Functioning of strategic decision making systems: Case study of an R&D organization in India

Strategic decision-making bodies and systems are supposed to provide strategic guidance to an enterprise. Although theorists have recognized the strategic importance of organizational learning as a means of providing a sustainable competitive advantage, case studies from the perspective of strategic renewal have been few. The present study looks into the issue of strategic renewal of laboratories functioning under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, a pubic-funded research and development (R&D) system, in terms of strategic vision and strategic involvement of the Research Councils of these laboratories while serving as their advisory and regulatory bodies in all matters pertaining to their R&D activities. It aims to investigate into the functioning of Research Councils of five CSIR laboratories located in different parts of India and working on different thrust areas of research with reference to the functions and powers envisaged for these bodies in the CSIR bye-laws. The results of the examination into the role of the Research Councils in fostering organizational learning and in guiding strategic renewal of CSIR laboratories working in different functional areas have significant implications for management of such public-funded laboratories in India as well as other nations.