Implications for Organizing Global R&D

Research and development, and as a result technology, have improved the quality of human life tremendously over the last six decades. For the first time in the history of humanity it appears technically feasible to eliminate poverty and diseases for large masses of the population. But are we happier than earlier generations? No, it seems that human aspiration adjusts to opportunities. We know more, produce more externalities and become more sensitive to the indirect consequences of organizational activity. Today’s R&D has to take into account not only customers and economical issues, but ecology and society as well. DuPont’s „Better things for better living through chemistry“ tries to catch this spirit. Kao’s „Safety for society and users“ incorporates the critical customer into its vision.

Fig. VI.1.1.

Today’s R&D has an overall responsibility.

But what are the challenges for global R&D organization that result from considering economical, ecological, and societal issues (Fig. VI.1.1).