3.4.4.4 Designing the structure of the Field

The structure of the Field will depend on the terrain of the Field and the direction set by the Field Director (title changed from 'Co-ordinator' in August 2011). Experience suggests that the success of a Field will depend upon a number of different factors, but particularly on the commitment of the individuals prepared to act as Field Directors, and their determination to ensure that the Field has sufficient resources to achieve its objectives. Field direction, because of the challenge to achieve cohesion, may require determined and firm leadership, but this should be exercised sensitively. A brief description of the responsibilities of some of the key players that might be involved is included below. Not all Fields will have the need for all these posts.

The Field Director (title changed from 'Co-ordinator' in August 2011)

The Field Director has the following responsibilities:

• to set and maintain the direction and scope of the Field

• to allocate the Field’s resources in the way most appropriate to the achievement of its goals

• to promote the aims and work of The Cochrane Collaboration within the Field’s area of care

• to develop and maintain links with organisations outside The Cochrane Collaboration

• to develop and maintain links with the co-ordinating editors of all relevant  Cochrane Review Groups

• to develop and maintain links with all Cochrane Centres and Cochrane Fields

• to attend Cochrane Colloquia and regularly report progress and developments in the Field to The Cochrane Collaboration

• to seek and secure sufficient funding to enable the Field to function effectively

The Field Co-ordinator (title changed from 'Administrator' in August 2011)

The Field Co-ordinator may have the following responsibilities:

• to provide the Field Director with administrative support

• to help organise meetings and promotional workshops

• to prepare and maintain the Field module in The Cochrane Library

• to co-ordinate the submission of the Field Monitoring document

• to prepare and produce a Field newsletter and/or maintain a Field website

• to maintain the Field database of contacts

• to liaise with the Managing Editors to ensure that the Field is properly represented in the appropriate Cochrane Review Groups

The Field Trials Search Co-ordinator

The Field Trials Search Co-ordinator may have the following responsibilities:

• to identify studies trials relevant to the Field and makes them accessible through CENTRAL

• to co-ordinate searches of the general Field literature, based on a ranked listing of sources to be searched

• to draw up search strategies for CENTRAL and other electronic databases

• to maintain a specialised register of trials

The Specialised Database Co-ordinator

The Specialised Database Co-ordinator may have the following responsibilities:

• to liaise with all Cochrane entities linked to the Field

• to co-ordinate the inclusion of data from the entities associated with the Field

• to establish links with other relevant organisations providing information for the database

• to work with electronic publishers to develop, produce and maintain the database

• to collaborate with others to disseminate the database

Regional representatives

It might be desirable to have one or more regional representatives to assist the Field Director, by spreading the workload of the Field more evenly around the world. Regional representatives can undertake some of the responsibilities outlined above on behalf of the Field Director at a national or regional level (for example, liaising with relevant national or regional organisations) and perform the role of Acting Field Director in times of illness or crisis. Funding would also be required to assist regional representatives to meet their responsibilities.

Field Advisory Board

A Field might also find it useful to form an Advisory Board to advise and assist the Field Director. Although composition of such a group is likely to vary from Field to Field, an Advisory Board should consist of individuals who are committed to the aims and principles of The Cochrane Collaboration, and reflect the international nature of The Cochrane Collaboration and the broad area of the field. They should include at least one consumer representative and one representative from a Review Group with active links to the Field.