Science and corporate strategy: A bibliometric update of Hounshell and Smith

Hounshell and Smith's Science and Corporate Strategy: DuPont R and D, 1902-1980 is one of the most comprehensive business history books ever written. In addition, it highlights the important relationship between corporate strategy and R and D activities. The purpose of this current paper is to update the information on DuPont's R and D activities using secondary data and bibliometrics. Our findings are that DuPont underwent a series of dramatic shifts in their R and D efforts during the 1980s and into the 1990s. For example, there was a focus on life sciences, a concerted attempt to reduce R and D, and an endeavour to align R and D more with core businesses. Beyond the bibliometrics, we found that corporate performance and changes in the top management team may have precipitated these changes in R and D. The implications of such relationships are also discussed.