Research, Development and Production: Problems of Conflict and Cooperation

Technological change creates strains within the structure of the firm because it causes shifts in the relative power and influence between groups. The arrival of new groups in an organization such as a research laboratory creates linguistic problems: the language of the laboratory is different from that of the design activity and still different from that of the shop. To bridge the linguistic gap, interpreter or liaison groups are formed. In establishing these groups, management attempts to accommodate organizational strains within the existing structure rather than re-organize to reflect the new technology. This study is based on the experiences of twenty firms in England and Scotland.