Does management matter in scientific laboratories? : evidence from Harvard Medical School

Abstract

The high quality of modern medical care is built upon the creation of scientific knowledge generated from medical research. While the role of management practices has been rigorously explored across various industries, little is known about management in medical research. I collected data surveying principal investigators of medical research laboratories at the Harvard Medical School to examine the relationship of management practices and research outputs. I find that principal investigators with more effective management practices are associated with higher-impact research (measured by citations). This effect is stronger and more significant in younger compared to older laboratories and remains robust after using different controls. This study helps to increase the understanding of management in a scientific setting and should start a new discussion about the relevance of management in medical research.