Now that the definitive rules have been published for the 2021 research excellence
framework, we can settle down to consider which actions will best favour the institutions
that we belong to or advise. Winners develop strategies: losers complain about “gaming”…
…The great humorist Stephen Potter defined gamesmanship as the “art of winning games
without actually cheating”. The REF is a high-stakes game and the penalties for cheating
can be severe, both institutionally and individually. True gamers derive their advantage
from the invisibility of their strategy and tactics – which is not to say that these are not
seriously considered.