GETTING THE MOST FROM RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION-SERVICES

To provide better service for R&D users and get a higher return on inv estments in information technology, sonic companies in the chemical, p harmaceutical and engineering industries are moving from a hierarchica l, functional IS organization structure to a ''mixed'' structure. In t he new structure, certain ''generic'' IS functions, such as telecommun ications and hardware maintenance, are migrating to the corporate leve l or being outsourced to third parties. Other IS functions serving spe cialized R&D needs are moving closer to individual business units, bei ng handled Dy cross-functional teams, or being performed by strategic partners. The new structures often require new roles, such as the ''ac count representative'' who services the R&D IS ''customer'' and repres ents ifs interests at the corporate level. Benefits include faster tim e to market as well as higher return on both physical and intellectual assets.