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Summary: Origins, Attitudes, and Personalities of Research
Review: This book provides a fascinating overview of the emergence and evolution of research as a method for creating new products. The opening chapter describes the beneficial effects of research on companies and countries. It is very interesting to see that the debates over the roles of pure and applied research began almost as soon as research laboratories were formed. The second chapter describes how chemists' searching for new cloth dyes created a wide variety of new industries -- dyes, industrial chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The rest of the chapters are devoted to the history and projects of major research labs like those at Bell, IBM, Seimens, HP, Microsoft, and Intel. Fascinating read for everyone involved in the business of research.
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Summary: Robert Buderi's Engines of Tomorrow - I loved it!
Review: This is a serious and important book about past and current practices in managing research at some of the world's biggest corporations. For those looking for the latest schtick in buzz-wordy advice from some management guru about how to compete in the digital age, this is not for you. Things gets a bit repetitive at times, but the profiles of the programs, projects, and people inside top labs is something you'll find in no other book.
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Summary: "Engine" Hits on All Cylinders
Review: This is a significant and comprehensive work that not only tracks the evolution of industrial research but details current practices at some of the world's best labs. I haven't come across any other book about research on this scale - combining history, management and cutting-edge projects. Highly recommended.
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