Research and development (R&D) are a business necessity; expense categories; learning opportunities; and potentially costly undertakings. Consider the R&D spending in 2020 to come up with a vaccine for COVID-19 – materials, labor, testing, more testing, and more materials and labor all over the world.
R&D typically applies to product development. Inventors and patent seekers look at the market, at unmet needs, at needs that could be better met, and at both technological as well as manual approaches that might lead to a new or better anything. Engineers and product managers look additionally look at how much demand might there be if we create it and attempt to sell it. They ask questions such as “will our investment be paid for, adequately rewarded, and make us more money than if we hadn’t done the research and development that lead to the production and marketing costs to release this new object?”
The ability to dig deep asking research and development questions is unlimited. Online searches can be conducted countless ways, with myriad word combinations searching for the same data, content, or already documented research. Ask a local librarian for help – they are trained to combine words in ways that result in successful searches.
Research is the domain of thinkers. Development is the domain of doers. Creation is often the domain of the feelers among us. Quality testing is the domain of the analytical people among us. Successful production results from the strengths of all four worldviews and approaches.
Research and development can also apply to personal development. To figuring out what your strengths are and what the barriers to your success might be. And apply to self-discovery that creates greater capabilities in your existing field or that points you in new directions. Dig in. Self-discovery books, surveys, and online tools about. Take time to reflect on what you’d like to master – at work, at home, or in a hobby arena. Research possibilities. People without hobbies at all stages of life tend to live less years than those with hobbies. Include hobby research in your searching.
What are you ready to learn more about?
What is on your research list for 2021?
Ready to research ways to support team member growth, decision-making, and problem-solving? Contact Jana Kemp. 208-367-1701
As the author of seven books, in seven languages, Jana has been interviewed by U.S., Canadian, and European programs, and magazines.
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