Research information management

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to discuss the mutual relationship between open science and  theory and practice in RIM (Research Information Management), especially represented in CRISs (Current Research Information Systems), with special emphasis on research assessment requirements context, open science policies and CRIS interoperability.
Methods: The subject has been described with the critical review of the newest literature (2015-2019) presenting international studies on chosen aspects. Institution-centric and researcher-centric approaches has been presented.
Results and conclusions: The emerging new ecosystem of open science changes the way research is done and modifies the way it is monitored and evaluated. CRIS must take into account the new transformation processes and research evaluation measures. This means more transparency and more interaction with the individual researcher, institutional,  national and international stakeholders. Full interoperability and open standards are desired to improve the discoverability and reusability of research outputs and metadata for different purposes.
Value: Showing significance of new tendencies in RIM/CRIS for researchers and research-performing organisations at institutional, national and international level.

Integrating data from a variety of heterogeneous internal and external data sources (e.g. CERIF and RCD data models with different modeling languages) in a federated database system such as "Research Information Management System (RIMS)" is becoming more challenging for (inter-)national universities and research institutions. Data quality is an important factor for successful integration and interpretation of research information and interoperability of various independent information systems. Before the data is loaded into RIMS, they should be reviewed during data integration process to resolve conflicts between the different data sources and clean the data quality issues. Poor data quality leads to distortion in data presentation, and thus to erroneous basis for decisions. It is ultimately a cost for scientific institutions and it starts with integrating research information into the RIMS. Therefore, the investment in the topic of information integration makes sense insofar, the achievement of a high data quality is of primary importance. This paper presents methods, processes and techniques of information integration in the context of research information management systems. In order to ensure the quality of research information in an institutions data sources during its integration into the RIMS. Numerous attempts have already been done by universities and research institutions to create techniques and solutions for this need.

Current research information systems (CRIS) and institutional repositories (IR) were developed as clearly distinguished systems, with different objectives and functionalities, standards and data models, and for different needs and user groups. While academic librarians are often deeply committed to the management of open access and IR, they are less involved and familiar with research evaluation and CRIS. After a period of separate implementation of CRIS and IR, both systems started to converge and even to merge. Today IR often fulfil the requirements of monitoring and assessment of institutional research performance while CRIS, beyond the processing of metadata, begin to store, preserve, and disseminate research papers. This chapter describes and explains the underlying dynamics, with examples to illustrate the benefits, risks, and the potential barriers of this convergence. Special attention is paid to the role of data quality and user acceptance, and to the implications for the academic librarian.

One of the most important duties of universities is to research and produce knowledge. Institutional repositories are a major gateway for the management of information and knowledge representing and making accessible the intellectual products of a university. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (fum) has established its institutional repository named the System for Management of Scientific Information of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (SIMAD) since 2006. The aim of this research is to identify and develop the specifications of an appropriate institutional repository and to investigate the extent to which SIMAD’s features match with such specifications. Survey research and case study were implemented from institutional, users, and system aspects. Three different data collection approaches and tools were employed. The specifications of an appropriate institutional repository were grouped in six categories. These categories formed the basis of data analysis. According to the results, in regard to preparing guidelines, documentation and usage some changes and developments should be taken into consideration. In terms of management and administration of the process of storage and submitting of documents, SIMAD is at average level of efficiency.