What’s RESEARCH without PROJECT MANAGEMENT?

Millions of people are engaged in “research” today. Some of them just want to satisfy a “curiosity” they have about a question or problem. Many are seeking to satisfy a need of society.   Many are digging into a new technology solution which will add functionality to new or existing product or system.

Research may often involve looking at old problems from new perspectives.

Albert Einstein said:

“The mere formulation of a problem is far more essential than its solution which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle requires creative imagination and makes real advances in science.”

RESEARCH is a fundamental and basic need to meet the demands of modern life. And often research is a key to new “innovation” which drives our society forward and enables our ability to satisfy our collective needs.

To many who have employed RESEARCH for a time, they have learned that there is a “research process” that derives from their interests and their approach to the questions at hand. But the basic question they face is how to turn their “research strategy” into actionable results and solutions. That is where “project management” comes into play.

To convert a “research question or problem” to a project with a fixed start and end date and to devote or dedicated resources and effort to accomplish the tasks and activities that lead to tangible results is the “essence” of project management. And don’t forget a Risk Analysis to identify potential events that may doom your project to failure.

Any researcher can develop their project management skills to meet the needs of their RESEARCH. A resource I would highly recommend is a 2016 CRC text Project Management for Research: A Guide for Graduate Students by Badiru, Rusnock and Valencia. I have conducted many research projects in my career and directed current research students in many fields.

RESEARCH will be our guide to the future. Embrace it and all its potential for our society.