Large-Scale Ocean Research Projects: What Makes Them Succeed or Fail?

Abstract
Five 'Big Science' oceanographic research projects were studied, each involving many scientists from multiple institutions and disciplines attemptmg to focus their work on a common research goal. Three of the projects had reputations of success in the ocean science community; the other two projects were reputedly unsuccessful. Descriptions of each project, compiled from interviews with participants, were compared in order to discern why some projects were successful and others not. The following factors did not differentiate the more and less successful projects: their formal organizations; the degree of social friction among scientific personnel; and communications problems. These factors did differentiate them: the source of origin of the research problem; the quality and interest of participating scientists; the presence of a persistent core of scientific leaders; and the degree of project independence from the funding agency.