WP12. ​Project Management

The main objective of WP12 is to ensure smooth, efficient and timely management of all administrative, research and dissemination activities within the project the maximize the public benefits and impact of the developed study. Activities within WP12 include: (1) design and implementation of management structures and procedures for the steering, coordination, and monitoring of the whole project consortium; (2) secure smooth project performance and full implementation of the research and policy-making program.

WP Leader: Prof. Dr. Christian Haerpfer, ICSR, Austria.

Smooth and efficient TRUEDEM project management system comprises several main pillars. Foremost, the project coordinator - ICST-AT - is responsible for the overall project management in what concerns all administrative, financial, research and dissemination efforts. The project coordinator's duty is to ensure that the work planned within all WPs will be implemented in a timely manner and that all deliverables will be submitted in accordance with their declared specifications and deadlines. The ICSR-AT under the leadership of Project Coordinator Prof. Christian Haerpfer takes the lead providing overall management and coordination of project activities, thus ensuring their efficient and timely accomplishment. The specific tasks in this respect include: (1) set up the Project Consortium and establish its steering and advisory bodies; (2) secure effective communication between the project partners; (3) coordinate the Executive Committee and ensure effective collaboration on scientific matters between WP leaders; (4) assure that all project partners have timely information; (5) receive the reports from the work package leaders and approve them before they are assembled for regular reporting; (6) accurate and timely reporting; (8) keeping project archives and administrative and financial documentation; (9) maintain and assure regular communication with the Advisory Boards; (10) day-to-day project administration and monitoring of performances of individual teams and work packages.

Beyond the Project Coordinator, the main and primary decision-making body is the Executive Committee that comprises 1 representative (team leader) from each consortium member. The EC meets on a regular basis to (1) approve detailed guidelines of research work packages; (2) take final decisions regarding the geographical, thematic and methodical scopes of the planned project quantitative and qualitative research; (3) review and approve of draft research reports and deliverables, including quality assurance of new surveys; (4) approve possible changes and adjustments in work packages, timelines, consortium composition and budget allocations; (5) approve programs for policy workshops and other dissemination events.

The second important pillar in project management concerns coordination of research and dissemination activities within each specific work package. For this for every WP a designated WP leader has been nominated. The tasks of the WP leader include: (1) development of a detailed research plan and guidelines for its implementation for the coordinated WP; (2) develop guidelines for all national teams regarding their specific contribution for the WP (secondary data collection or analysis on specific indicators or similiar); (3) develop a plan/ outline of specific research activities to be undertaken within the WP; (3) develop a plan / outline and the first draft of all deliverables within the WP.

Finally, the third dimension of management activities in the project concerns coordination of individual tasks (such as data collection or report preparation) and project events (workshops, conferences). Such management activities are provided by the respective project unit in charge (such as Communication Group or the Quantitative and Qualitative Research Group) or the individual consortium members nominated as the leaders overseeing preparation of a specific analytical report or event (i.e. conference chair). Communication between the different managerial bodies and the Project Coordinator is organized via email and frequent Zoom meetings. Decision-making in the Consortium is subject to compliance with the Gender Equality and Ethics Plans.