The impact of strategy choice on technical innovation: A study of federal agency research and development functions

With shrinking budgets and increasing requirements, Federal agency research and development functions are seeking to remain responsive to emergent national and economic needs in the post 9/11 culture. The agencies must produce technical innovations at a faster pace and with greater productivity than ever before. Despite some perceived successes, it is unclear how well strategy performed in achieving the required technical innovation outcomes. It is also unclear whether project selection criteria resulted in the desired technical innovation outcomes. The study examined the relationship of strategy to technical innovation types at Federal agency research and development functions. An explanatory, sequential mixed method design was used. The first quantitative phase survey data was collected from senior project personnel at the sampled Federal agency research and development functions. The second qualitative phase interview data was collected to further clarify the relationship of strategy to technical innovation where unusual or incomplete survey responses were reported. The study produced the beginnings of a conceptual framework for business level strategy formulation at Federal agency research and development functions. Management and project leaders will be assisted by the conceptual framework to align their strategy to the required technical innovation.