The Local Construction and Enactment of Standards for Research Evaluation

The local adaptation of research evaluation at faculty and departmental level is analysed in terms of the processes through which an evaluation standard is stipulated and enacted. Three aspects of the interplay of the standard with the local evaluation context are discussed: conflict regulation; activity coordination; and processing of local problems and issues. A ‘soft’ standard appears as a compromise between different interested parties, which allows for some coordination between loosely coupled actors, and which functions as an open garbage can for departmental problems and issues. The evaluation standard is discussed in relation to local sense-making processes, the introduction of ‘managerialism’ in academia, and organization development and exploration.