Characteristics of Japanese R&D management excellence

The author compares research and development (R&D) management between corporations whose R&D activities were evaluated by industry peers as outstanding (hereafter referred to as outstanding R&D performing corporations) and those not chosen as outstanding. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 1989 and distributed to all manufacturing corporations listed on the first and second sections of the Japanese stock exchange. The return ratio was 33.6 percent. The questions probed characteristics of outstanding R&D performing corporations and key issues of R&D sectors (such as internationalization and research personnel promotion), and R&D management (such as project evaluation). The analysis shows the characteristics of outstanding R&D performing corporations, which may serve as guidelines for other corporations. The characteristics of outstanding R&D performers are associated with their efforts in basic research, development of specific research management which is different from development management, participation of researchers on the front line in R&D decision making, their academic contributions, an open R&D atmosphere, decision making power of R&D institutions, relationship of R&D with other divisions, and improvement of R&D evaluation methods.<>