Managing the flow of technology: technology transfer and the dissemination of technological information within the R & D organization/
Thomas J. Allen
- Cambridge: MIT Press, 1984.
- xiv, 320p. ill., graph.
CONTENTS Preface to the Paperback Edition xi Acknowledgments xvii 1 Introduction 1 Information Flow in Science and Technology 2 The Information Explosion 6 User Studies 7 The Present Research and Purpose of This Volume 8 Notes 10 2 The Research Program 11 Phase 1: The Study of Parallel or Twin Projects 11 Phase 2: Studies of Communication Networks Structure 32 Summary 33 Notes 34 3 The Communication System in Technology: An Overview 35 Distinguishing Engineers from Scientists 35 The Nature o f Technology 39 Bureaucratic Organization 40 Communication Patterns in Science and Technology 44 The Relation Between Science and Technology 46 Notes 57 4 The Technological Literature 58 Allocation of Time for Literature Use 58 Literature as an Idea Source 63 Use of the Literature in Problem Definition 65 Sources of Ideas and Performance 67 A More Detailed Examination of"Written Media 70 The Formal Engineering Literature 71- Informal Written Channels 87 Comparison of Formal and Informal Written Channels 96 Notes 97 Contents iv 5 The Importance of Conrmnunication Within the Labora tory 99 Organizational Colleagues as Sources of Information 99 The Twin Projects 100 Consulting with Organizational Colleagues 101 Variation over Time 101 Technical Ideas Originating Within the Organization 104 Internal Consulting for Other Functions in Technical Problem Solving 106 Sources of Ideas and Performance 108 The Internal Consulting Study 110 Diversity in Communication 115 Intensity versus Diversity 121 Summary of the Evidence 122 Notes 125 6 Communications Among Organizations 126 Outsiders as Sources of Information 126 The Twin Projects 127 Time Spent in Personal Contact Outside the Laboratory 128 Ideas from Outside Sources 130 Use of Outsiders to Aid in Problem Definition 132 The Contribution of Outsiders 134 The Technologicail Gatekeeper 141 Notes 180 7 Structuring Communication Networks 1: The Influence of Formal and Informal Organization 182 Barriers to Promoting Internal Consultation 182 The Decision to Use a Channel 184 First Source Selection 184 The Effect of Experience 187 The Order of Search in Information Seeking 188 The Nature of the Consulting Process 191 Strategies for Reducing Cost 195 The Influence of Organization on Communication Patterns 206 Contents The Formal Organization 211 The Informal Organization 220 The Impact of Status on Communication 228 Notes 233 8 Structuring Organizational Communication Networks 2: The Influence of Architecture on Communication 234 Propinquity and Behavior 234 Research Method 235 Results 236 Organizational Bonds 240 Office Arrangements 242 Vertical Separation 242 Interaction-Promoting Facilities 248 An Experiment in Laboratory Design 249 Notes 265 9 AField Experiment to Improve Communication: The Non- territorial Office 266 The Effect of Indirect Travel Routes on Communication Probability 266 The Nonterritorial Office Experiment 269 Intradepartmental Communication Patterns 279 The Territorial Imperative Revisited 281 Total Floor Space 285 Interdepartmental Communication 286 Performance of the Department 288 Conclusions from the Experiment 290 Notes 292 10 Where Are We? 293 Scientific and Technological Information Policy 293 Organizational Behavior 294 Contents Appendix 296 The Time Allocation Form 296 The Solution Development Record 298 The Communication Survey Questionnaire 300
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Research, Industrial--Management Technology transfer Communication of technical information