The acquisition of technical information by R&D managers for problem solving in nonroutine contingency situations

Explores the effects of nonroutine requirements and a high-pressure situation on the process of technological information acquisition by R&D managers for problem solving in R&D groups. A survey of R&D managers in 116 firms in four industries reveals that nonroutine requirements in a contingency situation do affect their technical information acquisition behavior. Firm size and the direction of past involvement with the nonroutine requirements appear to be particularly important determinants of the degree of change experienced in technological information acquisition. Information sources that are informal and which provide access to a wide variety of experience appear to be the most valuable sources in such situations.