MANAGING SCIENTIFIC-INFORMATION IN AGRICULTURAL-RESEARCH

Traditionally, many research managers have seen their main responsibility to be supervising scientific experiments. However, today a critical role for managers is to ensure that scientists are supported by an effective research information system. This system must be able to identify and respond to the organization's information needs, identify and access key information sources and employ appropriate mechanisms to select, channel and store information. Designing and implementing an effective research information system requires considerable expertise on the part of both managers and information specialists. A broad-based information strategy should be developed as an essential part of an agricultural research organization's strategic plan.