Recognize and Alleviate a Resource Management Conundrum Facing Science Diaspora Networks

Area of Science:

• Science and Technology Policy
• Organizational Studies
• International Relations

Background:

• Science diaspora networks are increasingly managed by formal organizations.
• Previous research explored their impact on international collaborations and science diplomacy.
• The effectiveness of specific network activities remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the resource management conundrum faced by science diaspora network organizations.
• To explore the causes and implications of this conundrum using organizational theory.
• To propose practical solutions for improving resource acquisition and network sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Review of exploratory study results on resource-limited network organizations.
• Analysis of organizational theory, specifically bounded rationality.
• Development of a database of operating science diaspora networks.

Main Results:

• Network organizations generally lack resources and struggle to acquire more.
• Limited knowledge sharing occurs between these organizations.
• The resource conundrum is a predictable outcome of organizational design and bounded rationality.

Conclusions:

• Science diaspora network organizations face a significant, underappreciated resource conundrum.
• A new database is provided to facilitate peer knowledge exchange on resource acquisition.
• Addressing this conundrum requires organizational design changes and increased external resources.