Profession research and development manager

Research and development managers coordinate the efforts of scientists, academical researchers, product developers, and market researchers towards the creation of new products, the improvement of current ones or other research activities, including scientific research. They manage and plan research and development activities of an organisation, specify goals and budget requirements and manage the staff.

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Personality Type

Knowledge

  • Intellectual property law

    The regulations that govern the set of rights protecting products of the intellect from unlawful infringement.

  • Marketing principles

    The principles of managing the relationship between consumers and products or services for the purpose of increasing sales and improving advertising techniques.

  • Market research

    The processes, techniques, and purposes comprised in the first step for developing marketing strategies such as the collection of information about customers and the definition of segments and targets.

  • Corporate social responsibility

    The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.

  • Project management

    Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.

  • Innovation processes

    The techniques, models, methods and strategies which contribute to the promotion of steps towards innovation.

Skills

  • Assess the feasibility of implementing developments

    Study developments and innovation proposals in order to determine their applicability in the business and their feasibility of implementation from various fronts such as economic impact, business image, and consumer response.

  • Identify new business opportunities

    Pursue potential customers or products in order to generate additional sales and ensure growth.

  • Carry out strategic research

    Research long term possibilities for improvements and plan steps to achieve them.

  • Manage budgets

    Plan, monitor and report on the budget.

  • Manage staff

    Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.

  • Analyse business objectives

    Study data according to business strategies and objectives and make both short-term and long-term strategic plans.

  • Manage research and development projects

    Plan, organise, direct and follow up on projects aimed at developing new products, implementing innovative services, or further developing existing ones.

  • Perform market research

    Gather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.

  • Analyse internal factors of companies

    Research and understand various internal factors that influence the operation of companies such as its culture, strategic foundation, products, prices, and available resources.

  • Work in an economically efficient manner

    Perform work processes as efficiently as possible, avoiding the waste of materials, time, and energy as much as possible.

  • Seek innovation in current practices

    Search for improvements and present innovative solutions, creativity and alternative thinking to develop new technologies, methods or ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

  • Report analysis results

    Produce research documents or give presentations to report the results of a conducted research and analysis project, indicating the analysis procedures and methods which led to the results, as well as potential interpretations of the results.

  • Analyse external factors of companies

    Perform research and analysis of the external factor pertaining to companies such as consumers, position in the market, competitors, and political situation.

  • Represent the organisation

    Act as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.

Optional knowledge and skills

funding methods analyse financial risk analyse consumer buying trends identify customer's needs conduct research interview develop product policies apply scientific methods manage product testing keep up with trends interview techniques integrate shareholders' interests in business plans sales strategies contact scientists plan product management ensure quality of final product commercial law collaborate with engineers create a financial plan provide improvement strategies analyse market financial trends analyse economic trends develop product design analyse production processes for improvement interview people risk management assist scientific research keep updated on innovations in various business fields cost management marketing management

Source: Sisyphus ODB