1. Organisational and Collaboration issues in supporting researchers
Why are we doing this ?
Supporting/encouraging projects and researchers using NREN services
Engagement leading to mutual understanding
What are some of the general issues we’ve experienced over the years that hinder progress
Often due to:
poor understanding and making assumptions (implicit/explicit)
poor planning
poor engagement with internal and external stakeholders

2. Sources of difficulty and approaches to take ?
Researchers using NREN services
awareness of what is available
are these understood correctly ?
NRENs understanding research/project requirements
communicating requirements to colleagues, acting as internal advocate where necessary
dealing with "off portfolio" or unusual requests
Address these through early stage informal / exploratory discussions
Identifying and resolving assumptions
Iterate to reach better mutual understanding
Clarity
What are projects seeking ?
Roles and responsibilities
Questions to ask:
technical, workflow, financial, policy…
Being serious, objective, realistic…
Feasibility – scope, scale..
Affordability – is there a budget to support the requirements ?

3. Within organisations hosting researchers
Relationships with key internal stakeholders, partners & service providers
Management & policy approval
Infrastructure & other services
Will the researcher/project communicate and engage with them ?
Do they understand the project or activity and its requirements/implications ?
Critical to Success
frustration and failure where this doesn’t happen effectively
General organisational issue
How does it engage with and understand its own research communities ?
Whose role is this ?
Implications for strategic resource and requirements planning

4. Cross-organisation issues
Project communication & co-ordination
with project partners/collaborators
with service/resource providers - NRENs plus & stakeholders (funders…)
NREN communication & co-ordination
between NRENs & other service/resource providers
with project partners
Third parties – e.g funders or national / international bodies
managing expectations
feedback on approach
What helps:
Clear remit
Clear roles and responsibilities
Clear terms of engagement