ABSTRACT
Research and development is a knowledge-intense activity where HR departments must balance many internal tensions, such as that between development versus project management, or research versus product standardisation. The first issue may ensure long-term survival and the second, short-term profitability. Another contrasting pair of issues is technical knowledge vs. administrative knowledge. Forging a career path in a manufacturing business often entails abandoning the technical work for the benefit of completing administrative or management work. The chapter discusses how HR departments can handle knowledge management and provide new ways to benefit both the individual and the company.
