Integrated research reporting - getting off the ground into ORBIT

Abstract

'Research Management' is diverse, while management systems are traditionally poorly integrated with other corporate systems. Thus integrated research reporting has proved difficult to provide. ORBIT (Operational Research Business Information Tool) is an initiative to address this. Part of a larger project, the first ORBIT release comprises three discrete but related modules - Student Profiles for postgraduate management; Project Reporting to integrate research financial, ResearchMaster (grants management) and HR salaries data; Researcher Profiles bringing together strategic data concerning academic research activity, permitting researchers to maintain up-to-date C.V. and perform researcher activity analysis. ORBIT leverages off web technologies. Using its own database, reports are delivered via intuitive screens, with fully controllable and exportable data. This paper discusses the broad issues underpinning the project and its development. Demonstration of features will be followed by some ideas for future development.