Information inputs to research and development work

Abstract

This research concerns the effect of the R&D system on information use. Interviews with 42 research and development workers showed that workers were involved in one of five types of activity: research to collect facts or opinions, research to develop a hypothesis, problem solving, feasibility study or product development. It was possible to define stages involved in these activities in terms of a task analysis obtained dunng the interview. A critical incident study of information use revealed the sorts of information needed to achieve the various tasks. These different types of R&D activity and their task analyses, and the information inputs which were required are listed. The relative importance of external and mternal infor mation, and of informal and formal channels is revealed in the study, in a way different from that normally employed in use studies. Information was used throughout the projects, not just mainly at the beginning and end of a project. A great deal of this information was not from external, formal sources at all.