Description
Survey conducted by the Department of Organization of the Standard Oil Company of California ; prepared by Darrell H. Voorhies [Published Date: 1946]. Paper covers, 64 pp, plastic comb binding.
Rare, out-of-print & unusual books · Since 1997
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Catalog notes
Condition & notes
In good condition. Brown paper covers have a few small nicks and creasing to edges and corners. Binding tight. Pages lightly aged but otherwise unmarked with occasional light spotting. Participants in the survey included Dow Chemical, General Electric; Gulf Oil, Socony-Vacuum Oil, Standard Oil, sun Oil, The Texas Company, Union Oil, US Rubber Company, Armour Research Foundation. The survey takes a look at the explosive growth of industrial research in the United States since World War I, noting an increase from 300 Research Labs with 9,300 personnel in 1920 to 2,200 labs and 70,000 personnel in 1940. The survey focuses on the organizational aspects of research labs in the participating companies and the various fields of research and underlying motives behind the companies' research activities. They conclude that scientific curiosity is not the fundamental basis upon which modern industrial research is founded, and list eleven other motivators, among them reduction in costs of materials, products and processes and to develop new uses for existing materials products and processes. Contents include: The Survey; The Research Motive: The Origins of Science, The Origins of Technical Research; Laboratories; Modern Technical Research; Industrial Research Motives; Men and Organization: Scope and Activities, The Basic Organization Vehicle and Basic Relationships ; Co-ordination of Divisional Activities; Co-ordination of Departmental and Subsidiary Activities; Other Requirements for Co-ordination; General Organization; The Effect of Basic Organization Factors; The Subject and Functional Patterns; Self-containment; The Separation of Administrative, Control and Service Functions; The Research Organization; Management Guides; Conclusions. Money and Business Management: Provision of Funds; Control Procedures; Cost Control; Evaluation of Results; Conclusions