Leading the technology development process

Long-term or exploratory research aimed at the development of new technolog y has remained largely outside the scope of management strategies for enhan cing productivity in R&D. increasing the effectiveness of these efforts, ho wever, can have a major impact on the corporate well-being. The concepts of cycle time management can provide a framework and protocol for managing te chnology development. Effective oversight requires a strategy for assessing progress in such learning-intensive, discovery-oriented research, and ensu res from the very outset an alignment with ultimate value to the business. Leaders must cultivate clear and disciplined thinking without curtailing th e creativity that is so essential to success in exploratory research.