Trial and error mindset of R&D personnel and its relationship to organizational creative climate

This paper aims to reveal the mindset of corporate R&D personnel's behavior when they break through a difficult problem. In addition, we examine the relationship between that mindset and the organizational creative climate. We defined trial and error behavior as the process of continuous knowledge creation and acquisition until success is achieved, and constructed a model. We distributed a questionnaire survey on invention and discovery activities to 706 corporate R&D personnel who had received awards from leading Japanese science academies. The results of qualitative data analysis revealed six mindsets and approaches: (i) elimination approach, (ii) idea exploration-oriented mindset, (iii) cause exploration-oriented mindset, (iv) repetitive approach, (v) passion for trial and error, and (vi) experience-oriented mindset. In addition, the results showed that the creative climate did not have a significant impact on the exploration-oriented trial and error mindsets of R&D personnel, such as with (ii) and (iii). Technology-oriented firms cannot develop innovative achievements if they are not willing to encourage risk taking. Our findings indicate that managers should try to understand their employees' trial and error mindsets and create an effective organizational climate that goes beyond an organizational creative climate.

► We create a model of R&D personnel's trial and error behavior.
► Questionnaire survey to 706 corporate R&D personnel is conducted.
► Six mindsets and approaches behind trial and error behavior were revealed.
► Creative climate did not impact on workers' newness oriented mindsets.