work on relationship between RSE unit and IT unit

Author: mhagdorn

paper.tex

@@ -384,12 +384,13 @@ \subsection{Module 5: Create a Network of Institutional Partners}%
 Arguments and conclusions below have to be adapted to specific circumstances when applying them to specific environments.
 
 All research institutions in Germany do have a \textbf{central IT Unit} of one form or another.
-At the very least, these are the persons that deal with the every-day IT-need of the institution:
-Internet access, Email, Web, central administration of computers (at least that of administrative staff), etc.
-Typically, the assigned tasks of the IT unit are not research-driven, or also the staff does not have a research background.
+The central IT unit typically looks after central compute and storage infrastructure in data centres and associated network infrastructure.
+They also provide centralised software services such Email, web services, databases and administer standard desktops and laptops (at least for administrative staff).
+Normally, the assigned tasks of the IT unit are not research-driven but business oriented.
 However, research software often has to work within the environment provided by the central IT unit.
-A central RSE unit can help to either adapt the research software or even the environment such that the needs of researchers can be met.
-It is not unusual that this requires a level of engagement and understanding of the underlying research concepts that the staff of the IT unit cannot provide alone.
+A central RSE unit can help researchers adapt their software to run on central services where necessary.
+RSEs can also work with central IT staff to provide IT infrastructure well suited for research projects.
+Usually, this requires a level of engagement and understanding of both the underlying research concepts and IT infrastructure that the staff of the IT unit or the researchers cannot provide alone.
 
 A second important partner is the local \textbf{library}, which has already gained tasks much beyond the preservation and organisation of publications on physical paper for quite some time.
 Besides digital forms of rather traditional publications, these more and more include digital data and recently also software publications, their discovery and citation.