A Theoretical Framework for Understanding the Organization of the R et D Function. An Empirical Illustration from the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry
Résumé
The increasing importance of innovation for companies, mergers and acquisitions, and the strengthening of project structures are leading to numerous rationalizations in the organization of the research function. Though few works have analyzed company RetD organization and its impact on innovation performance, we will elaborate on the concepts of economy of scope and absorptive capacity, introduced to compare the efficiency of various firms' RetD so as to analyze the organization of RetD departments. We focus on inter-project learning and argue that it must be viewed as an organizational question. “Organizing by problem” constitutes a new means of cross-project learning and of enhancing absorptive capacity.