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Showing papers in "IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management in 1974"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The existing normative R&D benefit measurement and project selection literature is assessed and the limitations inherent in the proposed models are determined.
Abstract: The R&D project selection decision is described as a process by which an intermittent stream of changes are made to lists of currently active and proposed projects It includes generating alternatives, determining when a decision is required, collecting data, specifying constraints and criteria, and recycling The decision is viewed as imbedded within a hierarchical, diffuse budgeting and planning process Process characteristics such as multiple criteria whose relative importance varies over time, inherent uncertainty and parameter interrelationships result in a highly complex decision problem The existing normative R&D benefit measurement and project selection literature is assessed and the limitations inherent in the proposed models are determined A number of research opportunities are identified for both methodological and empirical studies

177 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey was conducted to determine what factors are considered when a manager has to decide whether an idea, or new embryo process or product, is to go on to the next stage of development in the innovation process.
Abstract: This survey was undertaken to determine what factors are considered when a manager has to decide whether an idea, or new embryo process or product, is to go on to the next stage of development in the innovation process. An attempt was made to provide a complete listing of articles and reports which have been published since 1967. The literature reviewed covers idea generation, transmission and evaluation; market group involvement in the innovation decision process; project selection and evaluation; and possible impact of formal project selection models or techniques on the bench scientist or engineer. The factors or procedures used by various organizations to select and evaluate projects are described. Examples of the several classes of mathematical models proposed by management scientists are given. As was the case in 1967 very few of these models have been used in actual business situations and the reasons for this lack of use are presented.

32 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
A. E. Gear1
TL;DR: The objective of this paper is to discuss some extensions and improvements to a basic linear programming approach to decision making in R&D, pointing out their weaknesses whether of a theoretical or practical nature.
Abstract: At the present time, very few organizations appear to be using the more complex, portfolio based, resource allocation models proposed in the literature. It is the objective of this paper to discuss some extensions and improvements to a basic linear programming approach to decision making in R&D, pointing out their weaknesses whether of a theoretical or practical nature.

25 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was concluded that Q-sorting may be a valuable aid to the heuristic idea-exchange process that should accompany any formal project selection exercise.
Abstract: In this study, fifteen managers and scientists experimented with the use of a Q-sort procedure for evaluating and prioritizing thirteen research projects. Q-sorting is a psychometric method for classifying items according to the opinions of a group of persons, and for evoking group consensus on these classifications. The procedure focuses on the rather natural individual opinion/group decision making process that must take place in project selection/evaluation. In general, the participants thought that Q-sorting was too imprecise to yield final decisions. However, progress was made toward organizational consensus, and the participants felt that procedure was valuable for facilitating scientist/scientist and the scientist-manager communications within the evaluation process. It was therefore concluded that Q-sorting may be a valuable aid to the heuristic idea-exchange process that should accompany any formal project selection exercise. The results here suggest that Q-sorting may be a good procedure to facilitate the use of a mathematical project selection model.

15 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, three methods suggested in the literature are described and compared and their relationship to business practice is discussed, and it is shown that some very large differences exist between the theoretical models and the behavior of the firms.
Abstract: Three methods suggested in the literature are described and compared. Their relationship to business practice is discussed. It is shown that some very large differences exist between the theoretical models and the behavior of the firms. Some suggestions are made regarding how the differences can be lessened.

12 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, administrators and managers designed, as part of the requirements of a graduate engineering course, administrative experiments based upon a management problem of their own choosing and the application of methods of scientific experimentation.
Abstract: Fifty-eight engineers and engineering managers designed, as part of the requirements of a graduate engineering course, administrative experiments based upon a management problem of their own choosing and the application of methods of scientific experimentation. Their control over the choice of problem increased the likelihood that the problem would be one of immediate importance and relevance to their administrative responsibilities; the use of the methods of scientific experimentation would increase the likelihood of credible results. A definition and explanation of the term `administrative experiments' is presented, and a description of the experimenters and their experiments, including the changes proposed, the results desired, and the problems encountered, is provided.

11 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the problem of project selection is considered from an organizational point of view and draws upon a variety of research findings which help us to understand how the process might be improved and how some of the more formalized procedures which have been suggested in the literature can be of assistance.
Abstract: Project selection is not a process which occurs at a particular instance in time and to which any single technique or even combination of techniques can be applied. It is an ongoing operation which requires inputs from the idea generation and creativity area and which raises questions about long-term planning and corporate strategy. This paper therefore considers the problem from an organizational point of view and draws upon a variety of research findings which help us to understand how the process might be improved and how some of the more formalized procedures which have been suggested in the literature can be of assistance.

10 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ASEE Constituent Committee on Engineering Management (ASEE-CMC) has been active for 16 months as mentioned in this paper and some goals proposed for this committee and progress toward them during this initial period are described.
Abstract: By mid-career the majority of the engineers have progressed to management positions. Management programs designed for engineers are offered under a variety of names and formats in many engineering schools. Three classes of such programs are defined and discussed. As a discipline in engineering education, engineering management suffers from lack of common identity. An important vehicle for communication and mutual problem solution is the ASEE Constituent Committee on Engineering Management which has now been officially active for 16 months. Some goals proposed for this committee and progress toward them during this initial period are described.

7 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Robert W. Cranston1
TL;DR: In this article, a decision tree based profitability index is derived based on the assumption that commercial research aims to maximize the expected profitability for a given expenditure on research, and the practical application of this profitability index at the British Petroleum Company Limited's Sunbury Research Centre in the context of research sponsored by several departments is described.
Abstract: Starting from the premise that commercial research aims to maximize the expected profitability for a given expenditure on research, a Profitability Index is derived based on a decision tree concept. The practical application of this Profitability Index at the British Petroleum Company Limited's Sunbury Research Centre in the context of research sponsored by several departments is then described.

6 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article assessed creative ability and scientific research competence for each member of a total sample of sixty-four scientists, selected from a large sub-unit of a state university and an independent research laboratory.
Abstract: In investigating the proposition that creative ability is crucial to the conduct of successful scientific research, the author assessed creative ability and scientific research competence for each member of a total sample of sixty-four scientists, selected from a large sub-unit of a state university and an independent research laboratory. The expectation that creative ability would be strongly related to manifest research competence definitely was not met: no direct relationship was found between the two variables. The possible moderating effects of scientist interpersonal competence were then examined. The principal conclusion drawn from this study is that there are additional psychological, social, and organizational variables whose interactive properties affect the translation of inherent creative ability directly into creative performance.

6 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A procedure which leads to an `optimal' resolution of the group decision problem and was fully accepted by the study team as a rational way to make the selection of an experimental package and considerably preferred to an essentially political mode of resolution.
Abstract: One of the early flights of NASA's space shuttle will be allocated to the Langley Research Center as an orbiting research laboratory, and a study team of scientists in the Shuttle Experiments Office has the responsibility for selecting the set of scientific experiments which will be performed on the flights. Working closely with the team, the authors developed a procedure which leads to an `optimal' resolution of the group decision problem. The approach taken can be characterized as a way of organizing the expert judgments of the team members to establish a measure of group preference over the set of experimental packages, and a particular feature of the procedure is the manner in which it structured a hierarchical taxonomy of the group task and talent to be employed in combination with the assignment of `influence weights' to achieve a maximal utilization of the expertise of the study team. Though the information demands are somewhat high, the approach was fully accepted by the study team as a rational way to make the selection of an experimental package and considerably preferred to an essentially political mode of resolution.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The story of the development of an `Activity Reporting Information System' (`ARIS') in the `SQC Engineering' department illustrates three conclusions regarding the design and implementation of management information systems.
Abstract: The story of the development of an `Activity Reporting Information System' (`ARIS') in the `SQC Engineering' department illustrates three conclusions regarding the design and implementation of management information systems: (1) An MIS originates and develops within an evolutionary context, a constantly changing milieu of organizational and technological possibilities. (2) The realization of an MIS is the product of sustained individual and group commitment in an otherwise indifferent (or hostile) social environment. (3) An MIS is a basis for question-raising as well as for question-answering. Implicit in every MIS design is a concept of what questions ought to be asked.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a dynamic, time-staged mixed integer model is used for the selection of industrial long-range R&D portfolio, where inputs from research and marketing are processed through logical programs to provide the discounted payoffs, probabilities (Bayesian, parallel strategies), subjective nonmonetary multiple criteria weights, and the matrix for the mathematical programming model.
Abstract: A dynamic, time-staged mixed integer model is currently being used for the selection of industrial long-range R&D portfolio. Input data from research and marketing are processed through logical programs to provide the discounted payoffs, probabilities (Bayesian, parallel strategies), subjective nonmonetary multiple criteria weights, and the matrix for the mathematical programming model. The multiperiod portfolio is revised sequentially for resources exhaustion throughout the planning horizon by the staged introduction of additional projects. Marginal payoff function (additional investments vs. expected payoff) is a by-product for the support of additional resources justification. Mathematical and heuristic techniques used to overcome common difficulties confronted by previously discussed models are presented. Experience with model introduction to management is also discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of delays in project completion and/or attainment of full capacity production on the discounted present value of a project are examined and a decision-making technique developed in the ensuing presentation can guide a project director in dealing with situations created by project delays and over-estimation of expected demands or a particular product.
Abstract: Examines the effects of delays in project completion and/or attainment of full capacity production on the discounted present value of a project. The decision-making technique developed in the ensuing presentation can guide a project director in dealing with situations created by project delays and over-estimation of expected demands or a particular product.

Journal ArticleDOI
J. J. Baruch1
TL;DR: Certain decision processes, such as the R&D budgeting process, that involve interaction among individuals may exhibit a bistable characteristic, and the type of feedback analysis that has proven useful in analyzing physical hysteresis in bi-stable circuits seems to be applicable to the analysis of organizational phenomena.
Abstract: Certain decision processes, such as the R&D budgeting process, that involve interaction among individuals may exhibit a bistable characteristic. This phenomenon is similar in shape to the hysteresis phenomenon observed in physical systems. Such phenomena are often difficult to analyze unless they can be broken down into separate, single-valued functions. The type of feedback analysis that has proven useful in analyzing physical hysteresis in bi-stable circuits seems to be applicable to the analysis of organizational phenomena such as decisional hysteresis. Because this form of analysis is likely to be unfamiliar to those whose research or practice lies in the field of organizational behavior, it is offered here as a potentially useful tool.

Journal ArticleDOI
Victor N. Berlin1
TL;DR: Using an interrupted time series experimental design, the author evaluates the relationship between the degree of decentralization and the level of productivity for 13 of 22 health districts and 6 of 11 health programs operated by the health department.
Abstract: An administrative experiment investigating the relationship between organizational structure and organizational effectiveness was carried out in a large, urban health department. By using an interrupted time series experimental design, the author evaluates the relationship between the degree of decentralization and the level of productivity for 13 of 22 health districts and 6 of 11 health programs operated by the health department.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors measured the effect of increasing individual responsibility with regard to housekeeping in an industrial laboratory and found that the increased responsibility actually motivated the people involved to improve laboratory cleanliness, an inspection panel was selected to rate the lab for cleanliness before and after the proposed policy change.
Abstract: The time series experimental design is used to measure the effect of increasing individual responsibility with regard to housekeeping in an industrial laboratory. To determine whether the increased responsibility actually motivated the people involved to improve laboratory cleanliness, an inspection panel was selected to rate the lab for cleanliness before and after the proposed policy change was made. Parameters that required some control included remodeling in some areas of the lab, visits to the lab by corporate VIP's, unusually heavy or light work loads, selection and control of the panelists, interference by union cleaners through grievance procedures, and the attitudes of those affected by the change toward the new policy. The results, which dramatically illustrate the need for controlling parameters, indicate some improvement in the housekeeping of the lab that can be related to the policy change.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A tentative planning and resource allocation system for product-oriented research in large centralized research laboratories is described in this article, which can be used as an information system providing the research organization with research goals and their economic value and also to recommend which research project funding patterns have the greatest value to the company.
Abstract: A tentative planning and resource allocation system for product-oriented research in large centralized research laboratories is described. The system has been developed and tested on the basis of a number of case studies. It can be used as an information system providing the research organization with research goals and their economic value and also to recommend which research project funding patterns have the greatest value to the company. The system is named QUESTAR (Quantitative Utility Evaluation Suggesting Targets for the Allocation of Resources) and has been developed in cooperation with Abt Associates, Management Consultants of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a method for selecting a program of research by calculating the overall costs and benefits is outlined and then, as an example, it is applied to a particular field of research.
Abstract: A method for selecting a program of research by calculating the overall costs and benefits is outlined and then, as an example, it is applied to a particular field of research. The field selected is that of research into Vehicle Safety. The method of collecting the data for the necessary analysis is described and using two separate program objectives, namely the maximization of gross benefits and the maximization of net benefits, various selections are made using linear program computer techniques. The dangers of uncritical acceptance of cost/benefit criteria in project selections are noted. In particular the need for freedom to devote effort to understanding the nature of problems rather than achieve quick solutions is pointed out. Finally, reasons are given for modifying the portfolio selected to produce what is called a pragmatic portfolio.