Science Museum Group: History, Objectives, Sustainability, and Financial Operations

SCIENCE MUSEUM
GROUP

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Overview of History of Science Museum Group and Organisational Structure.........................3
Strategic objectives of Science Museum Group..........................................................................4
Steps taken by Science Museum Group for meeting consumers’ demands................................5
Steps for Improving Sustainability..............................................................................................6
Financial Operation of Science Museum Group.........................................................................6
Balance sheet of the Museum:.....................................................................................................8
Classification of Stakeholders...................................................................................................10
Issues impacting the stakeholders..............................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Science museum group is basically a collection of the various British museums namely
national railway museum in York, Science and Industry Museum in Manchester and many more.
Its chairman is Dame Mary Archer who was appointed by the Prime Minister. The report
basically describes various aspects of the group including history, overview, customer trends,
objectives, sustainability, financial operations, governance, stakeholders and the current issues.
MAIN BODY
Overview of History of Science Museum Group and Organisational Structure
History
The origin of Science Museum Group is in South Kensington Museum which was set up
after the Great Exhibition of 1851. The science museum along with Victoria and albert museum
after the reorganisation of the South Kensington Museum in 1909. It was also expanded outside
London and the National Railway Museum which was established in 1975 when the railway
collection of British Transport Commission was transferred to the Science Museum’s board of
trustees. This museum was opened in 2004 by doing partnership with council of Sedgefield
Borough. But, on 1 December 2017, the responsibility of all its operations was transferred
completely to the Science Museum Group (Science Museum Group, Annual Report and
Accounts, 2013). The National Science Media museum which was considered as the National
Museum of Photography, Film & Television, by taking the support of Bradford City Council
which was a part of council’s redevelopment economically. The Science Museum collections
store at a location of Wroughton which was the airfield of Second World War which was made
available to the Museum by the defence Ministry in 1979.
Organisational Structure
Management
The museum considers the Board of Trustees as key players though they are only 12-20
in number, are appointed by the Prime Minister. The director of the museum which is also the
Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the Board of Trustees. The Accounting officer is
accountable for the DCMS for compliance with the statement of Management and Financial
Memorandum. Their duties are stated under the National Heritage Act 1983. For example, the
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role of Trustees is mentioned in the Act as to establish the policies of the museum, review the
performance and also endorse appointments to the key positions of management (Science
Museum Group, Annual Report and Accounts, 2019). The main activity performed by them is to
assist the chairman so that they can meet the overall responsibilities of board according to the
policies of State secretary and also by complying with the charity law. Trustees also contribute
by providing guidance and expertise to the chairman regarding the development of strategies and
its practical implementation.
The director of the Museum is responsible for collections, the cultural programmes held in the
museum and also coordinating the delivery of overall goals of museum. The executive of the
museum is responsible to allocate the resources, lead the strategic management and develop the
cultural content in programmes by sustaining the values.
The museum is having highly diversified staff who are provided with equal opportunities. There
is an effective communication between the employees which is shown in the surveys and training
programmes where they are asked for the feedback and the new ideas which can bring
innovation in the museum. It also partners with the occupational health providers. All the people,
line managers, staff and everyone strives hard to achieve the goals of the museum by promoting
equality and diversity in all the programmes.
Strategic objectives of Science Museum Group
The Science Museum Group (SMG) is basically focussed on the history and
contemporary practice of science, technology, medicine, media and industry. The SMG
comprises of many other museums like National Railway Museum, Museum of Science and
Industry and many more. In the field, this group is the largest, most comprehensive and most
significant in the world (Science Museum Group, Annual Report and Accounts, 2013). The main
objective of science museum group is to get more opportunities which can consider its outputs
more than output of its parts. The strategic objective of the Science museum group are as
follows:
 Desire to the highest standards of international museum in all the aspects like care and
protection of the collections, programming, scholarship, learning and advocacy in the
subject areas.
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