Showing papers in "IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management in 1975"
TL;DR: Project SAPPHO as discussed by the authors studied differences between success and failure in innovation and produced information both on the roles played by individuals in the innovation process and on the characteristics of those associated with success.
Abstract: Project SAPPHO, which studied differences between success and failure in innovation, produced information both on the roles played by individuals in the innovation process and on the characteristics of those associated with success. Although the data do not permit as detailed an analysis as other studies which have concentrated specifically on gathering information about people, they do enable some of the existing ideas to be reviewed. Results show little support for the belief that `Product Champions' can challenge and overcome organizational unsuitability or indifference, but suggest rather that the power, commitment and experience of the Innovation Managers are crucial factors.
53 citations
TL;DR: The characteristics of information contributing to the resolution of technical problems arising during thirty on-going innovations in British industry have been studied with the aim of determining the patterns of information flow consonant with successful innovation as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The characteristics of information contributing to the resolution of technical problems arising during thirty on-going innovations in British industry have been studied with the aim of determining the patterns of information flow consonant with successful innovation. A number of findings have emerged: 1) Information obtained from literature contributed as much as that from personal contact. The innovation process is most efficient when these two sources are used in a mutually supportive fashion. 2) Different sources are selectively used to obtain different types of information. The choice of appropriate sources and in an appropriate order has a considerable impact on the innovation process. The choice pattern improves with the higher levels of education of the problem-solver and of the research intensity of the firm: 3) No direct correlation was found between the frequency of use of a source and its relative contribution to the innovation. Some vital pieces of information are obtained from sources infrequently used. Implications for researchers and management are drawn.
51 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of change on technical communication patterns in a research and development laboratory were examined with respect to technical communication pattern in three groups of engineers in three different organizations.
Abstract: A number of variables were examined with respect to technical communication patterns in a research and development laboratory in the authors' initial investigation. Observed changes in technical assignment and administrative control were noted in three of the groups studied. Generally, the immediate response of a group of engineers to administrative change was to retain the communication patterns prior to the change. Changed technical missions resulted in less communication for a change group than for stable groups. Project teams depended upon links with the functional groups to which the engineers were previously assigned. A second study, eighteen months later, provides important data regarding the effects of change on technical communication patterns. The time lapse was sufficient for the administrative change groups to restructure their technical information patterns into self-contained entities.
44 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a combination of differentiated models based on a stage approach for project screening, evaluation, and selection is proposed, which is based on the adaptation of available models and correlation of the magnitude of resources committed and the chance of project success.
Abstract: Sequentiality in decision making is an inherent characteristic of the R&D process. Conceptual changes are noted during the course of the project which represent a continuous improvement in the quality of the data available during the various project stages. When using single evaluation models, a contradiction is observed in that the same tool is used for varying conditions such as levels of R&D cost, time needed, and degree of risk and uncertainty at a given stage, with the result that the technique does not always fit the need. It is proposed, instead, to use a combination of differentiated models based on a stage approach for project screening, evaluation, and selection. The bases of this approach are: a) identification and utilization of specific attributes characterizing the individual R&D stage. b) selection of differentiated qualitative-quantitative models for evaluation at each stage. The selected models must be commensurate with the quality and quantity of data available at each stage. c) correlation of the magnitude of resources committed and the chance of project success. The proposed methodology is based on the adaptation of available models.
43 citations
TL;DR: This article reviewed the available evidence, and reported three new experiments evaluating group brainstorming for engineering problems, using executives as well as student subjects, group sizes of 2, 4, and 6, time periods of 50 and 90 minutes, and mixtures of group and individual work.
Abstract: A number of claims have been made for the effectiveness of group brainstorming as a means of enhancing creativity in problem solving groups, and the technique has been quite widely used for this purpose. There is, however, little solid evidence for the superiority of group to pooled individual brainstorming. This paper reviews the available evidence, and reports three new experiments evaluating group brainstorming for engineering problems, using executives as well as student subjects, group sizes of 2, 4, and 6, time periods of 50 and 90 minutes, and mixtures of group and individual work. The findings extend and support the previous evidence of the ineffectiveness of group brainstorming for engineering problems. The pooling of individual brainstorming efforts appears to be the preferred procedure.
40 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report an exploratory study which focused on delineating a number of propositions on specific determinants of project management conflict in high-technology organizations and empirically tested the sources of conflict uncovered by polling the expert opinions of 100 project managers in a wide variety of task-oriented situations.
Abstract: Project managers frequently feel deficient in two particular areas. First, they often encounter difficulty in forecasting actions which may lead to unproductive conflicts and disagreements with those who support them. Second, once a conflict has developed, they often have difficulty in finding an appropriate method to satisfactorily resolve the disagreement. This research reports an exploratory study which focused on delineating a number of propositions on specific determinants of project management conflict in high-technology organizations. The sources of conflict uncovered were then empirically tested by polling the expert opinions of 100 project managers in a wide variety of task-oriented situations.
24 citations
TL;DR: In this article, Boundary-spanning activity (BSA) was studied in two departments of a large governmental research and development organization and it was found to have significant effects for employees when departmental goals were unclear and technology was non-routine.
Abstract: Boundary-spanning activity (BSA) was studied in two departments of a large governmental research and development organization. BSA was found to be higher and to have significant effects for employees when departmental goals were unclear and technology was non-routine. Under these conditions, BSA was negatively related to role ambiguity and positively related to job satisfaction. Contrary to prior research, this study found roles with high levels of BSA to have favorable aspects for their incumbents depending upon goal clarity and type of technology of the parent organization. Implications for the management of research and development organizations are discussed.
16 citations
Journal Article•
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TL;DR: In this paper, a meeting with representatives from both research and practice in transfer and innovation in order to establish a "state-of-the-art" baseline and to promote discussion between the researchers and practioners from all sectors in the hope that new research will better reflect the realities of current practice and new mechanisms created by practitioners might be improved through the use of knowledge generated from research.
Abstract: Several formerly independent trends including the increasing rate of technological change, the demand for greater efficiency and productivity in R&D and innovation, and the need for applying technology to the solution of pressing social and economic problems have recently begun to reinforce each other resulting in renewed interest in technology transfer activities and research. The proliferation of research efforts in the U.S. and Western Europe, increased corporate and governmental efforts to develop mechanisms and incentives for transfer and the growing closeness between transfer and innovation studies led to the decision to convene a meeting with representatives from both research and practice in transfer and innovation in order to establish a “state-of-the-art” baseline and to promote discussion between the researchers and practioners from all sectors in the hope that new research will better reflect the realities of current practice and new mechanisms created by practitioners might be improved through the use of knowledge generated from research.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an empirical study of 115 participants in R&D planning in a large federal government agency was conducted to examine the relationship between type of work planned and participants' perceived uncertainties and the centralization of the decision-related communication net.
Abstract: This paper reports an empirical study of 115 participants in R & D planning in a large Federal Government agency. Two hypotheses were tested, examining the relationship between type of work planned and (a) the participants' perceived uncertainties and (b) the centralization of the decision-related communication net. The data indicate that perceived uncertainties tend to be lower, and communications nets more centralized, as work planned becomes more applied. Secondary findings indicate that increased decentralization of the decision-related communication net may be an adaptive response to organizational decision problems of high uncertainty. Further research is suggested, and some general implications for the working manager are identified.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the role perceptions of scientists as a distinct group from engineers working in three large industrial corporations were investigated and it was found that scientists and engineers do not perceive their roles, expectations, need systems, and value orientations to be the same.
Abstract: Most research on the management of scientific and engineering personnel in industrial organizations has tended to lump both groups into a single category of `professionals' assuming that they exhibit essentially the same behavioral characteristics. Consequently, managerial practices for utilizing, motivating, and `managing' these groups have been largely based on the assumption of the professional `stereotype'. This has created a lot of misunderstanding and friction in the professional-organizational relationship. This paper reports some findings of a larger study conducted to inquire into the role perceptions of scientists as a distinct group from engineers working in three large industrial corporations. Findings of this study point out that scientists and engineers do not, in fact, perceive their roles, expectations, need systems, and value orientations to be the same. This suggests that managerial policies, motivational strategies, and organizational designs for R&D should probably be based on `professional differentiation' between various groups of technical manpower. Implications of the study for the effective management of scientists and engineers are also discussed.
11 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the importance of involving the marketing group in establishing, or verifying, relevant sales forecasts is discussed. And the method described offers a reasonably practical approach to the R&D evaluation problem.
Abstract: An RD also, the importance of involving the marketing group in establishing, or verifying, relevant sales forecasts, etc. Overall, the method described offers a reasonably practical approach to the R&D evaluation problem. It is urged that evaluations of this kind be made at all stages of R&D progress.
TL;DR: A consumer electronics enterprise grew from a handful of engineers and technicians in 1945 to a world-wide billion-dollars-a-year business today by adhering consistently to several principles: developing original technology rather than relying on copied technology, creating new markets for new products, focusing on consumer products, and utilizing the most advanced technology for the products under strict quality control as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A consumer electronics enterprise grew from a handful of engineers and technicians in 1945 to a world-wide billion-dollars-a-year business today by adhering consistently to several principles: Developing original technology rather than relying on copied technology, creating new markets for new products, focusing on consumer products, and utilizing the most advanced technology for the products under strict quality control. These principles have been embodied in a series of new products that have been introduced by the enterprise over the years. They include the first tape recorder in Japan, one of the earliest transistor radios in the world, the first fully transistorized direct-view television set in the world, low-cost high-quality videotape recorders, and the unique Trinitron color picture tube.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a forecast of technological developments in farm tractors using Delphi and cross-impact analysis along with some criticism in the background of the experience gained from their application.
Abstract: A `real' forecast of technological developments in farm tractors is presented here. The methods of Delphi and cross-impact analysis are used and briefly described along with some criticism in the background of the experience gained from their application. In addition, some purely methodological findings are noted.
TL;DR: The model is intended as a flexible framework for simulations useful in planning and is easily modified to represent particular situations, operating criteria, and available information.
Abstract: A business model is developed, based on the ideas of behavioral modeling, and two typical businesses are simulated including representations of environments and management strategies. The model is intended as a flexible framework for simulations useful in planning and is easily modified to represent particular situations, operating criteria, and available information. The performances of the two businesses are computed for a number of combinations of environment and management strategy.
TL;DR: This article found that professionals in formal organizations perceive themselves at higher levels of role performance in the presence of the organic system of management set forth by Burns and Stalker in their research of the English and Scottish electronics industries in the 1950's.
Abstract: Two empirical studies of 95 research scientists and 155 university professors indicate that professionals in formal organizations perceive themselves at higher levels of role performance in the presence of the organic system of management set forth by Burns and Stalker in their research of the English and Scottish electronics industries in the 1950's. The findings suggest that managers should adopt the organic system with a view toward eliciting higher levels of actual role performance from the professionals in their organizations.
TL;DR: In this paper, a longitudinal study examines the changes in career goals of engineers and scientists who were members of an organization undergoing significant changes as a result of environmentally induced pressures, finding that career goals do change in response to changes both in organizational resource availability and in organizational tasks.
Abstract: This longitudinal study examines the changes in career goals of engineers and scientists who were members of an organization undergoing significant changes as a result of environmentally induced pressures. Career goal data were gathered by questionnaires in 1969 (N=265) and in 1973 (N=373). The results indicate that some change in career goals does occur in response to changes both in organizational resource availability and in organizational tasks. Such changes in career orientation appear to occur primarily (1) among young professionals, and (2) among those without advanced degrees (indicating that organizational experience and anticipatory socialization occurring in graduate school serve to lessen the impact of organizational change on career goals). Other findings suggest that changes in career goals of managers may lag rather than lead changes in the goals of other employees.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an effective appraisal system which is integrated into the total organization, which is difficult but not impossible, by defining clear objectives for the appraisal system, establishing the basic elements which affect the system, obtaining top management support, training the superior in appraisal techniques and using the proper combination of appraisal techniques such as Management By Objectives, Ranking and Rating Scales.
Abstract: The well organized and efficiently run corporation is an integration of many related systems. One of these systems is the managerial performance appraisal. Firms are realizing that through the use of a well designed and coordinated appraisal system, efficiency and productivity can increase. The task of designing and operating an effective appraisal system which is integrated into the total organization is difficult but not impossible. The key in doing so lies in: 1) defining clear objectives for the system, 2) establishing the basic elements which affect the system, 3) scheduling the proper events to achieve an effective appraisal system, 4) obtaining top management support, 5) training the superior in appraisal techniques and 6) using the proper combination of appraisal techniques such as Management By Objectives, Ranking and Rating Scales.
TL;DR: In this article, a procedure is developed to predict the performance of combinations of two businesses for comparison with their performance of the individual businesses operating individually, including general relationships of combined performance, definition of several types of combination and their simulation using previously developed business models.
Abstract: A procedure is developed to predict the performance of combinations of two businesses for comparison with the performance of the businesses operating individually. Included are general relationships of combined performance, the definition of several types of combination and their simulation using previously developed business models. A large number of computational experiments are performed to show the effect of the different types of combination, environment, management strategy, business model inaccuracies and of uncertainties in knowing efficiency factors and learning-curve coefficients.
TL;DR: In this paper, a historical development of the law of products liability is traced through statutory and case law, and a pragmatic systems approach for enhancing product safety is offered as an aid to the manufacturing engineer.
Abstract: Directed at the legal, engineering, and management aspects of product safety. A historical development of the law of products liability is traced through statutory and case law. In addition, the importance of governmental agencies in regulating product safety is explained. A pragmatic systems approach for enhancing product safety is offered as an aid to the manufacturing engineer.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define the Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) function and illustrate the application of a large company's resources in providing ILS to a major defense program.
Abstract: Defines the Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) function and illustrates the application of a large company's resources in providing ILS to a major defense program. Ancient and modern examples of ILS are presented as is the concept of ILS as an investment. The implementation of the defined functions-Reliability, Maintainability, Provisioning, and Maintenance Engineering are then considered as is their integration toward a common purpose-system support. This ILS is justified by consideration of the Life Cycle Cost elements.
TL;DR: An attempt is made to provide a quantitative evaluation of newly introduced `customer acceptance' parameters, which include such factors as maintainability, availability, degree of automation, operator approval and improvements over previous systems.
Abstract: Describes the research and development (R&D) phase of a hypothetical large-scale electronic system. The methodology, system design concepts, cost effectiveness and customer acceptance considerations presented herein are based on a synthesis of various R&D programs. An attempt is made to provide a quantitative evaluation of newly introduced `customer acceptance' parameters, which include such factors as maintainability, availability, degree of automation, operator approval and improvements over previous systems. It is concluded that such parameters should be given as much attention as the more familiar cost-effectiveness concept during the design process in order to ensure customer acceptance of the system.