managing reviews and marketing your staff and research product. The course emphasizes skill in communicating the strategic vision and implementing the plans with staff, funding agencies, and the general public.
Reading Requirements
(to be provided by the USPAS) "Strategic Management of Research Organizations” by William Barletta, CRC Press (2019) and other materials to provided by the instructors.
Credit Requirements
Online courses present a special challenge in intensive classes with a strong component of team exercises.
Therefore, all students who are eligible to receive credit must register for credit; those not eligible for credit will be accepted on a case-by-case basis by the instructors.
Students will be evaluated both individually and as team members based on performance. To decrease pressure related to single, high-stakes evaluations the final exam or project presentation will constitute 30% of the final grade. Homework assignments will be (35% of final grade) and multiple in-class assignments (35% of final grade).
Texas A&M Univesity Extension course number:
Indiana University course number: Physics 671, Advanced Topics in Accelerator Physics
Michigan State University course number: PHY 963, "U.S. Particle Accelerator School"
MIT course number: 8.790, "Accelerator Physics"