Chemical Literature, Volume 7, Number 3, Fall 1955 Page: 9
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Chemical Information and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
38. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MARKET RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL
RESEARCH. George Rieger, Diamond Alkali Co., Cleveland, Ohio.
The growth of market research in the chemical industry since World War
II has created a new partner to technical research in dealing in "futures."
Once primarily a tool for the sales department, market research in its
widening applications is being brought to bear at increasingly earlier
stages of technical research. Correlatively, market research is becoming
more dependent upon technical research. Since market research and technical
research groups are often geographically separated, operate in fields
of significantly different certainty, and are usually temperamentally dissimilar,
effective communication is vital to effective cooperation and cannot
be left to chance.
Effective communication starts with mutual understanding and trust. The
groups must appreciate the extent of the responsibility of each to and interaction
with other elements of the company before they can integrate their
areas of common interest. Good communications are fostered by frequent
personal contacts. Reports and other written material are recognized
media, but by themselves they can lead mechanically to burdensome and
sterile paper shuffling. Interchange of information should occur at all
levels. Communications should not be narrowly confined only to current
assignments lest opportunities for serendipity be lost. The dangers of
overcommunication should be realistically appraised.
39. GOOD-NATURED CROSS-COMMUNICATIONS. Clarke C. Miller,
Standard Oil Co. (Ind.), Whiting, Ind.
Cross-communication between industrial operating management and the
research department can be useful in giving the employing company early
recognition of practical needs in the plants and early application of potentially
valuable research findings. Reports within the company may range
over a variety of form, and yet be effective--oral or written, topical or
chronological, and addressed selectively or widespread. The problem of
best type of reporting depends upon circumstances and is a twin one--having
the information reach the right people at the right time and yet in such form
and manageable volume as to be convenient and understandable to the
recipient. Reports should be clear, concise, and accurate in language and
numbers. They are best when composed for the principal recipient, the
man who is expected to take the desired action. Suitable supplementary
distribution of extra copies to others does effective supporting spadework
for the project.
Distribution of technical information may well be coordinated with the
records control function in the research department, because records control
is likewise concerned with the generation of documents, effective and
secure distribution, availability of the record for reference purposes, and
eventual disposition (filing, microfilming, discard, and the like).
40. PATENT SERVICE AS REAR GUARD OF RESEARCH. Wilfred W.
Smith, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Del.
The functions of patent service were introduced some years ago in an
earlier paper. Those functions of guarding industrial progress against patent
infringement and the conversion of inventions into patent applications
are considered, especially from the viewpoint of communications. The patent
library functions previously described provide the technical information
reservoir for both new functions. The personnel and mechanism for establishing
and operating a patent steering committee are described.
The lines of communication between patent service and research are
created and maintained by the steering committee, composed of research
and patent service personnel, which meets regularly to discuss new matter,
to review the status of old items, to modify emphasis as research results
dictate, and to coordinate effort. Committee functions include selection orrejection of subject items, timing of effort, evaluation of technical interest
and need for patent protection, allocation of responsibility for the development
of additional technical information as needed for appropriate patent
consideration, and recommendations for foreign patent protection. Preparation
of patent applications, histories of invention, and infringement memoranda
follow along the established communication lanes to guard the fruits
of research.
41. THE RESEARCH DIRECTOR IN THE COMMUNICATION NETWORK.
F. C. McGrew, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Del.
The organization and functions of a research group should be determined
by its objectives. Since the research director is responsible for seeing that
objectives are set and for translating them into technical programs, as well
as for the converse process of interpreting technical results in the form of
opportunities and plans for action by the industrial organization, these
activities define his place in the communication network.
Specific choices for procedures and habits of communication in a given
situation involve a number of general considerations. One thing the research
director needs is help: for example, in the task of translating research
results into business opportunities, each successive supervisory
level should study and contribute meaning to upward flowing information in
a process of successive induction. This view takes issue with the conventional
remark that 'facts speak for themselves." Rather, the whole research
organization ought to be mustered to the duty of speaking for (as
well as with) facts. The value of this procedure is in reducing the degree
to which action must be based on personal judgment.
The line organization pathways for this communication should not be
allowed to stand in the way of frequent direct contact between individuals
at all organizational levels. In particular, important news and research
ideas should get a "red-ball express" treatment.
42. THE RESEARCH SUPERVISOR'S ROLE, NEEDS, AND PROBLEMS
IN THE COMMUNICATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION. DeWitt
0. Myatt, Atlantic Research Corp., Alexandria, Va.
The research supervisor functions as a dispatcher, interpreter, and
instructor in his post at a major technical communications crossroad in
the industrial research organization. His efficiency in the handling of
technical information has a vital bearing on the effectiveness of the organization's
research effort.
The role, needs, and problems of the research supervisor in projecting
technical information up, down, and across in the organizational
structure are reviewed. Results of a limited survey of research supervisors
in various organizations are compared to interpret the apparent
effect on the communication process of different environmental factors
in the organization.
43. THE RESEARCH CHEMIST'S ROLE, NEEDS, AND PROBLEMS IN
THE COMMUNICATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION. R. P.
Perkins, Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.
The research chemist's role is rather unique in that to a great extent
he receives information according to his personal needs and communicates
information which he generates. In both directions the amount and
quality of communication depends to a considerable extent upon the
chemist's personal ability and initiative.
For his work the research chemist may need information from published
sources, or from his company archives. He may need to exchange information
with fellow workers in his own or other laboratory organizations
engaged in synthesis, analysis, or evaluation; with operators, production
men, sales and market research personnel, and process and design engineers;
occasionally with customers; and with his own supervision.i ,
9'
U'
%O%0
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
American Chemical Society. Division of Chemical Literature. Chemical Literature, Volume 7, Number 3, Fall 1955, periodical, Autumn 1955; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5757/m1/9/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .