bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INEQUALITY AND WELFARE IN EEC COUNTRIES *
Authors: Tsakloglou Panos
Published: May 2007

Inequality and welfare comparisons are performed using simple and generalized Lorenz curves and a number of ranking criteria suggested by Shorrocks and Foster, Dardanoni and Lambert, and Davis and Hoy, on Family Expenditure Survey data of nine EEC countries. The highest levels of inequality are observed in Italy and Greece and the lowest in Denmark, Belgium and France, whereas welfare is found to be relatively low in Greece and Ireland and relatively high in Belgium and France.
ON THE PRICE AND STRUCTURAL EFFICIENCY IN FARRELL'S MODEL
Authors: Sengupta Jati K.
Published: May 2007

The paper develops a mean variance model to characterize the price efficiency at the firm level in Farrell's model and shows how risk aversion may affect this measure. Problems of estimating the structural efficiency at the industry level are also discussed and it is shown that this involves a comparison between efficiency distributions of two or more industries. Two empirical applications for the two efficiency measures are also discussed.
THE DETERMINANTS OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PRICES AND RENTS
Authors: Dobson S. M. , Goddard J. A.
Published: May 2007

This paper develops a theoretical model of price and rent determination in the commercial property market. Prices and rents are assumed to adjust to ensure market clearing. A series of theoretical relationships are derived between prices and rents and a number of exogenous variables. These are then subjected to empirical testing for three types of property: industrial property, shops and offices. The results indicate employment is an important influence on price, especially for industrial property. In most cases, price and rent are also found to be sensitive to interest rates and residential property values.
CONSISTENT ESTIMATION OF A LIMITING COVARIANCE MATRIX
Authors: Sapra Sunil K.
Published: May 2007

This paper provides a consistent and positive semi‐definite estimator of the limiting covariance matrix of a nonlinear instrumental variable estimator for a nonlinear simultaneous equation model with selectivity studied in Sapra (1989).
EQUILIBRIA IN NON‐COOPERATIVE GAMES I: PERTURBATIONS BASED REFINEMENTS OF NASH EQUILIBRIUM
Authors: Sadanand Asha B. , Sadanand Venkatraman
Published: May 2007

The concept of Nash equilibrium is widely used to analyse non‐cooperative games. However, one of the problems with that concept is that many games have multiple equilibria. Recent work has concentrated on reducing or refining the set of Nash equilibria in some games. In this paper, we survey some equilibrium concepts based on perturbations of strategies that refine the set of Nash equilibria. We discuss the pros and cons of each concept and its relationship to the others by the use of numerous examples and intuition. It is hoped that this survey will enable the economist to consider the relevance of a particular equilibrium concept to a given economic model of interest. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number: C72.
ENGLE AND YOO THREE STEP ESTIMATION OF CONSUMERS' EXPENDITURE AND HOUSING EQUITY WITHDRAWAL
Authors: Patterson Kerry D.
Published: May 2007

This paper reports a substantive application of Engle and Yoo's three‐step estimator for cointegrated systems. Their estimator was proposed as a computationally convenient alternative to a number of FIML systems estimators. In part this estimator was developed to overcome some drawbacks of the OLS estimator of the first stage Engle‐Granger cointegrating regression which, despite its widespread use, is not asymptotically efficient and does not provide (even) asympototically correct ‘t’ statistics. Our application, which is of interest in its own right, is to an explanation of expenditure on nondurables and services in the UK. In formulating an empirical explanation for this variable we find it necessary to extend our framework to consider a system of dynamic error correction equations with feedbacks — or error correction mechanisms — from consumption and housing equity withdrawal.
A BUFFER STOCK MODEL OF THE DEMAND FOR MONEY BY THE PERSONAL SECTOR
Authors: Mizen Paul
Published: May 2007

This paper examines the forward‐looking rational expectations buffer stock model of Cuthbertson and Taylor (1987) in the context of the personal sector of the UK. The buffer stock model is evaluated for both narrow and broad money definitions in the UK using the encompassing the VAR methodology of Mizon (1984). This suggests that the buffer stock model is a congruent model, and that the broad definition is the most appropriate aggregate with which to model buffering behaviour — in line with previous studies, Mizen (1992). Further analysis of the models, in the light of Hendry (1988), confirms this view.
LEARNING‐BY‐DOING AND ASYMMETRIC INFORMATION IN A MODEL OF MONOPOLY REGULATION*
Authors: Wright Donald J.
Published: May 2007

This paper combines learning‐by‐doing and asymmetric information in a model of monopoly regulation with and without foreign competition. The principal source of the information asymmetry is unobservable firm effort in the learning process, although unobservable costs are also considered. The major result is that a post‐learning all‐or‐nothing output‐contingent lump‐sum subsidy can achieve the regulator's complete information welfare maximum. With foreign competition this model can best be thought of as one involving infant industry regulation.
MULTIVARIATE COINTEGRATION APPROACH TO THE DETERMINATION OF RESERVES AND BANK CREDIT: A CASE STUDY OF TURKEY*
Authors: Civcir Irfan , Parikh Ashok
Published: May 2007

The paper estimates both long‐run reserves and long‐run money demand equations using the multivariate cointegration approach. An economic model is constructed, based on the monetary approach to balance of payments in which the monetary authorities can control money supply through changes in bank credit. The vector auto‐regressive methodology is used to derive latent equilibrium relationships, and the short‐run error correction equations are estimated for both nominal money stock and reserves. A response function for the short‐run changes in bank credit is developed. Given the institutional system and slow adjustments, a response function of changes in bank credit to lagged changes in reserves performs well for the period 1960–88.
MEASUREMENT OF CAPACITY UTILIZATION FOR REVENUE‐MAXIMIZING FIRMS*
Authors: Segerson Kathleen , Squires Dale
Published: May 2007

A dual measure of capacity utilization is developed for multiproduct, revenue‐maximizing firms. Under the assumption of revenue maximization, the sensitivity of CU to a change in an individual product price is shown to be directly related to the product‐specific scale elasticity. The results are given a simple graphical interpretation.
AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UK TREASURY BILLS AND THE TERM STRUCTURE OF CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT*
Authors: Fraser Patricia
Published: May 2007

Using principal components analysis, this paper derives a direct measure of movements in the level and slope of the certificate of deposit yield curve. Appealing to the efficient markets view of the term structure of interest rates, evidence is reported which suggests that changes in Treasury Bill yields have a considerable influence over changes in the level of CD yields but only have a small, transitory effect on the slope of the term structure of CDs.
CONSUMER'S SURPLUS: SIMPLE SOLUTIONS TO AN OLD PROBLEM
Authors: Ebert Udo
Published: May 2007

The paper presents a concise account of recent results on the axiomatization of various welfare measures. Following the introduction and discussion of some elementary properties that a welfare measure should satisfy, valid measures are derived. In particular, the Hicksian equivalent and compensating variation and a measure based on the money metric are characterized.
DO SMALL FIRMS' PRICE‐COST MARGINS FOLLOW THOSE OF LARGE FIRMS?
Authors: Prince Yvonne M. , Thurik A. Roy
Published: May 2007

The paper investigates the extent to which small firms' price‐cost margins follow those of large firms. A two‐equation model is used with data for 36 Dutch three‐digit manufacturing industries over the period 1975–86. The effects of market structure characteristics are also examined. The main result is that small firms (10‐50 employees) appear to have the freedom to set prices above cost independently of larger firms in the same industry.
UPWARD‐SLOPING REACTION FUNCTIONS UNDER QUANTITY COMPETITION IN MIXED OLIGOPOLIES*
Authors: Delbono Flavio , Scarpa Carlo
Published: May 2007

It is shown that in a mixed duopoly under quantity competition, the public firm's reaction function may be upward‐sloping. This is the case with a concave demand function when the public firm attaches to private profits a smaller weight than to its own profits.
ON THE INTERPRETATION OF COVARIATE ESTIMATES IN INDEPENDENT COMPETING‐RISKS MODELS*
Authors: Thomas Jonathan M.
Published: May 2007

Competing‐risks models are becoming increasingly pervasive in applied research to explain the factors determining both the time in a state (i.e. unemployment) and the exit route from the state (is. leaving unemployment for a job or non‐participation). However, as in many limited dependent variable models, the interpretation of the covariate estimates requires care. Despite assertions to the contrary in many published papers, it is shown that the estimated qualitative effect of a covariate on the hazard for risk j typically conveys no information on its qualitative effect on either the likelihood of, or expected time until, exit via j. This is because such magnitudes depend on the qualitative and quantitative effects of the covariate on other risks which cannot be ignored. The point is demonstrated by using UK data on the unemployment to re‐employment transitions of a sample of male job losers.
UNCERTAIN INCOME, UNCERTAIN TAXES AND RICARDIAN EQUIVALENCE*
Authors: Hansen Paul
Published: May 2007

L. K. C. Chan (1983) and R. B. Barsky et al. (1986) have demonstrated that a tax cut financed by bonds to be repaid from proportional income taxes on uncertain future income, by reducing the latter's riskiness, stimulates current consumption ‐ Ricardian equivalence does not hold. However, their two‐period models exclude the possibility that future taxes are uncertain. In this paper a three‐period model is developed that, by allowing the government two periods in which to collect taxes, introduces ex ante tax rate uncertainty. This renders the result concerning Ricardian equivalence ambiguous. By comparison, taxes levied as lump sums and via a ‘lottery’ respectively produce the ‘usual’ effects (zero and negative) on consumption.
APPLIED COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE FOR FINANCE AND ECONOMICS
Authors: Isasi Pedro , Quintana David , Saez Yago , Mochon Asuncion
Published: May 2007

This article introduces some relevant research works on computational intelligence applied to finance and economics. The objective is to offer an appropriate context and a starting point for those who are new to computational intelligence in finance and economics and to give an overview of the most recent works. A classification with five different main areas is presented. Those areas are related with different applications of the most modern computational intelligence techniques showing a new perspective for approaching finance and economics problems. Each research area is described with several works and applications. Finally, a review of the research works selected for this special issue is given.
ON SOCIAL LEARNING AND ROBUST EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHM DESIGN IN THE COURNOT OLIGOPOLY GAME
Authors: Alkemade Floortje , La Poutré Han , Amman Hans M.
Published: May 2007

Agent‐based computational economics (ACE) combines elements from economics and computer science. In this article, the focus is on the relation between the evolutionary technique that is used and the economic problem that is modeled. In the field of ACE, economic simulations often derive parameter settings for the genetic algorithm directly from the values of the economic model parameters.

This article compares two important approaches that are dominating in ACE and shows that the above practice may hinder the performance of the genetic algorithm and thereby hinder agent learning. More specifically, it is shown that economic model parameters and evolutionary algorithm parameters should be treated separately by comparing the two widely used approaches to social learning with respect to their convergence properties and robustness. This leads to new considerations for the methodological aspects of evolutionary algorithm design within the field of ACE.
PRICE DYNAMICS, INFORMATIONAL EFFICIENCY, AND WEALTH DISTRIBUTION IN CONTINUOUS DOUBLE‐AUCTION MARKETS
Authors: Gil‐Bazo Javier , Moreno David , Tapia Mikel
Published: May 2007

This paper studies the properties of the continuous double‐auction trading mechanism using an artificial market populated by heterogeneous computational agents. In particular, we investigate how changes in the population of traders and in market microstructure characteristics affect price dynamics, information dissemination, and distribution of wealth across agents. In our computer‐simulated market only a small fraction of the population observe the risky asset's fundamental value with noise, while the rest of the agents try to forecast the asset's price from past transaction data. In contrast to other artificial markets, we assume that the risky asset pays no dividend, thus agents cannot learn from past transaction prices and subsequent dividend payments. We find that private information can effectively disseminate in the market unless market regulation prevents informed investors from short selling or borrowing the asset, and these investors do not constitute a critical mass. In such case, not only are markets less efficient informationally, but may even experience crashes and bubbles. Finally, increased informational efficiency has a negative impact on informed agents' trading profits and a positive impact on artificial intelligent agents' profits.
Communication networks in R & D Laboratories
Authors: Allen Thomas J.
Published: May 2007

Communication networks in R & D laboratories are shown to have structural characteristics, which when properly understood can be employed to more effectively maintain the laboratories' personnel abreast of technological developments. Informal relations and physical location are shown to be important determinants of this structure. Informal relations can be developed through formation of project teams and intergroup transfers and loans. The effect of physical location on communications is especially strong and should be given serious consideration when designing research facilities.
Controlling R & D projects by networks
Authors: Parker R. C. , Sabberwal A. J. P.
Published: May 2007

Abstract. This paper discusses the use of network analysis in the management of a large scale engineering project carried out within the R & D department of an engineering company. It describes the use of precedence diagrams and concludes that these are simpler to use than the more commonly encountered PERT nomenclature. This method has now been extended to cover other projects in the R & D department and it is concluded that their successful introduction has been encouraged by the interest and support of top management.
Analytical Instrument R&D Management
Authors: Bergen S. A.
Published: May 2007

Abstract. The paper describes briefly some of the problems faced in the management of R&D in the British Scientific Instrument Industry and an opportunity of re‐organization following the merger of several small companies.

The reasons for a hybrid rather than a project orientated or functional organization are given, with special reference to economies of standardization and flexibility of resources resulting from size. The method of resource allocation and project control is outlined and some qualitative conclusions on the results of this approach are drawn.
Innovation in shipbuilding
Authors: Milner C. G.
Published: May 2007

Abstract. In certain products, such as aircraft or ships, innovation is not always easily recognizable. Major developments in components and systems can be overshadowed by the total product. Innovation is spread over many different items and timescales. The article describes an approach where innovatory activity in shipbuilding is planned and carried out by those involved in design production in several departments, rather than confined to a separate R&D department. The aims, organization, and procedures are described, including the process of project evaluation. The article concludes with a review of project success rate, and draws conclusions particularly about the key roles of marketing and individual performance.
Entrepreneurship, technology, and the university
Authors: Lamont L. M.
Published: May 2007

In recent years, the small technology‐based enterprise ('spin‐off') has had a significant impact on regional economic development. As a source of new technology and entrepreneurs, the university has made an important contribution to the formation of new enterprises.

This article focuses on the role of the university as an incubator organization and the special problems of academic entrepreneurs and their firms. Guidelines are given to improve the academic entrepreneur's corporate performance and suggestions are offered to enable the university to facilitate the entrepreneurship process. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the future prospects for academic entrepreneurship.
Communication of technical information between overseas markets and Head Office laboratories
Authors: Hough E. A.
Published: May 2007

Communication of commercially exploitable technical information from laboratories based at the Headquarters of a large industrial organization to customers located throughout the world is shown to fall off rapidly with distance. Methods to overcome the barriers associated with distance are described. It is shown that establishing local laboratories in distant overseas markets dramatically increases the flow of technical information.
The effect of individual roles on performance in innovative groups*
Authors: Farris George F.
Published: May 2007

Innovative performance of groups of scientists was related to performance of ‘colleague roles', utilizing a model of organizational decision making proposed by Farris (1971). In more innovative groups, supervisors were named less often by group members as useful for original ideas, but more often for providing critical evaluation. Members of more innovative groups named one another more often as useful for providing technical information and help in thinking about technical problems. Organizational information was available from fewer sources inside or outside the more innovative groups. Supervisors of more innovative groups named more outside sources as useful to them for original ideas. These trends are very consistent with Maier's (1967) emphasis on the leader's ‘integrative function’ in group problem solving.
Brainstorming in an R & D environment (1969–72)
Authors: Rickards T.
Published: May 2007

Brainstorming is a term for a number of procedures for group idea‐generation and progression which are based on the principle of separating the creative (idea‐generation) stages of problem‐solving from the evaluation stages. Misunderstanding regarding the separated evaluation stage has led to incorrect criticism of the technique. A brainstorming service was maintained within an R & D environment over the period 1969–72. Thirty exercises were held and approximately half of a sample (of twenty clients) considered the procedures to have been of some use. A small number of patents were obtained. The procedures are illustrated through a description of an exercise with a group seeking new ideas for diversification. Several sub‐routines were included, both to maintain interest, and to vary the level of speculation within the group. Brainstorming can be complemented by other techniques such as Lateral Thinking, Synectics and Morphological Analysis. A definite assessment of the methodology cannot be made, although general arguments for such group techniques can be proposed. A system of careful monitoring is suggested which will permit improved evaluation and development of the technique.
U.S. industrial intracorporate entrepreneurship practices
Authors: Susbauer J. C.
Published: May 2007

This article reports the intracorporate entrepreneurial program (ICEP) practices, or‘venture management’ activities, of 210 American industrial firms. The survey reveals a growing concern among US. industrial enterprises about increasing competition and outlines a viable action‐oriented response to these competitive pressures. Motives for creating long‐term resource commitments to the creation of new product ventures and new technology divisions in existing companies are explored. A preliminary assessment is made of the effect of such programs on the human resources and performance measures of the organization. A cautious optimism for the successful continued growth of such programs is argued.
The underestimation of project duration: a compensating graphic technique
Authors: Milliken J. Gordon
Published: May 2007

This note augments recent comments in this journal relating to the tendency for schedulers of R & D to consistently underestimate the time needed for project completion. One author postulated the existence of psychological time‐horizons, varying by individual, as the determinant of the degree of underestimation. A little‐known graphic technique, the program trend chart, appears to provide an empirical means of compensating for the individual tendency toward underestimation of project duration. The technique may also provide a basis for measurement of an individual's time‐horizon, through observation of the variation between actual and predicted completion dates.
Value noncomplementarity and organizational commitment of engineers*
Authors: Barth R. T.
Published: May 2007

Based on data obtained from 358 engineering professionals, this study first identifies a set of ten work‐related value dimensions relevant and important to engineers. For each of these dimensions, the relationship between the perception of unfulfilment (noncomplementarity) and commitment to the organization is then examined, along with the influence of several professional and organizational socialization variables. It was hypothesized and found, for each of the ten value dimensions, that perceived value incongruence is negatively related to organizational commitment. This relationship was strongest for technical values, collegial growth values, science values, and personal‐interaction values. It was further found that the effects of the socialization variables on this relationship were relatively unimportant. Some implications of these results are discussed.
Institutional roles in technology transfer: a diagnosis of the situation in one small country
Authors: Allen T. J. , Cooney S.
Published: May 2007

The findings of this survey indicate that in fostering international transfer of technology much can be done to influence the development of inter‐personal and inter‐organizational contacts. This is not in itself a complete answer to international technology transfer, but this study suggests that it is an important, though much neglected area, which should be a central concern in science policy.

A survey was conducted in 1970 and 1971 of the communication patterns of more than 1,200 research and development scientists and engineers working in Ireland. Techniques previously used in studying individual firms were adapted to suit the conditions within the country.
Industry‐University collaboration: A general study
Authors: Moore J. P.
Published: May 2007

The Appendix clarifies the means developed by over thirty Universities with University Companies, Industrial Units or Liaison Bureaux.

The recent history of developments in Industry‐University collaboration in the U.K. is briefly reviewed and the present means utilized by Universities to collaborate with Industry and Commerce outlined.
Management structure in an industrial research laboratory
Authors: Wilkinson J. B.
Published: May 2007

The relation between the need to maintain an efficient research resource and the need to use it effectively for the benefit of the business is best met by a matrix structure. The example of a single laboratory in a large organization is discussed.
Research on the interface factor in the development and utilization of new technology
Authors: Gruber William H.
Published: May 2007

The interface factor in the development and utilization of new technology is analyzed with questionnaire surveys. The interface factor is found to determine R&D performance in a study of large manufacturing companies in the United States and in a study of computer utilization performance in commercial banks in the United States. A comparison of the interface factor in the functioning of R & D in the United States and Japan suggests that interface problems may be less serious in Japan. Company experience is reported which indicates that the interface function can be controlled by management policies, procedures and practices. The need for greater attention to the interface factor by executives and by researchers on R & D management is a conclusion which follows from the findings presented in this paper.
A probabilistic model of time‐dependent factors governing the acceptance of innovative ideas by industry
Authors: Morphet C. S.
Published: May 2007

A framework is presented within which can be analysed the timeliness factor that partially governs the receptivity to innovative technical ideas of industrial organizations. A partial analysis is performed within this framework. This suggests certain conclusions which might assist in the marketing of by‐product or ‘spin‐off’ technical ideas.
Information systems and the spread of scientific ideas
Authors: Le Coadic Y. F.
Published: May 2007

This study attempts to show indirectly that by studying a spread of scientific ideas we are able to comprehend the operation and structure of science and technology information systems. It is shown that any information system is a dynamic and orderly social system which exhibits impressive features of regularity and law. It has also been observed that by formalizing the informal channels, the overall effectiveness of communication can improve.
An analysis of decision processes
Authors: Loasby Brian J.
Published: May 2007

AbstractThis paper outlines three ways of looking at decision processes, and relates them to problems of research management. A classification of decisions is suggested, based on three dimensions of complexity. On each dimension, innovative decisions are normally more complex than operating decisions, but since the latter are more common, there is a danger that the former will be inadequately treated, as shown in an example. These dangers may be mitigated, first, by regarding complex decision‐making as an explicitly cyclical process, and, second, by recognizing the significance of reference standards. Four types of reference standard—historical, external, planning, and imaginative—are noted, and brief consideration is given to their origins and to their influence on the perception not only of problems but also of solutions. It is argued that the range and quality of the reference standards used are likely to be significant factors in the success of research management.
A probabilistic model of time‐dependent factors governing the acceptance of innovative ideas by industry
Authors: Morphet C. S.
Published: May 2007

AbstractA framework is presented within which can be analysed the timeliness factor that partially governs the receptivity to innovative technical ideas of industrial organizations. A partial analysis is performed within this framework. This suggests certain conclusions which might assist in the marketing of by‐product or 'spin‐off’ technical ideas.
Optimal development budgets tied to the marketing mix
Authors: Boyer André , Palda Kristian S.
Published: May 2007

The purpose of this paper is to forge a link between optimal levels of the three principal marketing mix instruments—price, promotion and product quality—and the development expenditures devoted to the quality improvement of a firm's existing product. Using the latest operational marketing mix model which prescribes quantitatively what the optimal quality of a brand should be, a simple function relating this optimal quality to desirable development outlays is suggested and some of its implications are explored.
Measurement of bias in project durations
Authors: Kidd J. B.
Published: May 2007

A note by Milliken (1973) suggests the usage of programme trend charts will help managers estimate the total duration of the project slippage. Whilst his sample graphs are informative they are of little use in evaluating two aspects of the problem:

(a) The uncertainty inherent in the project–known to the Shop Floor, but unknown to the management.

(b) The expected completion date–until sufficient data has been collected to yield reliable regression extrapolations.

It is postulated that the assessment of suitably encoded subjective probability distributions be used to satisfy points (a) and (b) above. These distributions, when evaluated by a scoring rule, will also give the management, and the assessor, a true statement of the quality of the assessments. Furthermore, the underlying theory of subjective probability scoring rules suggests that assessors should become ‘better’ when being scored than when given no incentive, other than the usual behavioural guidance of most hierarchic organizations.
Research laboratory architecture and the structuring of communications
Authors: Allen T. J. , Fustfeld A. R.
Published: May 2007

This paper brings together results of a number of studies of communication in R & D organizations. These studies show very clearly the way in which communication is influenced by the physical, architectural arrangement of the laboratory. Communication between individuals is very sensitive to both the horizontal and vertical distances separating them. The point at which it becomes desirable to add floors to a building was derived as a function of required floor area. Finally, a partially successful experiment is reported in which an attempt was made to improve communication in an organization through architectural change.

The results presented here should form the basis for further experimentation in this same manner. The possibilities are almost limitless. It only remains for some good imagination to be applied to the problem.
A simulation study of research accounting policy
Authors: McCosh A. M.
Published: May 2007

This paper examines the problem of accounting for research and development expenditures. After a review of the theory and existing practice, a description of a simulation model and of the results obtained to date with that model is given. The study seeks to analyse the impact of the accounting policy of the firm, the success rate of research and development projects, the methods of appropriating funds to research, and other variables on the growth of the firm and on the fund generating capacity.
Steady state and portfolio concept in R & D management
Authors: Balthasar H. U. , Gutzwiller St.
Published: May 2007

This paper describes a new approach for closing the gap between the tools for strategic goal management and operational management in Pharmaceutical R&D. The strategic level may concern with expectation of sales, rising from new products and with total R & D budget. The operational level concerns with project selection, project and multiproject management problems, solution of project related technical problems, determination of the size of the various functions and the functional management. This new method combines the R & D project portfolio management with a steady state concept allowing the attainment of a constant number of projects under development and a continuous full use of the capacity available.
APPLE: A dynamic financial simulation of research and development in a technologically based business
Authors: Bridges R. C. , Martin R. J.
Published: May 2007

This paper describes the present state of development of an abstract, dynamic, financial model of industrial research and development called APPLE. The concept, structure and application of APPLE as a practical tool are presented. The application of APPLE to help strategic planning and to increase understanding of the nature, influence and role of research and development is described.
The relationship between the planning and technical functions: Part II‐The longer term growth of a company
Authors: Wilkinson A.
Published: May 2007

This paper concentrates on m e of the fundamental questions on which a Company needs to focus in generating a longer term corporate strategy, in particular—What is the environment within which the Company will have to develop?

A longer term appreciation of this question is not only important for corporate strategy in general but is a key factor in establishing a viable, economic and relevant programme or plan for the Technical function.

The actual approach used to study this longer term in a limited number of cases is described and the results in one case are summarized in principle in order to indicate the different fundamental questions with which a Company might be faced by taking a longer view in addition to the more normal short term one. The results also give an example of how the plan for the technical function may need revising. For this revision, however, specific business objectives could be given and many key aspects of the future business environment would have been very carefully considered and evaluated. This greatly improves the basis from which the technical function can develop its ideas and programmes.
A study of communication behaviour in an R & D laboratory
Authors: Hall Kevin R. , Ritchie Eric
Published: May 2007

There is still much uncertainty about the determinants of technical communication flow in UK R & D laboratories and even more uncertainty about the causal link between communication behaviour and performance. Hence it is not clear what managerial action should be taken to improve technical communication flow and what effect such action would have on research productivity. In this study the main factors influencing communication flow are identified and the role of basic human characteristics in determining both communication behaviour and performance are studied and discussed.
Applying a system concept to R&D management
Authors: Love P. E.
Published: May 2007

The author has long been an advocate of the systems approach to forecasting, particularly in the area of resource allocation.

In making a number of seminar presentations to middle and senior management, both in the U. K. and the U. S. A., questions from the floor revealed that systems thinking is not as widespread as had been believed. While the media's past attention to the ‘Limits of Growth’ (Meadows, 1972) has communicated the impossibility of infinite expansion, many decision makers remain unaware of the closed‐loop characteristics of the systems in which they work.

On the contrary. While activities are often seen as the prime raison d'etre, the nature and origin of the driving force is often mis‐interpreted and the modifying feed‐back controls completely ignored.

This paper, therefore, attempts to show that a basic closed‐loop system is the only rational precursor to methodology development for decision making. If this action reveals the genuine system parameters then the researcher may well be performing his most helpful service to the decision maker.
R&D budgeting in Swedish firms
Authors: Kay Neil
Published: May 2007

Recent work by Näslund and Sellstedt report results which apparently conflict with accepted opinion on the techniques generally adopted in R&D budgeting. The analysis here suggests that these results can be reconciled with previous analyses and that in fact the role of ‘big science’ in Swedish R&D as well as relative size of Swedish firms compared to large U. S. and U. K. firms may explain the different conventions adopted in Swedish industry.
How can research on research contribute to a better management of university research?
Authors: Steck R.
Published: May 2007

In recent years new forms of research organizations have been established at universities, which have been faced to a much higher degree with problems of research management. This circumstance provides the main reason for starting research on research in the university field on a new basis.

In the ‘Sonderforschungrbereich 79', a large interdisciplinary research unit at Hannover University concerned with ‘water research in the coastal area', a symbiosis and active co‐operation was arranged between a small group of scientists engaged in research on research and a large number of scientists and engineers of several disciplines. The strong liaison between R o R scientists and their subject of investigation is institutionally organized. The purpose of this liaison is to involve R o R scientists in a feed‐back process with a large university research organization and its actual management problems. The results to date have been encouraging and indicate that such an experiment can be a very worthwhile exercise.
A government point of view
Authors: D'Ornano M.
Published: May 2007

English summary

The prime responsibility of government is to try not only to foresee but also to prepare the future. As far as possible, it must anticipate developments and encourage those that favour the general wellbeing, and discourage the others if it can. Scientific and technological progress constitutes one of the determining factors, if not the principal factor, in the development of our society. The subject of the responsibility of research and development towards society must therefore be of the greatest interest to a politician.
Managing complex programs: a review of major research findings
Authors: Baker Bruce N. , Wilemon David L.
Published: May 2007

Managing large‐scale research and development projects is without question a difficult task. Success is often dependent on the ability of the project manager to successfully cope with a myriad of unpredictable situations. To assist project managers, the authors review several of the most significant recent research studies to identify potentially useful insights for those charged with the administration of complex research and development projects. Specifically, five areas of research are examined, namely, (1) project manager leadership styles; (2) conflict management; (3) decision‐making styles; (4) organizational design considerations and project authority; and (5) the relationships of the project team with the parent, client, and other external organizations.
The make or buy decision
Authors: Bergen S. A.
Published: May 2007

The make or buy decision is one which is frequently faced. The factors to be considered are many and various, and in some cases interactive, and because of the many departments involved there is danger that the decision will end up being taken on an ad hoc basis. This situation can be prevented by reformulating the policy statements in the form of a logic diagram which ensures that the same questions are answered in the same sequence by all departments. This approach has been put to practical test and found to be very useful in a variety of ways. This paper describes the method and illustrates its use by reference to three examples.
Responsibility and authority in the matrix organization or is ambiguity a good thing?
Authors: Knight Kenneth
Published: May 2007

Abstract. Ambiguous definition of roles in the matrix is sometimes advocated, but there is evidence that ambiguity can lead to stress and is often experienced as a major problem. A popular alternative is to define the responsibility of project managers without giving them any formal authority. For this to be workable the selection of project managers and the establishment of their function must ensure that they have other sources of effective power. But there is a third option, which is to define responsibility and authority in the matrix clearly and consistently. This approach reveals a range of choice in the authority to be given to project managers, and can be supplemented by the technique of responsibility charting. Finally, choices will need to be made and the paper sets out some of the relevant considerations to be taken into account.
The characteristics of successful innovators and technically progressive firms (with some comments on innovation research)
Authors: Rothwell Roy
Published: May 2007

Abstract. Parallel with the growing realization by modern economists of the role that technical change plays in economic growth there has, during the last twenty years or so, and particularly during the last decade, been an upsurge of interest in research relating to technological innovation. (Mansfield, 1968a; Minasian, 1969; Aukraust, 1969; Thurow, 1971; Mansfield, 1968b). This has led to a number of studies which have aimed at discovering factors associated with success and failure in industrial innovation and the characteristics of technically progressive firms: as a result of this, there now exists a considerable and impressive body of empirical knowledge concerning successful and unsuccessful innovators. This paper briefly reviews the results of some of the more important of these innovation studies, and attempts to highlight areas of agreement between them, both concerning factors associated with success in innovation, and factors associated with failure and delay. It then comments on some of the limitations of the studies, and offers several suggestions concerning aspects of future innovation research which might go some way towards overcoming these limitations. The paper does not pretend to offer any startlingly original data or theory (although the textile machinery results are new—see Tables 1 and 2), but rather it is intended for use as an ‘innovation checklist’ for the busy manager and as a preliminary guide for those who are unfamiliar with the innovation literature.
Coordination of multinational R & D: A Swedish case study
Authors: Granstrand Ove , Fernlund Lngemar
Published: May 2007

The need to coordinate multinational R & D increases in many corporations which want to take advantages of scale, synergy and multinationality on a world‐wide basis. The Swedish engineering corporation SKF has tackled this problem as an early internationalized but lately diversified corporation working in mature technologies and markets. Substantial coordination has been achieved through a heavy resource commitment in a foreign corporate R & D lab, and a subsequent build‐up of a rather elaborate system for R & D management throughout the corporation. The structure and processes of the system are described, together with experiences of coordinating effects, and a project case is given. The chosen mode of coordination is finally compared with situations in other industries.
The management of R & D technological progress as an object for applied systems analysis
Authors: Dobrov G. M.
Published: May 2007

Mankind's prospects both for finding new types of resources and for ensuring efficiency in resource utilization and substitution depend upon our success or failure in solving the problems of organizing and managing technological systems. A generalized scheme describing interaction among the basic elements of the management of national science and technology (ST) activity is outlined, and one particular element isolated for detailed examination: the system analysis and systematic assessment of new technology (SANT). The role of SANT in the context of decision‐making in the management of ST progress is described, together with the methodological arsenal available. No one technique is universally good; the problem is to find systematic means of using a selection of methods which mutually compensate for each other's weaknesses. Further difficulties are encountered over the non‐comparability or absence of initial data, and a framework for viewing the various classes of data available and making use of them is outlined. Examples are given of the practical application of SANT to problems such as the development of a macro‐model., for the planning of national ST policy, and a model of technological change in the area of the science, technology, and exploitation of computers. A system is described which handles the data stores and information flows necessary for performing SANT routines.
Fuzzy operational approach to analysis of Delphi forecasting
Authors: Eto Hajime
Published: May 2007

Delphi forecasting exploits the intuitive side of judgment, but there has been little attempt to analyse Delphi opinions quantitatively as a result of, among other things, severe methodological obstacles. Fuzzy theory provides a possible approach, and here is used to examine the relationship between experts’ views on the degree of importance and year of the breakthrough they are forecasting. The underlying model assumes that the experts also estimate the possibility and range of advancing the year of breakthrough, given that important potential breakthroughs will have more resources diverted to them, and that this will affect the estimated dates (although the experts may not necessarily be aware that they are doing this). Graphical and analytical representations of this process are described which derive an estimate of the technological feasibility of the breakthrough as a function of time, from successive rounds of estimates of importance and year of breakthrough.
A small‐sample survey of the research financing process, with some implications for theory development
Authors: McCosh A. M. , Kesztenbaum M.
Published: May 2007

A group of four British multi‐nationals in high technology industries was interviewed during 1976 to find out how the research activity was budgeted, financed and funded., In each case the same forces were found to be at work. The competitiveness of the firm's market was directly associated with the adventurousness of its research programmes, for example. A general model of the process was developed and additional tests of that model are suggested.
The small‐ and medium‐sized firm as a channel for technology transfer between nations
Authors: Goldberg A. I.
Published: May 2007

Managers of small‐ and medium‐sized firms are often unwilling to enter into agreements with firms in other countries to share knowledge developed in their own R & D efforts. They see such arrangements as being primarily withing the normal activities of the larger companies and restrict their own participation to the local market. These smaller firms, however, have much to offer in new technological ideas. Managers willing to establish multinational ties can find them to be advantageous to home and host countries and to lead to greater success for their enterprise.
The internal audit of research and development
Authors: Chambers A. D.
Published: May 2007

Most activities might benefit from an independent review; but very little attention has been given to the review of research and development (R & D). The evolving scope of internal audit together with trends in R & D provide a more favourable climate for the internal audit of this industry of discovery (Walley, 1974, p. 191).

This paper presents the results of a survey which was questionnaire based and completed by internal auditors, most of whom worked for industrial multinationals which are household names. They represented companies employing 0–61 m staff with a turnover of |SL12b p.a.; 75|X% of the respondent organizations were industrial concerns employing 0.56m with a turnover of |SL10.7b p.a., most of the remaining respondents being financial organizations. Forty‐two per cent were under overseas control.

By focusing on the practice and intentions of leading organizations with a record of progressive management, the results of the survey point a way which is likely to be followed more generally. As the internal audit departments were also large (29 auditors in each; 35 for the industrial departments) they were better placed to extend the scope of their work.