AbstractWith an increasing stress on research budgets, the impetus for investigation of alternative models for managing research is growing. Much work has been invested already in technique development. To precede additional research, the current state‐of‐the‐art in resource allocation methodology pertinent to agricultural research management is presented. The focus is on quantitative approaches for improving internal consistency of subjective judgments. The marginal principle is applicable to the selection of an optimal investment in management, and a rudimentary framework for implementing that principle is suggested.