Strategies in the production and dissemination of knowledge

Abstract

The focus of this dissertation is on the organisation and management of scientific research aiming to produce knowledge. The main research question answered in this thesis is ‘What conditions regarding research and the organisation of research do serve the researcher in the production of knowledge?’ This question is answered by analysing the production of knowledge by the researcher from the angle of the strategic positioning of this researcher in the environment. To this end, we developed a model analysing this strategic positioning in the relationship of the researcher. The positioning model contains two dimensions to characterise the relationship: the organisational autonomy and the strategic interdependence of each of the partners in the relationship. The model leads to a continuum of modes in which we can distinguish four typical modes of strategic positioning: the well-known mode1 and mode2, and the newly introduced mode0 and mode3. Mode3 is called the research entrepreneur. Each mode is a specific combination of a low or high necessity for interdependence and organisational. Mode3 – the research entrepreneur is shown to be highly autonomous and at the same time highly interdependent researcher. This means that he sets research goals and directs research being at the same time intertwined with his environment. The model was tested in interviews of 43 researchers active in hard and social sciences. The study confirmed feasibility of the model in creating observables and predicting the production of knowledge. In this thesis we also discuss business models for scientific publishing. We state that any business model for scientific publishing should serve researchers by providing wide availability of scientific information and the basic services of availability and peer review and should offer optional added value services further enhancing the power of selection of researchers. It should serve researchers in attaining their strategic goals. Therefore, it has to fulfil the basic premise that scientific information is to be shared and used in the production of knowledge. On the basis of the diagnosis of the production of knowledge under different conditions as delivered in this thesis we conclude that the positioning model may be of relevance for researchers, research strategists, research managers and policy makers alike. The model can well serve as a tool in setting research programmes and can be used for strategy development of researchers as it shows how to position researchers in their research environment to enhance the productivity in line with the goals of the group or institute.