Counteracting the creativity-stifling effects of management control on academic research: A mixed method approach

When addressing critical research challenges in our society—be they about counteracting climate change or solving the cancer puzzle—the so-called creativity/control paradox is often actualized.

That is, how do we ensure that researchers are granted the type of autonomy that is absolutely necessary to come up with creative and innovative solutions to such challenges, at the same time as we ensure that the overall resources devoted to such efforts are coordinated and allocated in an efficient and timely manner?The purpose of the proposed project involving two researchers from Örebro university is to contribute towards dissolving this paradox.

More specifically, drawing upon Self-Determination Theory, we will: (1) Undertake an in-depth field-study of a Centre of Excellence which successfully combines high research creativity with the effective management control of scarce resources, based on which we will develop a theoretical model that disentangles how and why particular controls tend to facilitate, rather than stifle, research/er creativity. (2) Assess the transferability of this theoretical model through a questionnaire to some 2000 researchers, and (3) Draw out policy implications based on the empirical studies.The insights from the project will both enable theoretical contributions and offer practical guidelines for how to manage Swedish universities in ways that increase (rather than stifle) research creativity.