Answers to R&D Dilemmas
Lawrence Kuhn, Robert
1989-04-01 00:00:00
CORPORATE STRATEGY Robert Lawrence Kuhn he blurring of boundaries among special bonuses, and increased industry, university, and govern responsibility. T ment is becoming a dominant □ The corporate perspective. Busi- trend as we approach the twenty-first nesspeople tend to become disillusioned century. In a world where technology with university research because the all- and information have become vital cor consuming drive for commercialization porate assets, management is recogniz and the obsessive concern for cost effi ing that business strategies must turn to ciency is absent. Too often industrial in other sectors to sustain international vestment is treated as if it were an unre competitiveness. stricted grant. Because business seeks to generate A company working with academic profits, scarce funds can squeeze high- researchers needs to get the idea across that the company is giving funds to the risk research and development (R&D) out of the budget. A solution lies in university because it expects a profit. At making use of R&D that is not con the same time, companies must keep in ducted by the business. That is, a mind that researchers' intrinsic motiva tions are different from their own. Uni venture can be established so that a business can gain information from versities, in turn, must appreciate the university research or by getting govern financial hurdles that corporations must ment funds for the research. But each jump. of these three sectors—industry, aca- □ The government perspective. demia, and the government—has its When government allocations favor one own specific interests and objectives, party at the expense of others—or even and individuals in each sector are when they appear to—the outcry can be motivated by different needs. enormous. Even if allocations to sup port the research of one company or The key to a successful joint research program is staying aware of what moti campus are made without any bias whatsoever, the danger of challenge and vates individuals in the three sectors and public attack is always present. providing appropriate incentives: In this kind of fishbowl environment, □ The academic perspective. Corpo officials are often compelled to make rate-sponsored research should be set up safe choices, even if they are not the so that academic researchers can ad best choices. For government officials vance their professional careers. This to make courageous choices, companies arrangement is difficult when corpora need to give them clear evidence to sup tions demand extreme secrecy to protect port those choices. Such evidence can their competitive advantage or if there include unbiased, expert opinions from Dr. Robert Lawrence is a need to protect national security. the private and university sectors. Kuhn is an investment banker, corporate Too often in these situations, aca strategist, and an IC demic researchers are deprived of hav When a corporation is developing Senior Fellow at the ing the results of their work appear in strategies for working with universities University of Texas in Austin. His most recent scholarly publications and of getting and government, it can make the com book is Creativity and peer prestige. If secrecy is paramount, mon mistake of ignoring individual Strategy for Mid-Sized companies must institute other types of needs. People work best when they are Firms (Prentice Hall, 1989). recognition such as private awards, working to achieve their own goals.
http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.pngJournal of Business StrategyEmerald Publishinghttp://www.deepdyve.com/lp/emerald-publishing/answers-to-r-d-dilemmas-xQ2ux146XO
CORPORATE STRATEGY Robert Lawrence Kuhn he blurring of boundaries among special bonuses, and increased industry, university, and govern responsibility. T ment is becoming a dominant □ The corporate perspective. Busi- trend as we approach the twenty-first nesspeople tend to become disillusioned century. In a world where technology with university research because the all- and information have become vital cor consuming drive for commercialization porate assets, management is recogniz and the obsessive concern for cost effi ing that business strategies must turn to ciency is absent. Too often industrial in other sectors to sustain international vestment is treated as if it were an unre competitiveness. stricted grant. Because business seeks to generate A company working with academic profits, scarce funds can squeeze high- researchers needs to get the idea across that the company is giving funds to the risk research and development (R&D) out of the budget. A solution lies in university because it expects a profit. At making use of R&D that is not con the same time, companies must keep in ducted by the business. That is, a mind that researchers' intrinsic motiva tions are different from their own. Uni venture can be established so that a business can gain information from versities, in turn, must appreciate the university research or by getting govern financial hurdles that corporations must ment funds for the research. But each jump. of these three sectors—industry, aca- □ The government perspective. demia, and the government—has its When government allocations favor one own specific interests and objectives, party at the expense of others—or even and individuals in each sector are when they appear to—the outcry can be motivated by different needs. enormous. Even if allocations to sup port the research of one company or The key to a successful joint research program is staying aware of what moti campus are made without any bias whatsoever, the danger of challenge and vates individuals in the three sectors and public attack is always present. providing appropriate incentives: In this kind of fishbowl environment, □ The academic perspective. Corpo officials are often compelled to make rate-sponsored research should be set up safe choices, even if they are not the so that academic researchers can ad best choices. For government officials vance their professional careers. This to make courageous choices, companies arrangement is difficult when corpora need to give them clear evidence to sup tions demand extreme secrecy to protect port those choices. Such evidence can their competitive advantage or if there include unbiased, expert opinions from Dr. Robert Lawrence is a need to protect national security. the private and university sectors. Kuhn is an investment banker, corporate Too often in these situations, aca strategist, and an IC demic researchers are deprived of hav When a corporation is developing Senior Fellow at the ing the results of their work appear in strategies for working with universities University of Texas in Austin. His most recent scholarly publications and of getting and government, it can make the com book is Creativity and peer prestige. If secrecy is paramount, mon mistake of ignoring individual Strategy for Mid-Sized companies must institute other types of needs. People work best when they are Firms (Prentice Hall, 1989). recognition such as private awards, working to achieve their own goals.
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