What were your biggest challenges when you changed from university or research institutes to a "Head of R&D" in Industry ?
I wonder whether organisational, technical or leadership questions are the biggest obstacles.
Mostly working in university or research institute requires teaching, researching and ultimately scientific publications. Similar functions are performed by R&D however, in the case of R&D you don't just teach but rather build a fierce team to ensure survival and continuity of the entity. Notable challenges in R&D may include: Team management, meeting stakeholders expectations, Time and project scope management, risk management, managing quality, communication issues among others. To overcome these you need to be deligent, focused, resolute and steadfast
Hello Michael,
thank you for your answer. Especially managing quality may have a completely different focus. As quality in industry is not the same (earn knowledge vs earn money)
You are fortunate to have earned a PhD.
I was a fresh graduate when I joined Philips, I became team leader or setfather after 6 years of R&D work reporting to a section manager who reports to the development manager of my factory. My section manager was an industry veteran of more than 20 years. My development manager came from the Netherlands and represented company's R&D. I supposed none of us have earned a PhD.
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