Research and Development in Business

Research and Development

Research and development is one of the major functional areas of an organization that is helpful in the identification of strengths and weaknesses of the organization. There are certain organizations that are not involved in the research and development activities. While there are certain other organizations whose survival depends on the effective research and development activities.

When an organization formulates and implements product development strategy, then it strongly needs potential research and development activities. It is all about the research and development of a business organization. Actually that is able to introduce a new idea or product in the market. So research and development have great importance in businesses.

Purpose of Research and Development

Research and development has very useful purposes which are discussed as below:

• To develop new product before starting of competition
• Also to improve the quality of product
• Moreover to improve manufacturing process so that the costs can be reduced.

Most organizations are involved in the research and development function keeping in view consideration that they will get competitive advantage through their superior products or services. The expenditures on research and development are made so that new products should be developed before the competitors. Hence the quality of existing products should be increased and to improve the production process which leads to cost reduction.

In order to perform the research and development function effectively, the activities of R&D should be integrated with the activities of other functional areas. When there is partnership and mutual trust between other managers and manager of research and development. Then the whole organization is managed effectively. In such successfully operating organizations, all the managers are systematically involved in the decision. Regarding what, why, when and how much in the area of R&D.

All the risks, costs, benefits and rewards are communicated and shared openly. So the collective mission of research and development becomes broad based. Particularly which includes helping existing business, supporting in launching of new products, development of new products. Along with improving the quality of products, enhancing the manufacturing efficiency. Moreover also increasing the technological capabilities of the organization.

Maintaining the R&D Budget

Every organization has a desire to finance a number of projects which makes the R&D budget significant. Following are some of the basis for maintaining the R&D budget.

• Development of a number of different products
• Application of percent of sales method
• Budgeting in relation to competitors
• Decision regarding the number of successful products required

The successfully managed organization finds out the ways through which it can link the separate activities of its R&D with the remaining working of the organization. In this way a spirit of partnership is created between the manager of other functional areas and the R&D manager. All the plans and decisions of R&D should be integrated and coordinated throughout all other divisions and departments by sharing information and experiences. This new cross functional approach is better managed through a strategic management process in managing the functional area of R&D.

Internal and External R&D

Different organizations split their R&D costs in different proportions but the overall R&D costs are not more than the marketing and production startup costs. There are four approaches that are commonly used to ascertain the allocation budget of R&D and these approaches are as follows.

1. Financing of a too many projects
2. The allocated amount for R&D should be similar to the allocated amount of competitors
3. Application of percent of sales method
4. Decision regarding the number of new products that are required and to ascertain the required investment in R&D with backward working

There are two basic forms of R&D in the organizations which are as follow

1. Internal R&D: In this form of research and development, an internal R&D department is operated by the organization
2. Contract R&D: This form is external in nature in which an outside agency or researcher is hired by the organization for development of particular products.

Certain organizations employ both forms of R&D in order to develop effective products. Mostly organizations form joint ventures with other organizations for acquisition and working of contract form R&D. The strategy formulation and implementation is greatly affected by the strengths and weaknesses of the R&D.

More From Business Study Notes:- Strategy Formulation and Implementation

The direction of R&D efforts differs on the basis of the competitive strategy of the organization. There are certain organizations that decide to become market leaders and for this purpose they develop new innovating products. Other organizations may decide to be market followers and resultantly develop the current products of the market. The R&D serves as a driving force that works with other basic skills in making certain competitive strategies of the organization.

In certain situations a driving force of introduction of new products exerts pressure on the R&D to perform extensive activities for the development of new products for the organization. Therefore the R&D should be involved in certain activities like advancement in technological and scientific knowledge, exploitation of that knowledge and managing the risks that are linked with the products, services, ideas and production requirements of the organization.