Social Interoperability in Research Support - Cross-Campus Partnerships and the University Research Enterprise

Oct 15, 2026

OCLC Research report examining social interoperability in research support through cross-campus partnerships and how the university research enterprise functions. It frames universities as complex adaptive systems shaped by competition for prestige, rankings, and resources, then outlines leadership challenges, especially frustration and isolation in emerging roles. The report develops a stakeholder model, analyzes research support domains such as RDM, RIM, profiles, FAR, analytics, and ORCID adoption, and offers practical strategies for relationship building across campuses.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages52

Reading Time2 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Building Intra-Campus Relationships Around Research Support Services

Introduction

Scope and Methods

Limitations

The Campus Environment

Social Interoperability in Research Support Services

Cross-Campus Relationship Building: Strategies and Tactics

Relationship Building: Practical Advice

OCLC RESEARCH REPORT Social Interoperability in Research Support: Cross-campus partnerships and the university research enterprise Rebecca Bryant, Annette Dortmund, and Brian Lavoie Social Interoperability in Research Support: Cross-Campus Partnerships and the University Research Enterprise Rebecca Bryant Senior Program Officer Annette Dortmund Senior Product Manager Brian Lavoie Senior Research Scientist © 2020 OCLC. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) August 2020 OCLC Research Dublin, Ohio 43017 USA [www.oclc.org](www.oclc.org) ISBN: 978-1-55653-157-6 DOI: 10.25333/wyrd-n586 OCLC Control Number: 1184125043 ORCID iDs Rebecca Bryant [http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2753-3881](http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2753-3881) Annette Dortmund [https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1588-9749](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1588-9749) Brian Lavoie [http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7173-8753](http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7173-8753) Please direct correspondence to: OCLC Research [oclcresearch@oclc.org](oclcresearch@oclc.org) [Suggested citation:](Suggested citation:) Bryant, Rebecca, Annette Dortmund, and Brian Lavoie. 2020. Social Interoperability in Research Support: Cross Campus Partnerships and the University Research Enterprise. Dublin, OH: OCLC Research. [https://doi.org/10.25333/wyrd-n586](https://doi.org/10.25333/wyrd-n586). CONTENTS [Foreword ............................................................................................ vi](Foreword ............................................................................................ vi) Building Intra-Campus Relationships Around Research Support Services ............................................................................................... 1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 1 Scope and Methods .................................................................................................3 Limitations ................................................................................................................4 The Campus Environment .................................................................. 5 Universities are Complex Adaptive Systems ..........................................................5 Intense Competition for Prestige, Rankings, and Resources .................................6 Leadership Challenges ............................................................................................ 7 Frustration and Isolation in Emerging Roles ........................................................... 7 A Model for Conceptualizing University Research Support Stakeholders ....................................................................................... 9 Academic Affairs .................................................................................................... 10 Research Administration......................................................................................... 11 The Library............................................................................................................... 11 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) .......................................... 12 Faculty Affairs and Governance ............................................................................ 13 Communications .................................................................................................... 14 Social Interoperability in Research Support Services ......................16 Research Data Management (RDM) ........................................................................17 Research Information Management (RIM) ............................................................ 19 Public researcher profiles ...........

FAQs

What does the report mean by social interoperability in research support?

It describes how different campus stakeholders coordinate and connect to support research activities effectively, enabling collaboration across institutional units.

How does the report characterize universities and why does it matter?

It treats universities as complex adaptive systems, shaped by competitive pressures and leadership constraints, which influences how research support relationships form and evolve.

What practical tactics does the report recommend for building cross-campus relationships?

It emphasizes securing buy-in, understanding the audience, communicating clearly, offering concrete solutions, timing engagement, creating meeting opportunities, and using shared staff and embedded resources.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair