View from the top: responding to the business divisions´ needs (R&D)

The ways in which the various components of corporate R&D have changed in response to escalating worldwide competitiveness, (with basic research remaining more or less untouched) are examined. Some lessons learned by R&D executives about how to be first with the best are noted, and various attempts to streamline corporate R&D are described. These include giving business divisions a greater role in selecting R&D projects, decentralizing R&D efforts, having research teams and development teams work jointly on common goals, joint ventures, and working with universities. Measuring the R&D payoff is discussed, and some shortcomings of R&D in various countries as perceived by corporate executives are indicated.<>