Research-on-Research

WHAT IS ROR?

You may ask, “How do you do research on research?” ROR is a program which focuses on determining Best Practices for processes related to the effective management of R&D in industry. This is accomplished by assembling industry leaders from research, technology, and innovation, to collaborate in volunteer working groups. Together, volunteers share their experiences and research case studies to establish Best Practices regarding common issues of interest or concern. The research performed in ROR is leading-edge because it provides a broader and more diverse perspective for enhancing the effectiveness of technological innovation by leveraging experts across all industries. Participating in these unique groups provides an invaluable learning experience and wealth of network connections.

HOW DOES ROR WORK?

ROR leads and executes a portfolio of projects, which are initiated as a result of member interest. IRI member volunteers define and lead each project as a working group of the ROR. All IRI members are encouraged to join any project, at any stage in the project lifecycle. Further, project leaders may invite people from outside of IRI (academia, consultants) to participate in their working groups, where subject matter expertise will strengthen the research focus and also help facilitate the timely completion of a project. ROR holds three full meetings per year, one every February and at both of IRI's semi-annual meetings, where the working groups conduct “real work” on their projects. Face-to-face meetings provide opportunities to recruit new members and allow current members to connect and re-connect with a network of innovation leaders across all industries.

WHAT'S NEW IN ROR

Join colleagues at the Winter ROR, February 25-27, Fort Lauderdale.  Don't miss this opportunity to engage with colleagues and collaborate on some very critical topics. 

ROR HISTORY

A Research-on-Research Subcommittee was appointed by the IRI Board of Directors in 1968, following an unsuccessful effort to convince the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish centers for research-on-research at universities in the United States. The subcommittee concluded that research-on-research was important enough to the interests of the Institute that the idea should be initiated without the support of NSF. Thus, a regular standing committee of IRI was created in 1971 to carry out research on the process of research in industry.

PURPOSE of ROR

1. Identify and promote effective techniques for the organization and management of research, development, and engineering in support of technological innovation.
2. Encourage high standards in technological innovation.
3. Develop methods for determining the effectiveness of technological innovation, and promote an understanding of the value of technological innovation to the economy, industry, and society.
4. Strengthen understanding of business issues by technology leaders as well as business leaders’ understanding of the technological innovation process.
5. Foster cooperation on a worldwide basis with academia, government, and other organizations active in technological innovation
6. Provide member-company representatives a forum for building a network of contacts among their peers.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

We gratefully acknowledge the leadership efforts of the ROR working group chairs and the ROR Leadership Team. The ROR Leadership Team, Lou Gritzo (FM Global) (chair), Pent Penton (Innovation Insights, IRI Emeritus), Bob Cook (IRI Emeritus), Sue Burek (Ingersoll Rand), Sam Deutsch (ExxonMobil), Joseph George (Kellogg) (ROR vice Chairs), along with Ray Cosner,(Boeing) (Board Liaison) are working to improve ROR operations and ensure a healthy portfolio of open projects.

HOW CAN I JOIN ROR?

Participation in ROR working groups is only available to IRI members. Members are encouraged to join and to consider beginning new working groups as well. If you are a non-member, but are interested in joing an ROR group as a Subject Matter Expert, please email Jennifer Blenkle your list of expertise and your name will be added to the SME database for new groups to utilize.

For more information or if you or a colleague are interested in participating in a working group, please contact Jennifer Blenkle, at blenkle@iriweb.org or 703-647-2598.