Corporate culture, educational paradigms and the limits of R&D management: the case of Philips, The Netherlands

Abstract

Summary form only given. The author considers corporate culture and general socialization process. He discusses the constraints they impose on R&D management with regard to manufacturing technology at the Philips Corporation. He suggests that the ambiguous position of R&D in the sphere of manufacturing constitutes a major constraint, next to a variety of general corporate-cultural characteristics, on the freedom of decision-making for R&D management. An important element of the corporate cultural characteristics is the lack of commitment of the plant-mechanization departments to R&D projects. Attention is paid to the autonomy of the engineer at the Centre for Manufacturing Technology, to the industrial gate-keeper, and to personal commitment, rivalry, and disciplinary chauvinism, which are the main factors of the corporate (R&D) culture. In addition, the role of the mainstream educational paradigm, individual achievement, and the relationship between university and industry as factors in the socialization process are considered.<>