Science and Technology in the Postwar Corporation, 1950-1970
by Alexa Dvorak
“Our Economy is becoming increasingly technical. National Defense, public utilities, agriculture and industry have become more and more dependent on scientists and engineers for their survival and their growth to meet the increased demands put on them,” declared Kenneth Meade, director of the General Motors Corporation as he addressed the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1946.[1] Industrial science was becoming increasingly complex, and the need to incorporate scientists, engineers, and technical researchers was more important than ever.
Scientists and Engineers
Corporations sought the brightest most intelligent young men to fill the positions in their new research laboratories in hopes that they would be able to challenge the corporate competition. The setting of the corporate campus closely resembled that of the traditional American university, attracting recent graduates right after college and making it an easy transition for them. In the 1950’s, corporations began recruiting individuals with doctoral degrees and other graduate level education, luring them from the university positions with a substantial increase in salary. The private corporations were competing with the government to hire an unprecedented amount of new employees to expand their technological development. After spending most of their adult lives in school, the university atmosphere conveyed by the corporate campus helped remove the suspicion many students had associated with the for profit company during this time. Employees with one specialization, such as chemists, physicists, and biologists became essential. The scientist and engineer were not considered management or laborers, they researched new ideas that would not only draw in consumers but be new and unique to the markets. In this aspect technical staff was given a great deal of freedom, which allowed them to be innovative without being micromanaged. Teamwork was greatly encouraged in this field and several scientists would be assigned to the same project, as management thought that this would increase productivity, spread ideas, and lead to profitable developments for the company. Scientists and engineers reported solely to the top management, and providing them with more recognition than most middle management departments managed by field offices which added a new aspect to the managerial structure. [2]
Research Laboratories
Bell Lab’s in Murray Hill, New Jersey was known as the ideal model of what the research campus should resemble in the postwar era. The General Electric Electronics Park in Syracuse, New York later opened as the first corporate campus specializing in scientific research and technology advancement in 1952. Many large corporations began opening specialized technology departments within their corporate campuses. By 1960, this had become a common addition to the campuses throughout the Northeast and Midwest.[3] Although there was a shift from factory to laboratory, the laboratory required just as much space, making the corporate campus an ideal location as it provided ample space. City based companies had to move to the suburbs due to the lack of space for industrial sciences. Laboratories became increasingly aesthetic as the fought to attract the most sought after graduates to their facilities. Corporate management believed that laboratory research would be more productively conducted in the peaceful and creative setting that the campus represented. The laboratories were designed with an open layout to promote the exchange of ideas and teamwork.
Corporate Advancement/ Facilitating Profitable Research
Rival companies and universities became very competitive during the postwar era to hire scientists and engineers who would develop innovative new technology. The United States had the largest economy during this time which was rapidly expanding and corporations were greatly profiting. Scientists used the financial support of the companies to further research with endless possibilities. Strategy was very important, and corporations such as Bell Labs caught on to this quickly. Bell Laboratories focused on technology that would impact everything from everyday life to global politics to the Cold War. Bell had the largest research center in the United States with an impressive 4,200 employees.[4] [5]
The post war era was an extraordinary time for scientific research and technological development. Paired with the booming economy in the United States, corporations who employed scientists were unlimited in their possibilities. The success of the company was put largely in the hands of research and innovation. Scientific advancement became the postwar corporation’s main priority.
Notes:
[1] Mozingo, Pastoral Capitalism
[2] Walters, Scientific Authority and Twentieth Century America
[3] Walters, Scientific Authority
[4] Mozingo, Pastoral Capitalism
[5] Kenneth R. Manning, Essays on Science and Society: Science and Opportunity, accessed October 22, 2012. http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/special/science-culture.html
“Our Economy is becoming increasingly technical. National Defense, public utilities, agriculture and industry have become more and more dependent on scientists and engineers for their survival and their growth to meet the increased demands put on them,” declared Kenneth Meade, director of the General Motors Corporation as he addressed the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1946.[1] Industrial science was becoming increasingly complex, and the need to incorporate scientists, engineers, and technical researchers was more important than ever.
Scientists and Engineers
Corporations sought the brightest most intelligent young men to fill the positions in their new research laboratories in hopes that they would be able to challenge the corporate competition. The setting of the corporate campus closely resembled that of the traditional American university, attracting recent graduates right after college and making it an easy transition for them. In the 1950’s, corporations began recruiting individuals with doctoral degrees and other graduate level education, luring them from the university positions with a substantial increase in salary. The private corporations were competing with the government to hire an unprecedented amount of new employees to expand their technological development. After spending most of their adult lives in school, the university atmosphere conveyed by the corporate campus helped remove the suspicion many students had associated with the for profit company during this time. Employees with one specialization, such as chemists, physicists, and biologists became essential. The scientist and engineer were not considered management or laborers, they researched new ideas that would not only draw in consumers but be new and unique to the markets. In this aspect technical staff was given a great deal of freedom, which allowed them to be innovative without being micromanaged. Teamwork was greatly encouraged in this field and several scientists would be assigned to the same project, as management thought that this would increase productivity, spread ideas, and lead to profitable developments for the company. Scientists and engineers reported solely to the top management, and providing them with more recognition than most middle management departments managed by field offices which added a new aspect to the managerial structure. [2]
Research Laboratories
Bell Lab’s in Murray Hill, New Jersey was known as the ideal model of what the research campus should resemble in the postwar era. The General Electric Electronics Park in Syracuse, New York later opened as the first corporate campus specializing in scientific research and technology advancement in 1952. Many large corporations began opening specialized technology departments within their corporate campuses. By 1960, this had become a common addition to the campuses throughout the Northeast and Midwest.[3] Although there was a shift from factory to laboratory, the laboratory required just as much space, making the corporate campus an ideal location as it provided ample space. City based companies had to move to the suburbs due to the lack of space for industrial sciences. Laboratories became increasingly aesthetic as the fought to attract the most sought after graduates to their facilities. Corporate management believed that laboratory research would be more productively conducted in the peaceful and creative setting that the campus represented. The laboratories were designed with an open layout to promote the exchange of ideas and teamwork.
Corporate Advancement/ Facilitating Profitable Research
Rival companies and universities became very competitive during the postwar era to hire scientists and engineers who would develop innovative new technology. The United States had the largest economy during this time which was rapidly expanding and corporations were greatly profiting. Scientists used the financial support of the companies to further research with endless possibilities. Strategy was very important, and corporations such as Bell Labs caught on to this quickly. Bell Laboratories focused on technology that would impact everything from everyday life to global politics to the Cold War. Bell had the largest research center in the United States with an impressive 4,200 employees.[4] [5]
The post war era was an extraordinary time for scientific research and technological development. Paired with the booming economy in the United States, corporations who employed scientists were unlimited in their possibilities. The success of the company was put largely in the hands of research and innovation. Scientific advancement became the postwar corporation’s main priority.
Notes:
[1] Mozingo, Pastoral Capitalism
[2] Walters, Scientific Authority and Twentieth Century America
[3] Walters, Scientific Authority
[4] Mozingo, Pastoral Capitalism
[5] Kenneth R. Manning, Essays on Science and Society: Science and Opportunity, accessed October 22, 2012. http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/special/science-culture.html