ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book addresses the question ‘how does management approach make a difference to the career states of research scientists?’ Scientific researchers are employed in both private and public sector institutions and are engaged in a wide spectrum of research activity-from pure basic research to highly applied studies. The book explores the inter-relationships between the sectors, and compares career structures and approaches to human resources and career management. It focuses on the broad organisational aspects of personnel and career management and develops a model of career states which reflects the interaction between individual and organisation under a wide range of influences to illustrate the whole dynamic process. Scientists on the whole do not choose a career in scientific research in order to be managers. For the most part, their early education and training does not address management skills.
