Improving the Management of Scientific and Industrial Research Institutes: The Role of Directors: Evidence from Ghana

The Management of Agricultural research organisations at all levels is in most cases in the hands of veteran agricultural research workers who have risen through the ranks. They are then made responsible for managerial activities in an extremely complex field, for which they have had little or no training. Administrative understanding is usually incidental and rarely present. This study focused on managerial challenges faced by directors of CSIR Institutes and how they can be assisted to achieve managerial improvement. The study covered 22 Directors made up of 11 Directors and 11 Deputy Directors. Eighteen out of the 22 responded to the questionnaire. The study revealed that the major challenge faced by directors in managing in institute is managing the human resource. The results also showed that directors require training in human resource management and financial management. Also the majority of Directors agreed to the urgent need for regular training in management skills for institute directors. The study therefore recommends that the management of the CSIR should organize management training courses to equip directors with human resources and financial management skills.