Scientific and technical information transfer for high technology: keeping the figure in its ground

The gatekeeper approach to the management of scientific and technical information (STI) is most relevant to companies engaged in product development in a dynamic technological environment (Allen, Tushman, & Lee, 1977). We will argue in this paper that these companies have a choice of how to effectively organize. The organizational structure and processes they implement will have major effects on how STI is transferred as well as the quality of the STI that is disseminated and used. Hence, changing the context within which STI is transferred may be much more effective than improving the efficiency of existing transfer procedures.