Science and Corporate Strategy: A Bibliometric Update of Hounshell and Smith |
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Authors: | G Steven McMillan Diana Hicks |
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Institution: | 1. University of Lecce , Italy picca@sssup.it;3. In-Sat Lab , Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna , Pisa, Italy |
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Abstract: | Hounshell and Smith's Science and Corporate Strategy: DuPont R&D, 1902- 1980 is one of the most comprehensive business history books ever written. In addition, it highlights the important relationship between corporate strategy and R&D activities. The purpose of this current paper is to update the information on DuPont's R&D activities using secondary data and bibliometrics. Our findings are that DuPont underwent a series of dramatic shifts in their R&D efforts during the 1980s and into the 1990s. For example, there was a focus on life sciences, a concerted attempt to reduce R&D, and an endeavour to align R&D more with core businesses. Beyond the bibliometrics, we found that corporate performance and changes in the top management team may have precipitated these changes in R&D. The implications of such relationships are also discussed. |
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