1. Managing Research Jonathan M. Smith University of Pennsylvania Jms@cis.upenn.edu

2. Risk versus reward High Risk High Reward Low Reward Low Risk Effect of Research Management Research “In Nature”

3. Common Risk Factors Problem Difficulty Researchers Time and Money All of these can be managed!

4. Risk Management Problem Difficulty –Vision PLUS new ideas –New knowledge of real risks Researchers –Get the best approaches; use competition Time and Money –Need enough of both; excellent PMs All of these can be managed!

5. Program Management Example Adaptive Cognition Enhanced Radio Teams (ACERT) Objective: Cooperative Teams of Multichannel Cognitive Radios for Group Use Cognition (self-awareness, learning) used to maintain communication in difficult environments

6. PM Role Develop vision and goals Refine program objectives and metrics Plan milestones and budget Obtain approval for program Solicit proposals Evaluate proposals and select performers Manage program

7. Management Team of 3 Program Manager - leads team Technical staff - 1 –Interact with performers –Obtain technical material (slides, reports) Financial staff - 1 –Analyze spending by performers –Alerts PM if problems

8. Issues and Challenges Defining metrics for unrealized system Working with performers to evaluate metrics fairly with available resources (i.e., size of a parking lot) Managing cooperation for project objectives against competition to exceed metrics

9. Lessons Learned Competition works to get best teams Risks managed through “portfolio” Benefit from interaction with/of PIs Frequent status meetings with PIs

10. Advice for Research Managers Must become world-class expert in problem domain and state-of-the-art Understand how to measure progress –Need to know this before you can define a program; provides key benefits: Know when you’ve succeeded Know when you’re failing Keep your eyes on the program objectives and transition opportunities