Industrial Chemicals

Industrial Chemicals, Inc. (A)

In the Spring of 2002, the Director of Research and Development and the Business Manager of the Research and Development Division of Industrial Chemicals Inc.1, were faced with the task of finding a suitable man for the job of Department Head in the Organic Chemistry Department of their Research Laboratory. The former Department head, Dr. Kamal, had been promoted to the job of Director of Research Laboratories. He had continued, in addition to his new duties, to function as Department Head of organic chemistry, but this arrangement had not worked out well, and Dr. Kamal had pointed out that there was an evident need for a man of supervisory stature who could take a good deal of administrative burden from his shoulders. Selecting this man proved to be difficult. Dr. Kamal had selected as his senior scientists a number of brilliant young research chemists. Mr. Anwar, the Business Manager, and Dr. Anjum, the Director of Research and Development, agreed that he had selected men of decided academic leanings but had not been successful in his efforts to develop one of these men as a potential replacement for himself. Since the two men believed that any supervisor in the research organization of Industrial Chemicals must be an extrovert, able to sell research programs to the top management group, they found themselves unable to agree on a likely candidate for promotion from within the organic chemistry department. Industrial Chemicals, Inc. spent about 2 million dollars annually on research and development. There were two development laboratories in the Research and Development division and 5 smaller laboratories devoted to research. The research effort was supported by about a quarter of the total R & D budget. Mr. Salim, the president of the company was familiar with and close to the development activities of the laboratories. Through the years, he had contributed many worthwhile ideas that led to the development of successful products....