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NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
This study was supported by Contract No. S8134106200l between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agency that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-26616-1
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-26616-5
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.
PLANNING COMMITTEE AND PANEL FOR REVIEW OF BEST PRACTICES
IN ASSESSMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS
JOHN W. LYONS, National Defense University, Chair
EDWARD A. BROWN, The MITRE Corporation
W.WARNER BURKE, Columbia University
ROSS B. COROTIS, University of Colorado at Boulder
WILLIAM W. CRAIG, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
C. WILLIAM GEAR, Princeton University
WESLEY L. HARRIS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
ELENI KOUSVELARI, Sandia National Laboratories
BERNARD S. MEYERSON, IBM Corporation
ELSA REICHMANIS, Georgia Institute of Technology
JOEL M. SCHNUR, George Mason University
LYLE H. SCHWARTZ, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Retired)
Staff
JAMES P. MCGEE, Board Director
CY BUTNER, Senior Program Officer
LIZA HAMILTON, Administrative Coordinator
EVA LABRE, Program Associate
LABORATORY ASSESSMENTS BOARD
JOHN W. LYONS, National Defense University, Chair
CLAUDE R. CANIZARES, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
ROSS B. COROTIS, University of Colorado at Boulder
JOSEPH S. FRANCISCO, Purdue University
C. WILLIAM GEAR, Princeton University
HENRY J. HATCH, U.S. Army (Retired)
LOUIS J. LANZEROTTI, New Jersey Institute of Technology
ELSA REICHMANIS, Georgia Institute of Technology
LYLE H. SCHWARTZ, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Retired)
CHARLES V. SHANK, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
DWIGHT C. STREIT, Northrop Grumman Space Technology
Staff
JAMES P. MCGEE, Board Director
CY BUTNER, Senior Program Officer
LIZA HAMILTON, Administrative Coordinator
EVA LABRE, Program Associate
Acknowledgment of Reviewers
This workshop summary has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published summary as sound as possible and to ensure that the summary meets institutional standards for clarity, objectivity, and responsiveness to the charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this workshop summary:
Ross B. Corotis, University of Colorado at Boulder,
Mark E. Eberhart, Colorado School of Mines,
Katharine G. Frase, IBM Corporation,
Tonya L. Kuhl, University of California, Davis, and
John W. Lyons, National Defense University.
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse views presented at the workshop, and they did not see the final draft of the workshop summary before its release. The review of this summary was overseen by David E. Crow, University of Connecticut. Appointed by the National Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this summary was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this summary rests entirely with the author and the institution.
Contents
Presentation by James H. Turner: Impact of Assessments and Merit Reviews on Stakeholders
Presentation by John Sommerer: Assessing R&D Organizations—Perspectives on a Venn Diagram
Presentation by J. Stephen Rottler: Assessing Sandia Research
Presentation by William F. Banholzer: An Industrial Perspective
Presentation by Roy Levin: Managing Innovation at Microsoft Research
Presentation by Gilbert F. Decker: Concepts for Assessment of R&D Organizations
3 KEY QUESTIONS IDENTIFIED BY DISCUSSION GROUPS
How Good Is the Technical Merit and Quality of the Science and Engineering Work?
What Are the Elements of Technical Management That Affect the Quality of the Work?
Are Adequate Resources Available to Support High-Quality Work?