Science Museum Group: Overview, Objectives, Governance, and Sustainability

This document provides an overview of the Science Museum Group, including its organizational profile, objectives, governance structure, and sustainability efforts. It highlights the importance of the museum in the UK and its role in promoting science, technology, and engineering. The document also discusses key stakeholders and current consumer trends in the museum industry.

Science Museum Group

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary: -.................................................................................................................3
Organizational Profile.................................................................................................................3
Objectives....................................................................................................................................4
Consumer Trends........................................................................................................................4
Financial Operational: -...............................................................................................................5
Governance: -..............................................................................................................................6
Sustainability...............................................................................................................................7
Key Stakeholders........................................................................................................................8
Current Issues .............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................10

Executive Summary: -
The summary is explaining about the Science Museum Group and its working process in the
field of museum. There has to be good financial operations in any industry so that there can be
more investment which is required. There must be good planning and designing of using the
economic factor well in a business so that there are going to be higher outcomes. Governance in
relation to science museums group is very good learning and educational suppose is going to be
present in UK. The trustee and board of members of museums have to be informed and accept
the financial stability so that further sustainable decisions can be taken. The report will explain
all the details about the Science Museum Group, the importance of the museum and the working
of it in the country with governance of people in it.
Organizational Profile
The Science Museum Group is a collection of British Museums. It contains the Science
Museum in South Kensington, London and Industry Museum in Manchester, National Railway
Museum in York , Locomotion in country Durham, The National Science and Media Museum in
Bradford. The National Collection Centre Museum in Swindon etc. National Museum of Science
and Industry was established in the 1920s. South Kensington is the origin of the Science
Museum which has become The Great Exhibition in 1851 (Armstrong and et.al., 2019). Later on,
it become famous as the Victoria and Albert Museum and Science of Museum in 1909. The
Museum has expanded outside the London (Agyeman, 2019). However, National Railway
Museum was opened in 2004 in partnership with Sedgefield Borough Council in Shildon. On 1
December 2017, overall operational responsibilities have transferred to the Science Museum
Group. In 1983, the National Science and Media Museum was founded which became famous as
the National Museum of Photography, with the support of Broadford City Council. The National
Collection Centres at Wroughton wherein Second World War was available to the Science
Museum with the support of Ministry of defence in 1979 (Demirag, 2018). The Science Museum
Group (SMG) has established it's own distinct identity. The vision statement of SMG is to “ A
society that celebrates science, technology and engineering as well as their impact on our lives,
current and in the future. The mission statement of The Science Museum Group is to creative
exploration of different areas i.e. science, technical innovation and made and sustain modern
society. Another is building a scientifically literate society and brings high level of inspirations

in the nest generation of scientists, inventors and engineers. The Science Museum Group always
focus on each segment of museum such as it always tries to explore the science, engineering,
technology, medicines and mathematics which shapes people life. On the other hand, The
Science and Industry Museum always focuses on exploring idea that can change the world in
respect of industrial revolution. Thus, different segments of The Science Museum Groups always
focuses to lead change in the world through their innovative ideas and technologies (Top 10
Museum Trends You Should Know. 2020).
Objectives
 To grow science capital in individuals and society.
 Grow audiences and exceed expectations.
 Sustain and grow world-class collection on the museum.
 Extend global expansion of SGM.
 To take sustainable practices in existing workplace.
 Creative exploration of Science, technical innovation and industry.
 Inspires the next generations of scientist, investors and engineers.
The first objective of the SGM is to increase science capital in The Science and Industry
Museum through which it wants to deal with coronavirus crisis which has become big issue for
the world. To grow audience and exceed their expectation is another objective of the SMG that
means it wants to explore new themes and ideas in the museum so that targeted audience attarcts
towards museum and wants to visit in different museum segments like National Railway
Museum, National Science Media and Industry Museum and National Collection Centre
Museum. So, National Museum Group has planning to involve some innovative ideas and
technology on the basis of current Covid-19 crisis which excites customers towards and museum
and increases their expectations for the Science Museum Group. Sustain and grow world-class
collection on the museum is one of the essential objectives among others because it will help
Science Museum Group to establish strong global presence in its sector and build large customer
base (Blooploop., 2020). It is core priority of the SGM to involve world-class assets and object
collections on the museum that brings sustainability in business in its sector. To Extend global
expansion of The Science Museum Group is another objective of The Science Museum Group
through which it wants establish strong global presence across the world and builds large
customer based around the world (Top visitor attraction trends for 2020. 2020).

Consumer Trends
Science Museum Group is one of the most famous museum in London, UK because it is
highly dedicated centre of excellence of informal science, engineering, mathematics and
technology education and goals to support individuals, institutions and schools communicate
with audience more effectively. However, Science Museum Group has comprised various
elements and assets at different museum to meet customer's expectations. For example, in the
National Science Media and Industry has contained National Galleries of Scotland. Cotting ley
Fairy is one of the good series that photography was taken by Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths
such photography has involved in Museum that still attract people to visit such places and recalls
their ancestor’s times (Ledgerwood, 2017). As same in the National Railway Station has
portrayed King's Cross Pass Loco in which highlighted everyday life of railway workers in post-
war London which has revealed in the collection of 100 drawings and watercolour filled by the
artist Arthur Gooch. Currently consumer trends have been changed accordingly situations they
want to see several innovative things and current crisis evidence caused by Covid-19 pandemic
such as permanent record of medical, scientific, personal and cultural responses to the outbreak
and it's impact on society (Science Museum Group: Annual Review 2019-20, 2020). To
increase awareness in people about the Science Museum Group needs to use advanced
technology platform because it has become one of the effective tool for the commercialization
purpose. So, SMG must put high efforts on digital platform that will help to increase population
for visiting museums. Apart from this, Covid-19 pandemic is also another issue due to this
people avoid visiting public places (Long and Ibar, 2017). To deal with situation, HR
management of Science Museum Group has followed all rules that have implemented by
government across the global such as social distancing, mask, temperature verification, Covid
symptom study app, CovidSafe app etc. to ensure people that all museum of SMG have taken all
safety measures. Such arrangements of company will encourage targeted audience to visit the
museum. Online ticket purchasing services also offers by the Science Museum Group to the
audience so that they don not have to stay for purchasing tickets and it can be reason of
spreading virus. So people also expects to buy tickets through online media. These are the
current trends that are followed by SMG in precise manner (Cusuem., 2020).

Financial Operational: -
Financial operation is one of the most important part of the company and the Science Museum
Group is having a lot of finance which they can use in their expenditures and other expenses. The
Science museum group want to expand the education to the people by there product and services
which they are offering to their client in the museum. Museum is a play which work in providing
the ancient knowledge to people who visit the place and the Science museum is providing all the
necessary knowledge by the product and services related to science (Financial Reporting
Council, 2018). The financial operation is one of the most important factors working in museum
sector because the product cost a lot of money and the company need to maintain the issues to
take care when working in such conditions. The Science museum group works with best of the
technologies and other assets which they need to buy and need to maintain the old ones (Mallin,
2016). Even the financial statement of the company is showing all the details which include the
information of the company assets and liability. They are explaining all the details which is
related to the finance and financial operation of the museum group. All the expenditure are in the
given statement which reflect the expenses of the company. The company is trying to improve
the ways in which they can operate the museum to a much bigger level and also trying to make it
a source of education for the people on wider context. This is one of the ways that the group can
show the expenditure they are making, and it will also help in making the company grow with
the development in infrastructure (Wetherley and Otter, 2018).
Governance: -
The chairman of the Science Museum Group is Dame Mary Archer who is appointed by the
prime minister of UK. The people working in this follow the commands of the chairman who
need to answerable to the higher authority know as the prime minister and UK government.
There are a lot of governance related to science museums group which is present in UK which is
going to be discussed in the further report. There are a lot of governance measures which are
being taken so that there are going to be higher researches which can be beneficial overall. There
is a lot of investment which the government is making in museums so that they can be developed
and more tourism can be attracted in the country (Pivovarov, 2018). There are heritage museums
as well which come under the governance of science museums group so that there is going to be
higher maintenance which is good for long run. There are a lot of operations which are taking
place in the country so that there are going to be new research which can take place.

The governance of this group is going to be reporting to the state government so that there is
going to be a control as well of this group. Governance is one of the most important part,
working in museum is helping in providing the education to people and government helps in
making things work in wider context so that they can reach to maximum number of audience and
also provide the education related to science museum. Government always promote such things
so that it can help in the benefit of the audience and country people (Science Museum Group,
2019). This is one of the most interesting way of learning and science need such support from
people so that education can bring a lot of information to people in different ways. Government
made a lot of strategies to develop the governance in the museum industry to make a good
impact on the companies’ portfolios and it is also helping every person with the education and
knowledge with it.
Sustainability
Sustainability is referred to the fulfilling individuals needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to accomplishes their own needs and expectations. It is important for
the several reasons i.e. environmental quality that is essential for keeping communities healthy.
The main objective of the sustainability is to use resources effectively to gain benefits for the
personal and community purpose. The Science Museum Group has good sustainability
performance at different countries across the world. For example, it has taken decision to use
supply data for electricity emission instead of using carbon neutral procured electricity supply. In
the museum company has involved three scope of emissions i.e. Scope 1 emission yielding from
coal and diesel and Scope 3 emission results from water supply and treatment to understand
people how to procure electricity from the grid instead of generating on site. It emphasizes on
one of the major scientific themes i.e. climate change so that it can uniquely engage visitors with
the topic through the stories of collections. It promotes the Manchester Science Festival
dialogues across plastics, sustainable foods and endangered species (Grover and Soin, 2019).
While in York The National Railway Museum's February half program has focused on 'Energy
and Sustainability' which engage families with recycling as well as alternative energy. There are
various school programmes around all museums assists environmental curriculums that links
through subjects i.e. power generation, material and design (Science Museum Group:
Annual Report and Accounts 2018–19, 2019). The energy consumption data of this year
shows 2GWH reduction in electricity use and 5GWh reduction in gas use which is quite

impressive data as compared previous years that denotes it plays significant role in protecting
environment. This data is achieved by company due to combination of several factors such as
improvement in plan around northern site and renovation works on two major galleries at the
Science Museum. Currently company is planning to increase more on-site renewable generation
and have restored solar panels on the Collections Building at Locomotion to working order.
Solar panel strategy of the company plays effective role in the Science Group Museum's success
because it assists to reduce energy from waste. Thus, it has established good sustainability
performance in the business market.
Key Stakeholders
There are various key stakeholders of the Science Museum Group such as UK's
government and agencies, estates, customers, partners, senior stakeholders (Sir Simon Jenkine
FSA FRSL, British author, Columnist and editor), Board of Trustees and Railway Heritage
Designation Advisory Board (RHDAB). These stakeholders help company to promote it's
business in efficient manner. For example, UK's public sectors are the key stakeholders of the
SMG who supports to maintain good brand image of the company in the UK market. British
Council of India (BCI) had offered help to the preliminary phase of the Superbugs project. Then
BCI celebrated it's 70th anniversary by funding 70th scholarships at UK's higher education
institutions and organized celebration receptions at the Science Museum. This celebration has
helped SGM to increase awareness in visitors about its speciality and encourages them to visit
the Museum. In fact British Council is a core collaborator for the company because they have
been supported to establish professional development placement with Brazil and Russia by
completing Superbugs project (Loach, Rowley and Griffiths, 2017). Every Science Museum
Group provides Masterplans places in order to improve visitors experience and provides better
and more meaningful access to heritage sites. In the Master plan project comprises several back
of house functions and essential services i.e. galleries, public facilities leg lifts, lavatories and
exterior. This Masterplan projects are designed to explore programmes for academic research
online content, collection digitization for improving sustainability, efficiency and social
inclusion. Thus, different stakeholders plays effective roles in leading success of the Science
Museum Group.

SMG
Board
of
Trustee
s
UK's
government
and
agencies
UK's
public
sectors
Railway
Heritage
Designation
Advisory
Board
(RHDAB)
Partners
CSR
Senior stakeholders
(Sir Simon Jenkine
FSA FRSL, British
author, Columnist
and editor)
National
and
Internationa
l Visitors
Estates

Classification of Stakeholders
Stakeholder Internal External
National and International
Visitors
✓
UK's government and
agencies
✓
Partners i.e. CSR ✓
Board of Trustees ✓
Senior stakeholders (Sir
Simon Jenkine FSA FRSL,
British author, Columnist and
editor)
✓
Railway Heritage Designation
Advisory Board (RHDAB)
✓
Estates ✓
UK's public sectors ✓
Current Issues
There are various current issues i.e. Covid-19 pandemic, audience segmentation across
the year, emerging internet-connected devices, employee engagement, group ethical policy,
sustainability, National Railway Museum Vision 2025, Estate etc. are facing by The Science
Group Museum. Due to Covid-19, company unable to improve engagement of visitors in
different museum across the world because most of the people's are worry about the safety issue
that, so they avoid coming in public places and avoid to use public locomotion vehicles. So, this
year company unable to generate more financial profit as it used to gain in previous years
through museums. However, company has decided to involve several green practices in their
business activities like allowing only those visitors in the Museum who posses' Covid-19 tracing
and tracking apps, social distancing, temperature measurement devices etc. so that all people can
visit The Science Group Museum worry free. Emerging internet connected devices are the

another issues that are facing by SCM because most of the museum companies have used
advanced internet connected devices like virus detecting sensors, automated monitoring devices
etc. to ensure their customers that they are not going to infect while visiting museums. But
Science Museum Group have planned to adapt new modern technologies so that it can achieve
good profit in the business market (Szabó and Fosztó, 2020).

REFERENCES
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Harlow: Pearson
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Perspectives. 1st ed. Abingdon; Routledge
Ledgerwood, G., 2017. Greening the Boardroom: Corporate Governance and Business
Sustainability. 1st ed. Abingdon; Routledge
Long, D.G. and Ibar, Z., 2017. The Ethical Kaleidoscope: Values, Ethics, and Corporate
Governance. 1st ed. Abingdon; Routledge
Mallin, C., 2016. Corporate Governance. 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Wetherley, P. and Otter, D., 2018. The Business Environment. Themes and issues in a
globalizing world. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Online
Science Museum Group: Annual Report and Accounts 2018–19. 2019. [Online]. Available
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%20Students.pdf
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<file:///C:/Users/hp/Desktop/SMG%20Annual%20Review%202019-20%20for
%20students.pdf>
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<https://blooloop.com/features/visitor-attraction-trends-2020/> [Accessed 14 July
2020].
Cusuem., 2020. Top Technology Trends for 2020: What it means for museums and non-profits.
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Financial Reporting Council, 2018. The UK Corporate Governance Code. [pdf] London:
Financial Reporting Council. Available at:
<https://www.frc.org.uk/getattachment/88bd8c45-50ea-4841-95b0-d2f4f48069a2/2018-
UK-Corporate-Governance-Code-FINAL.pdf> [Accessed 24 July 2019].
Gregory, T., 2019 The Big Trends Transforming Libraries, Museums and Archives in 2019 and
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trends-transforming-libraries-museums-and-archives-in-2019-and-beyond/> [Accessed
14 July 2020].

Pivovarov, K., 2018. The future of museums: The ultimate visitor experience. BDC Network,
[online] 27 March. Available at: <https://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/future-museums-
ultimate-visitor-experience> [Accessed 14 July 2020].
Science Museum Group, 2019. Science Museum Annual Report and Accounts. [online].
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