VMOST

VMOST stands for:
– Vision
– Mission
– Objectives
– Strategy
– Tactics

Analysing activity in this way helps clarify what you are trying to achieve (the mission and objectives) and how you will achieve this (the strategy and tactics).

Vision: an aspirational statement of the purpose of the research department or programme. How does it make the world a better place? How does it contribute to knowledge (for help targeting the vision, see What is Impact).

Mission: the rationale and direction for the research department or programme. This is a structured plan for how the vision will be achieved in the long term.

Objectives: the goals that particular research activity within a department or programme aims to achieve.

Strategy: the medium- to long-term plans and actions that will enable the objectives to be achieved.

Tactics: the detailed, short-term plans and actions that will deliver the strategy. Tactics represent the individual impact and research activities that form the basis of the day to day work of individuals conducting research in the department or programme.

Barriers

High level and aspirational aims can easily become vague and unaccountable.

Tools such as this can sometimes become cliched and overly ‘corporate’ in their outlook.

It may be difficult as a lone researcher to lead on the definition of the aims of the entire research group.

Seeking common definitions such as these can lead to disagreements and tension that needs to be handled carefully.

Enablers

Putting down the vision and mission of the research group can help motivate and remind individuals why they are doing what they are doing on a daily basis.

Stating the purpose of the research in aspirational terms can be a useful ‘lowest common denominator’ for engaging members of the public or non-specialist audiences with the aims and value of your work.

Structuring both high-level aims and low-level targets in one document helps identification of any potential breakdowns in the aims or strategy.