摘要:

The authors relate and analyse the case of a long‐running patent conflict between two very large multinational firms in the synthetic fibre business ‐ AKZO and Du Pont. The subject of the conflict was a new fibre of the aramid dass. They show that the case reveals deficiencies in international patent law in need of correction.The analysis is conducted with the aid of social network theory applied to pub‐lished information and data supplied by AKZO and other sources. The theory takes as its starting point that when a number of related functional groups unite behind a common and vital interest the pursuit of this interest becomes virtually unstoppable. In this case the crucial social network was formed first within AKZO and then extended outside to include politicians and government. It propelled the firm to pursue to the end attempts to by‐pass a patent position held by Du Pont.The paper reveals that an apparently strong patent position can actually help a rival to circumvent it. This defect in the patent law is leading companies to avoid patenting and to rely instead on secrecy alone. The authors believe that this will act against the public interest, for exam‐ple, by preventing thorough public assessment of a new technology before it is implemented. They argue for changes in the patent law to reduce

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00724.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

This paper explores the possibility of combining multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis with the Delphi method to allow for the ordinal quantification of important attributes of technology. To demonstrate implementation of this method, 18 scientists and managers, with 227 pooled years of relevant industrial experience, were asked to assess the application of several pharmaceutical drug delivery technologies to particular prescription (Rx) and over‐the‐counter (OTC) products. Study participants were only asked to think about variables intrinsic to the concept of technology (here, differentiation, sophistication, and development cost) and to assume exogenous variables such as price as background constant. For comparable sets of technology‐product combinations participant evaluations were used to assess the following pilot MLR model in which:Market share = a +βdDifferentiation +βSSophistication +βcDevelopment Cost.For OTC products, Differentiation, and to some extent Sophistication, were found to be the most important significant independent variables. For Rx products, Sophistication was the major significant independent variable. These findings make sense considering that OTC products are sold directly to end users whereas Rx products are dispensed through physicians or pharmacists.Further studies are warranted to see if given the statistical superiority of pooled consensus over individual forecasts, the method described here might also be used to help choose revenue‐maximizing products and to discover relevant product development

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00725.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

This paper reports interim results obtained from research on the development of an expert system originally intended to be advisory to managers at all levels of R&D on the selection of projects. Whilst diversity had been expected, when the ‘Experts’ were consulted, there was a total absence of agreement as to how projects were selected.This led to a shift in objectives. The first shift was from project selection to project evaluation which was identified as the real activity which managers undertook in conditions where the number of projects was likely to exceed the resources available. The second was to try to classify projects such that projects in one class might have similar criteria for evaluationIn pursuit of these new objectives, the rigorous thinking necessary to structure the guidance of the ‘Experts’ into an expert system gave new insights into the nature of projects themselves and their management in support of corporate strategy. This paper sets these out and will be followed by Pt. II which will report on structuring the actual Expert System, and Pt. Ill giving the details of the managerial approach and the decision support process of the actual exper

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00726.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The new product process comprises the set of activities that move the product from idea to launch. The authors investigated the new product process activities of firms in Australia, England and Belgium. Objectives of the research were to determine—what activities are undertaken in the new product process? How proficiently are these activities performed and what improvements are needed? whether the sorts of activities undertaken and their proficiency affect project success or failure. Since these activities are largely under the control of management, the deeper is our understanding of new product process activities, the greater the scope for improved product innovation managemen

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00727.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

This article reports a comparative study of six in‐house and eight independent industrial R&D organisations. These organisations are analysed in terms of three types of control strategy ‐ market control, hierarchical control and professional control. The paper suggests that the professional control strategy, emergent after World War Two, is now being increasingly challenged by market control strategies. R&D organisations under or adopting market control are shown to enjoy marked productivity advantages. The distinctive managerial practices of market controlled R&D are analysed. It is concluded that many in‐house laboratories have much to gain by partial adoption of these market control prac

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00728.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

It is probably safe to say that today it is universally accepted and often common knowledge that cooperation between product development and the market functions is crucial for the ability of companies to develop market oriented products. Likewise, there are some strong indications that well functioning cooperation between production and product development is crucial for the development of products that are efficient to manufacture. However, no satisfactory solutions have yet been found to the issues of integration and cooperation. Although there is a consensus of opinion among companies that the need for cooperation is very great, a number of issues still remain to be solved. It is, for example, not clear on which issues cooperation should take place, nor which functions should be involved, nor yet how this should be done. This paper tries to answer some of these questions.

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00729.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Since 1971, that is nine years after gaining its independence, Algeria has among some Third World countries formulated an ambitious Science and Technology (S&T) Policy. In the last few years, the relevant administrative structure has been completed by installing a centralised body at the highest level. Policy itself has changed very little, and remained in some aspects well behind developments in the structure. In this paper, the author intends to consider the evolution of both structure and policy of Algeria's research and development (R&D); and the extent of their coherence or harmony and their linkages with industry.Even though structure and policy are the key factors affecting R&D effectiveness of a country, no significant success could be achieved without strengthening the relevant network allowing for the technical competence to be used effectively. Hence, the main theme of the paper concentrates on Algeria's need to review its R&D system to allow both structure and policy to be effective or cause relevant activities to be integrated within the production system, build better technological capabilities, and work for a more efficient industrial development.

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00730.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00731.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00732.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0033-6807    

DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1991.tb00733.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY