Instrumental and supportive use of formal selection methods in R&D project selection

Although a large body of literature exists about the use of formal selection techniques (FST) in the selection of research and development (R&D) projects most of it has focused on the instrumental use of the techniques and much scepticism exists about their value. Very little attention has been paid to the political or supportive use of the techniques, though project selection is often a political process. This study uses a two by two analytical framework combining these two forms of use. An empirical analysis of 149 individuals in 149 different companies describing 258 R&D selection decisions uses discriminant analysis to identify the determinants of the four different kinds of use at three levels of analysis: the individual, the project, and the organization. Considerable consistency is shown across levels and the importance of the supportive/political use of FST is emphasized.