RD Management: Assessment of Kisr's Management Practice

摘要

The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) was established in 1967. The main objectives of the Institute are to carry out applied scientific research that helps the advancement of public organizations and national industries and to undertake scientific studies and (Research and Development) R&D research projects. The law entrusted the Institute with undertaking research and scientific and technological consultations for both governmental and private institutions in Kuwait. Since 1979 KISR has organized its scientific research activities under five-year strategic programs. Key issues for KISR in future will be how it can work to accelerate its R&D management practice in order to improve its public and industrial perceptions of R&D, how R&D can be portrayed in sound economic and social terms and the lobbying of government and associated agencies to put R&D firmly on the national agenda. These are not problems which are only suffered in Kuwait - other countries, notably Ireland and Portugal, have made a concerted effort to move R&D further up the public agenda as external pressures on their economies have made the need for innovation and scientific investment a higher priority. KISR currently has an annual operating budget of just under KD 18 million, which equates to roughly ￡36 million or USD55 million. KISR has a requirement to generate fund to secure part of its annual budget from contractual projects with various clients. The Ministry of Finance agrees with KISR an annual budget for the following year, and requires KISR to generate 20% of this figure from other sources. The primary objective of this paper is to assess the strengths and weaknesses of KISR's management theme and practice in order to overcome its managerial constraints and to achieve the goals and objectives of the institute Research Strategic Program, and to provide recommendations to the future enhancement of the administrations issues and optimisation of the financial budget, as that could improve the research activities and the overall R&D technology management in KISR. The paper also seeks to investigate internal management and administrative procedures and to look for ways and means in which KISR would enhance its internal functions to support the research activities. Throughout the paper, various analysis and evaluation is carried out to demonstrate the key management issues that need to be improved within the research support functions such as resource utilization, project management, human resources development, business development, and technology commercialization. In another words, the paper in general assesses the management and resource utilization of an R&D public research laboratory and to investigate in how to well manage its activities and how well to utilize the available resources.