摘要:

AbstractKeeping in touch with progress in science and technology is one of the most important functions of R&D organizations. A study of nine engineering organizations shows that managers recognize this importance and consciously plan ways to encourage their subordinates to use scientific and technical information (STI) originating at outside organizations. The most prevalent forms of influence are routing articles and encouraging interpersonal contacts with outside professionals.Managers especially route information and references related to sources of STI uniquely accessible to the manager. Such information includes:—notices about and notes from meetings restricted to managers;—unpublished material and preprints sent to the manager for review or because of the manager's reputation;—articles from publications more likely to be read by managers; and—information on the directions and accomplishment of competitiv

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1984.tb00517.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1984

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis study examines the relationship between a support group (electronic fabrication) and the internal users of its services in a large government research laboratory recently converted to a matrix structure. The results reveal complex user decisions for selecting sources of support services and a frequent lack of knowledge of the support group's capabilities. Common usage of external sources of services suggests a need for more aggressive “marketing” by the internal group. Use of market research techniques reveals user decision criteria, decision‐maker participation and perceptions of the support unit. It is concluded that results of the study provide management of the support group with information necessary to improve services and group

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1984.tb00518.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1984

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe authors have carried out a study in a number of engineering research institutes of the relationship between the performance of teams engaged in technological innovation and the existence in the team of possible roles. Their objective was to ascertain the optimum role composition. They have identified as essential to an effective innovating team the roles of leader/organiser, idea generator, critic, gatekeeper, research technique specialist, and interface manager.They found that which roles were the key depended on the stage of progress of a project. For example, during the earliest stage the idea generator and the gatekeeper were the most important; in the last stage the interface manager and research technique specialist roles came to the fore. The leader's role was always crucial. His most important functions were to staff the team (getting the right balance of roles and skills, develop the team members, help to generate ideas and act as a gatekeeper. Preferably he should be neither a critic nor a research technique specialist.The authors conclude that the use of these role concepts will improve innovation performance. They also believe that they will be found to be of importance for teams engaged in any form of creative activity.

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1984.tb00519.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1984

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe paper deals with the question whether gatekeepers arise spontaneously (non‐hierarchical) or are created by administrative action (hierarchical). The author's approach to the problem relies on the use of a lifecycle model of an organisation devised by Utterback and Abernathy. They distinguish a product‐innovation, a transitional and process‐ innovation (consolidation) phase in the development of an enterprise. The author's hypothesis is that gatekeepers can arise via either route depending on the phase in which enterprise is operating. In the earlier phases the author predicts that gatekeepers will either be absent or non‐hierarchical (spontaneous) while in later phases they will be hierarchical (ex‐officio).A test of the hypothesis was carried out on R&D engineers in 16 small firms making non‐consumer products in Belgium. The investigation involved sociometric analysis of the communication patterns of members of various R&D groups with their group colleagues or with contacts outside the organisation from which a new gatekeeper definition was derived. The author also devised a new means of characterising the innovatory phase of an enterprise.The results are broadly in accordance with the author's hypothesis. The lesson for management of firms about to innovate radically is to set up its structure in such a way that spontaneous communication links cross‐cutting formal communication lines are abl

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1984.tb00520.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1984

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe strategy a firm elects for its new product program is a critical element of the firm's corporate strategy. But little research has probed the performance results of firms' new product programs, and the strategy‐performance link. This article reports the results of an empirical study of 122 firms, whose purpose was to identify the levels of new product performance achieved, and the strategies leading to different types of performance. Eight different performance gauges yielded three independent dimensions of new product performance. A total of five different types or clusters of “performers” were identified. And the strategies and characteristics that the “top performers” shared are

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1984.tb00521.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1984

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1984.tb00522.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1984

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Essays in DesingThe Diffusion of Matrix TechnologiesCorporate Innovation: Marketing and Strategy

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1984.tb00523.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1984

数据来源: WILEY