Managing Creativity in Science and Hi-Tech (PDF)

The growing role of science and technology in modern society has generated a need for unique management skills on the part of scientists and engineers. While this need is widely recognized, there is little agreement on the most appropriate way in which it should be satisfied. The general literature on management does not usually recognize the problems that are unique to those engaged in science and high technology. This lack is also reflected in the considerable variety of formal management training, which more often than not has missed its mark, at least when judged by the response of participating scientists and engineers. My recent experience, teaching graduate students and prac­ ticing scientists and engineers about those aspects of manage­ ment that are likely to be most relevant to their future endea­ vors, has been the principle motivation for this book. The book reflects some of what I have learned from that experience and has been further encouraged by the convic­ tions that (1) the distribution of management potential among engi­ neers and scientists is no different from that of other groups with comparable academic achievement; (2) successfully managed scientific and technical enterprise provides the most useful source of learning, and (3) the process of learning is facilitated by referring to the experience that has proven effective in creating an environ­ ment in which scientific and technical enterprise has flour­ ished.