Revising the definition of research and development in the light of the specificities of services

Abstract

Research and Development (R&D) is underestimated in services. This article combines deductive and inductive approaches in order to formulate a new definition of R&D. However, the proposed revision does not fundamentally alter the structure of the current definition. The OECD definition is only marginally amended by making explicit certain implicit or insufficiently highlighted characteristics, in particular the importance of the social sciences and humanities and of design and development or organisational engineering, the composite nature of projects, etc. Our objective, indeed, is to attain a certain 'psychological' threshold that would mark our emancipation from the inertia of the still dominant industrialist and technologist approaches. As William Baumol (2002) rightly points out in a provocatively titled paper ("Services as leaders and the leader of services"), not only is research and development a service activity but it also, and most importantly, occupies a privileged position among such activities. However, despite this commonality, and despite R&D"s strategic importance,

Elaborating the characteristics-based approach to service innovation: making the service process visible

“…However, there is still much to be done, for example as regards organisational engineering, some types of nontechnological innovation such as social innovation, and innovative activities in hybrid products or industrial services (Djellal et al, 2003). Our integrative framework of innovation also militates in favour of an integrative innovation policy, which supports the development of both goods and services -not only R&D-based technological innovation (as it is still often the case), but also non-technological innovation involving new methods, new concepts, new organisations, new modes of relationships and new competences (Rubalcaba, 2006;den Hertog and Rubalcaba, 2009).…”

Innovation dans les services et entrepreneuriaT : au-delà des conceptions industrialistes et technologistes du développement durable

“…Contrairement au cas précédent, l'entrepreneur joue ici un rôle décisif dans la production des connaissances qui sont valorisées. La création d'entreprise s'appuie sur des expertises de sciences dures, mais aussi de sciences humaines et sociales (Djellal et al, 2003). On notera que lorsque les connaissances ne pas sont incorporées dans des technologies ou des entités matérielles, la frontière peut être ténue entre l'entrepreneur-consultant et l'entrepreneurchercheur.…”

R&D and Innovations on Tertiary Sector’s Performance and Its Contribution to the World Economic Growth

“…Research and development (R&D) is underestimated in services (Djellal et al 2003). According to Djellal et al 2003, services are constantly challenging economic theory and the existing evaluation systems.…”

“…The sector that now a days dominates the charts and tables showing out the growth all over the world. Djellal et al (2003) focused R&D and its importance on growth and development of service sector. They clarify the role of the R&D in services on growth and so on the development of economy by amending its definition.…”

“…Although they did not make direct address on growth effects of technology progress, in their investigation of a growth accounting, they suggested R&D spending as a determinant of the total factor productivity growth in some rapid developing countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Djellal et al (2003), on the other hand, focused R&D and its importance on growth and development of service sector. They clarify the role of the R&D in services on growth and so on the development of economy by amending its definition.…”