Bibliometric indicators reflect publication and management strategies

In a bibliometric study of nine research departments in the field of biotec hnology and molecular biology, indicators of research capacity, output and productivity were calculated, taking into account the researchers' particip ation in scientific collaboration as expressed in co-publications. In a qua ntitative approach, rankings of departments based on a number of different research performance indicators were compared with one another. The results were discussed with members from all nine departments involved. Two public ation strategies were identified, denoted as a quantity of publication and a quality of publication strategy, and two strategies with respect to scien tific collaboration were outlined, one focusing on multi-lateral and a seco nd on bi-lateral collaborations. Our findings suggest that rankings of depa rtments may be influenced by specific publication and management strategies , which in turn may depend upon the phase of development of the departments or their personnel structure. As a consequence, differences in rankings ca nnot be interpreted merely in terms of quality or significance of research. It is suggested that the problem of assigning papers resulting from multi- lateral collaboration to the contributing research groups has not yet been solved properly, and that more research is needed into the influence of a d epartment's state of development and personnel structure upon the values of bibliometric indicators. A possible implication at the science policy leve l is that different requirements should hold for departments of different a ge or personnel structure.