Organisational networks in R&D

In all organisations effectiveness and efficiency is of real importance. This is no different with R&D. All organisations are increasingly trying to reduce in-house expenditures and to enhance performance by outsourcing and collaboration. More recently, the concept of networking has come to the forefront and the literature suggests that this is a useful form of organisation under conditions of increasing turbulence in the environment. A review of literature is provided as a background to the presentation of the way two multinationals claim to be moving towards the introduction of a new organisational structure. Activity to date and implications for management are presented