Albert Richards

Strategic control of technology in diversified companies with decentralized R&D

This paper analyzes current trends in the strategic management of technology in a sample of 25 companies. It is particularly concerned with the balance of responsibility between the corporate level and the business unit level for accumulation of technological assets. It is argued that preuious tendencies to decentralize these issues, along with K & D operations, to the business unit level are being partially rtversed. A new paradigm of corporate management of technological assets is identified. This analysis is then used in conjunction with existing taxonomies of innovation strategy and corporate strategy to propose a new taxonomy of corporate technology strategies.

Technologies, products and firms' strategies part 1—a framework for .analysis

This article examines, the character and significance of ‘strategies’ formulated within the RD secondly, that of patterns of innovation within discrete industrial sectors; thirdly, that of the innovating firms and their strategies. The discussion focuses on the third topic nad explores two aspects of the tehnological components of innovation strategies. First, the shape of the prorgolio of products under development, the technical and market specificities they possess, and secondly, the structure of the portfolios of technologies required and used in those products. These dimensions of strategy combine both firm-specific and public-domain tecnoligical...

Technologies, products and firms' strategies part 2-analysis of three cases

This article is in two parts, Part I having been published in an earlier issue of this journal. It examines the character. and significance of ‘strategies’ fomtulated within the RD patterns of innovation within discrete industrial sectors, the in:novatingjmns and their strategies. In Part 2 the substance of the case studies are presented and the lessons which they reveal are reviewed. The case studies were conducted in three large UK companies, one in the automotive component industry, another in the precious metals industry, with special reference to ceramic colours and pigment blending, and the third in the chemical industry. Use of the analytical devices produces int...