Organization of Industrial R&D on a Global Scale

Oliver Gassmann*, Maximilian Von Zedtwitz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Although the globalization of industrial R&D processes has increasingly attracted management scientists and considerable work on R&D internationalization has been done since the 70s, important problems in organizing geographically distributed R&D sites have not yet been resolved. This analysis is based on 165 interviews in 31 technology-based multinationals from Switzerland, Germany, USA, and Japan conducted between 1994 and 1997. We describe the extent of R&D internationalization, its key drivers and principal impediments. Two trends are identified: (i) a geographic concentration on leading technology centres, and (ii) a tightened coordination of R&D units. Overlaying structures, superimposed to regional and functional structures, play a central role in overcoming current deficits in global R&D management. Organizational constituents of this structure are technology offices (Schering), technology management as a competence center (Schindler), central project offices (IBM), central project management (Bayer), project oriented career development (Bosch), virtual project management departments (Roche), and cross-cultural job rotation (ATR).

Original languageEnglish
JournalR and D Management
Volume28
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)147-161
Number of pages15
ISSN0033-6807
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 1998
Externally publishedYes

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