Abstract
Research management is a key supporting factor for systems research investment. The main objective
of research management is essential linkage between researchers and research users. This article describes
points of view in health systems research management from the authors’ direct experience in
reviewing and analyzing three issues: the research management concept, the research management process
and the role of the research manager.
Good research management helps in building qualified researchers, formulating interesting research
questions, and obtaining acceptable research results leading to suitable utilization. The key success factor
of research management depends on the linkage capacity of all partnerships within the research system.
The principal roles of health research management may be summed up in four major functions: (1) facilitating
formulation of the research scope by identifying problems and setting priorities; (2) facilitating
research involvement among researchers and stakeholders in the health system for selecting research
proposals; (3) facilitating research monitoring; and (4) facilitating research assessment for knowledge
utilization. Certainly, the key person in this process is the research manager. For this reason, research
managers should be strengthened both in terms of academic capacity and in management skills for qualified
research administration.
