Human Resource Management Practices for R&D Scientists and Engineers in Japanese Firms

일본기업의 R&D 인적자원관리의 현황과 과제

Japanese firms have developed their own distinctive human resource management(HRM) practices for R&D scientists and engineers. These practices consist of homogeneity of work group, standardized in-house training programs, great standardization and company control of careers, and broad job rotation following the process of commercialization of developed technology. These practices facilitate human and informational exchange and sharing between basic laboratories and development departments as well as between R&D and marketing department which contribute to the ket competitive advantage of Japanese products. But recently Japanese firm are forced to change their HRM practices. They face some srious problems in continuing their long0standing strategy of being a rapid and skillful‘ technology follower’,drawing on the basic research performed in the advanced nations and embodying it in products that are produced with high quality at relatively lower cost. There is a growing trend of strengthening basic research among Japanese firms today. In accordance with the emphasis on basic research, Japanese firms have been adopting new HRM practices for scientists and engineers which are in the opposite direction of the traditional one. These newly developed practices stress on individual vitality rather than group cohesiveness from the fusion of individual difference. These include heterogeneity of work group, multiple career paths to be chosen by individuals, incentive plan based individual performance.