ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS IN SCIENTIFIC PERFORMANCE IN AN INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH LABORATORY.

Abstract

The research constituted an investigation of organizational factors in scientific performance. A number of hypotheses were tested within a theoretical framework whose major premise states that outstanding achievement in science requires an 'essential tension' between an orientation toward tradition or wisdom and toward innovation or novelty. Work of highest significance is believed to occur in the simultaneous presence of conditions emphasizing wisdom and of those emphasizing novelty. Specifically, several sources of wisdom and novelty were examined as they arose from individual patterns of consultation, from processes occurring within the work group, and from certain aspects of organizational structure. These variables provided substantial predictions of scientific performance, particularly at the work group and organizational level. Thus, the findings partially substantiate the theory while at the same time suggesting certain modifications applicable in the administration of industrial research laboratories. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0641423

Entities

People

  • Clagett G. Smith

Organizations

  • University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Buildings And Structures
  • Hypotheses
  • Industrial Research
  • Organizational Structure
  • Orientation (Direction)

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Organizational Psychology.
  • Theoretical Analysis.