Investigating the Not Invented Here (NIH) syndrome: A look at the performance, tenure, and communication patterns of 50 R & D Project Groups

TLDR

In a large laboratory, R&D project group performance rises up to a value of 1. The authors analyze the significance of the decline and propose strategies to sustain the vitality of long‑standing project teams. Tenure remains stable for a period but declines noticeably after five years, a trend best explained by a marked drop in communication among group members and with external sources.

Abstract

Abstract The study, carried out in a large laboratory, shows that performance increases up to 1. 5 years tenure, stays steady for a time but by five years has declined noticeably. This tendency is best accounted for by the marked decline in communication rate among group members and between them and critical external sources of information. The authors analyse the significance of this finding and suggest means of maintaining the vitality of long‐standing project teams. The study, carried out in a large laboratory, shows that performance increases up to 1. 5 years tenure, stays steady for a time but by five years has declined noticeably. This tendency is best accounted for by the marked decline in communication rate among group members and between them and critical external sources of information. The authors analyse the significance of this finding and suggest means of maintaining the vitality of long‐standing project teams.