The assessment of research quality [ La valutazione della qualità della ricerca]

A reflection on the research quality assessment process in the Italian academia is provided. It is argued that both the general logic and several specific technical details of the current assessment process is inconsistent with the evidence that decades of organizational research have shown on the most common organizational solutions adopted by companies and research centers that are able to systematically generate significant levels of knowledge production and innovation. It is also argued that a system like the current one will create, in the medium-long term, serious negative consequences on the Italian research system, both in cultural and behavioral terms. A few suggestions about how to change the assessment system are provided.