Empirical studies of individual level diversity in research and development organizations of pharmaceutical company and its relation to innovation

Abstract

This paper investigated how diversity in pharmaceutical research and development affects the capability for innovation. We conducted a questionnaire survey of the research and development organizations of a pharmaceutical company in Japan and measured three aspects of diversity, which were (1) diversity of knowledge and experience among scientists, (2) diversity of communication, and (3) diversity of information sources. The results of this study indicate that diversity has various dimensions, that each of them has a different impact on the capability for innovation, and that the diversity of scientific specialties is especially important. Therefore, when managing technology, it is important to decide what kind of diversity is required and efficient technology management needs to be coupled with human resources management.