MPI-CBG LMF short strategy points

WARNING!!!! ...no official policy here.... just Dan thinking about stuff....

Facility Aims

1. Enable better quality and higher output of science than if facility did not exist
2. Cutting edge tech - well trained knowledgeable staff - extract max potential from tech
3. A facility not a service
4. Equal access to all

Status Quo - Recharge Mechanism

• Shows where demand is.
• Resources should follow demand
• Resources are limited and must be allocated according to demand and other criteria (eg?)

Problem - Coming Situation - Conundrum

• Increasing equipment/staff ratio = decreased user response time and inequality of service
• SAB says Services and Facilities should not increase in size (staff and/or equipment?)

SAB says no more staff in services and facilities - but recharge mechanism and equipment/staff ratio indicate requirement for more staff.

Food queue analogy: Equipment/Users = those in queue. Staff = Cooks. Even with more fancy ovens, cooks only push out food so fast. If more queuing items -> queue gets longer -> slower response time = user frustration and service inequality

Solutions

1. Use staff resources more efficiently

• Wiki to share/retain info for staff and users
• Share user project information within the team (UP: emails to lmf and ipf)
• Internal training to increase bus number
• More small group teaching
• Retain trained staff - don't lose skill and knowhow - turnover in few years isn't good for the facility aims - training new staff eats time = longer response time.

1. Retire older - less used - LMF equipment

• Reduces equipment/staff ratio
• Support for some well used systems is lost.
• How to choose what systems to retire?

1. Find a way to hire more staff

• SAB report suggests against this
• Resources are limited
• When directors want something - they find ways to make it happen.

1. Redefine LMF Aims/Responsibilities

• teaching and training
• research of new technology.
• only or also support new or old technology
• Do or Don't get involved in user projects at the experimental design / equipment choice level (we believe not getting involved does not pay off)