Finding the right solution

An interim system

In March 2006 the Research Office purchased the Integrated Research Management Application (IRMA) as an interim system to capture publication data for the Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC) and later for the Research Quality Framework (RQF). The purchase of IRMA met some of the Research Office’s immediate operational needs, but provided a tactical rather than a strategic solution to the challenges of research management.

Planning for a long-term solution

A new capital-funded project was established in April 2006 as a joint business improvement initiative, run by ICT in partnership with the University’s Research portfolio. Originally formulated as the Research Information Management System (RIMS) project, the focus was initially on selecting and implementing a new research management system.

In defining the business requirements it became clear that the University needed more than a new system if it was to develop world-class research management capability. As a result, the scope and scale of the initiative evolved over time to create a broader program of IT-enabled change. The term RIMS is now used to describe just the system component of the wider Research Management Program.

Choosing a software provider

In May 2007 the University of Sydney released a Request for Tender (RFT) for the provision of an off-the-shelf Research Information Management System (RIMS). Following a rigorous tender evaluation process, a contract with InfoEd was signed in November 2007.

Choosing the right software is a crucial part of the overall solution, but just as important is the work required to configure the system for the University environment and implement associated changes to process, organisation and the University culture.