From Writing the Grant to Working the Grant: An Exploration of Processes and Procedures in Transition

Abstract

Fundamental to many projects, a research grant application outlines a research question to be explored as well as its importance and scholarly contribution. This article’s aim is to explore this transition from the grant application to the actual funded research work by examining the experience of INKE, a large interdisciplinary research team. After more than five years of planning and funding success, the research team needed to develop more specific procedures and policies that would facilitate their collaboration than had been outlined in the grant application. Issues under consideration included governance documents, intellectual property policies, leave/exit policies, planning processes, and the inclusion of new researchers and partners. This article will conclude with recommendations on transition and process planning for research teams to ensure effective research collaboration.