An attribute-based evaluation framework for sustainable scientific instruments platforms

Abstract

Scientific instrument platforms (SIPs) suffer from a lack of opinion and suggestions on sustainable operation management, leading to widely poor operation status nowadays. It is possible to guarantee the quality and efficiency of scientific and technological innovation activities and to improve the economic and social benefits of scientific and technological resources by constructing a framework system to promote the sustainability of the operation and management for SIPs. To meet the examination and evaluation requirements of the current operation and management of SIPs in China, this paper aims to establish an evaluation framework composed of indicators and attributes running through the construction and development of the SIPs from four aspects of learning and growth, process management, customers, and finance. Based on the existing research and operation practice, and according to the knowledge and preference of 627 SIP stakeholders, factor analysis has been adopted to extract and validate the hierarchical structure containing key sustainability indicators. The results show that the attribute characteristics of sustainable operating management for SIPs involve four significant dimensions of target positioning, team building, internal process control, and external service, among which the first and third ones have relatively higher priority. An effective and reliable evaluation tool is identified to be designed and provided for SIP operating management, which can also be used for self-evaluation and unified management of the sustainable operation of SIPs.