How Matsushita electric and Sony manage global R&D
Research Technology Management; Washington; Mar/Apr 1999; Sadanori Arimura Duns:00-891-9813 Duns:69-055-3649
Volume: 42
Issue: 2
Start Page: 41-52
ISSN: 08956308
Subject Terms: Electronics industry
Foreign investment
R&D
Management styles
Multinational corporations
Case studies
Classification Codes: 9179: Asia & the Pacific
1300: International trade & foreign investment
2200: Managerial skills
5400: Research & development
8650: Electrical, electronics, instrumentation industries
9110: Company specific/case studies
9510: Multinational corporations
Geographic Names: Japan
Companies: Matsushita Electric Corp of America Duns:00-891-9813
Sony Corp Ticker:SNE Duns:69-055-3649
Abstract:
As companies transfer their R&D activities abroad, they will have to confront a challenging management issue: how to successfully operate R&D laboratories dispersed around the world. Both Matsushita Electric and Sony seem to have coped with this issue successfully by introducing new management systems and practices - redefining the mission and goals of their global R&D, assigning two types of projects at the same time, rather than specializing projects among different labs, coordinating not by large-scale committees or meeting but through human relationships among a small number of top R&D mangers, drastically changing their organizational structures. It appears that both companies have already realized some of the anticipated benefits.

Full Text:
Copyright Industrial Research Institute, Incorporated Mar/Apr 1999
[Headnote]
A long tradition of conducting R&D overseas has helped these Japanese companies adapt to changing competitive conditions.

[Headnote]
OVERVIEW: As companies transfer their R&D activities abroad, they will have to confront a challenging management issue: how to