| Author(s) | Abdulhadi S. AI-Otaibi |
| Affiliation | Deputy Director General/Information, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P. O. Box 24885, 13lO9-Safat, Kuwait |
| Title | Information Technologies in a R&D Environment |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Computer & Information Sciences. Volume 8, No 1. (1996/1416) |
| Abstract | The impact of information technology (IT) on research and development (R&D) activities as well as on researchers and scientists are discussed in this paper. The lack of data related to the influence of modern IT on scientists and engineering researchers is highlighted. This issue is viewed on the basis of the generic characteristics of the relationship between IT and scientific research. The present day understanding of this relationship is reviewed by considering the role of calculations in R&D and its places regarding research productivity. Light is also shed on the interaction between research practice and IT from two angles. First, the business side of managing an R&D institution is considered and secondly, the aspects relating to the behaviour of researchers and research groups is discussed. IT's impact on R&D institutions in a developing environment is addressed further with emphasis on the most striking factors differentiating it from a developed environment. Some specific features related to information centre/user's relationship in developing countries is also discussed. The overall scene in the developing Arab information arena could be summed up as one in which there is a reasonable level of scientific and technological information resources. This is not matched by an equal level of user's appreciation of the role of IT in the enhancement of R&D. |
