One of the tools that help the group of over 40 researchers stay focused on a joint research goal in ANEE is the roadmap document. It outlines the main goals of ANEE and each team, and shows how each individual researcher’s work furthers those goals. The document is updated yearly based on team leaders’ meetings with researchers.
As the ANEE project coordinator I had the privilege of attending the EARMA (European Association of Research Managers and Administrators) conference in Odense on April 23–25, 2024, and showcasing the benefits of a roadmap in a multi-disciplinary research project.
My presentation was part of a session on project management. My focus was on two issues: 1) how can an administrator support roadmap work through coaching, and 2) what are the benefits of engaging in roadmap work for the administrator, for the research group, and for the principal investigator (PI).
I argued that a research roadmap document brings focus and clarity into a joint effort, it helps keep track of overall progress toward larger goals over many years, and it can strengthen engagement and collaboration as researchers know how their work fits in with others’ work. Roadmap work can strengthen the PI’s leadership skills, asking how they can lead others’ research work in addition to their own. For a research administrator, coaching roadmap work is an interesting insight into research. On a practical level, the outcome document is a very handy tool when it comes time to report the progress and achievements of the project to funders and stakeholders.