This volume explores how research and development decisions affect all of us. They are linked inextricably to the performance of firms and of economics as a whole. Their importance means that they are of concern to a large number of practitioners, policy-makers and researchers. This book demonstrates the range of issues and perspectives which R&D can encompass and at the same time brings out the elements which unite them. The papers in this book are organized into three main sections: strategy and organization explores the importance of R&D of the structures and strategies of individual organizations. The emerging "core competence paradigm" is especially noted. "Policy and Performance" looks at what thinking on R&D more generally implies for government policy and the performance of industries, regions and economies. "Disclosure and the Market" examines issues raised by changing regulations on the disclosure of R&D expenditure.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements. Notes on Contributors. 1. Introduction: R&D Decisions in Strategy, Policy and Disclosure Stephen J. Procter, John Hassard and Alice Belcher Part 1. Strategy and Organization 2. Core Competencies and the Strategic Management of R&D Rod Coombs 3. R&D Initiatives and the Development of Strategic Advantage Ken Clarke and Martyn Pitt 4. The Role of Complementary Assets in Technology Strategy Julian Lowe and Peter Taylor 5. R&D Strategy and the Implications for Management Control Keith Randle and Frank Currie Part 2. Policy and Performance 6. New Views of Innovation and Challenges to R&D Policy Keith Smith 7. From Common Sense to Short-termism: Reflections on R&D Managers' Perceptions Istemi Demirag 8. High Technology Employment and the Achievement of R&D Spillovers Zoltan Acs, Felix Fitzroy and Ian Smith 9. Performance Implications of Patent Family Size Gain Reid and Colin Roberts 10. Conflicts of Interest in R&D Collaboration: Negotiating the Function-Performance Link Nikos Kastrinos Part 3. Disclosure and the Market 11. R&D Disclosure: Theory and Practice Alice Belcher 12. R&D in UK Quoted Companies: The Effects of Disclosure and Finance Jonathan Seaton and Ian Walker 13. The Decision to Disclose R&D Expenditure Alice Belcher 14. The Impact of R&D Knowledge Accumulation on Wages: Evidence from European Corporations Stephen Machin and John Van Reenen 15. Real R&D Options David Newton, Dean Paxson and Alan Pearson