Research and Development Performance Management and Managerial Tools

Economic competitiveness is becoming increasingly linked to rapid technological changes. New technologies are crucial for long term competitive advantages. R&D is a key strategic issue that must be aligned with the corporate strategy, therefore there have been considerable changes in the way that R&D has been managed over recent years and measuring R&D performance has become a key issue that has been extensively debated in innovation and R&D management literature. This paper provides current and up to date knowledge in the field of R&D management and strategic management accounting.Design/methodology/approach: The purpose of the paper is to identify management tools used in R&D performance management in a selected sample of companies, and to compare them with the findings in the literature and identify the practical impact of the R&D outputs. Therefore, a questionnaire survey will be used to demonstrate this. SMEs members of Association of Research Organizations (AVO) were selected to answer research questions. Telephone interviews were provided by the agency STEM/MARKT. The data was then entered in electronic form into the program ENGRAFES 1.0 and statistically processed. Findings: The survey shows that the selected sample of the Czech companies uses similar indicators comparable with indicators of foreign companies for managing the performance of research. The most problematic areas of R&D management are clearly indicated as the consistency of the long-term targets of R&D projects with the strategic and financial objectives of the company, and improperly set types of R&D management, poor organizational structure, and a division of competences.Research/practical implications: R&D generates knowledge that is crucial for the long-term competitiveness of the companies. Thus, huge financial amounts are invested in R&D activities. The R&D performance management and managerial tools have become a challenge for both managers and the research community. The paper focuses on the management of R&D. This paper also responds to the challenges of strategic management accounting, and its minor impact on the practice and the lack of literature on the use of specific tools.Originality/value: The added value of this paper is to extend the existing knowledge concerning the strategic management accounting tools used in the management of R&D performance in selected Czech companies, and how it compares with foreign samples.