Managing large research partnerships: Examples from the Advanced Technology Program's Information Infrastructure for Healthcare program

This study investigates the organization and management of large research partnerships that form around risky, early stage, complex technologies. Rather than developing specific products ready for the market, large research partnerships with diverse memebership are more appropriate for combining the diverse resources and capabilities required to advance the state of the art in early stage technologies and to create standards, thus decreasing the uncertainty of subsequent research. Some form of effective central authority is desirable in order to galvanize a common vision for the partnership, to establish clear milestones, and to take the burden of day-to-day negotiation and decision-making. Too much or too little management concentration brings similar detrimental results: members feeling left out of the decision-making process and a perception of unfair distribution of power to influence the process and the vision of the partnership.