Competencies of Bridge Managers for Facilitating Global R&D Projects: toward Their Competency Development Framework

Abstract

Although globalization provides opportunities for companies to expand their businesses, it brings more challenges to global project management. Collaboration in global research and development (R&D) projects requires competent individuals helping to improve project success. There are liaisons who we call R&D bridge managers (BMs). They facilitate research collaboration in global R&D projects between teams in the home country and the firm's foreign R&D teams. Success in BM role requires a set of competencies that related to this job. Competency development frameworks have proofed themselves to be an effective tool for human resource management. The frameworks identify skills, behaviors, and knowledge that are necessary to ensure job performance. The frameworks have three components: competency list, competency assessment, and competency development method. This study aims to propose a competency list for BMs. This competency list is one component of BM competency development framework (BMCDF). The competency list is constructed based on literature survey. It may help BMs to overcome difficulties and challenges in their job. The BMCDF could benefit both BMs to plan for their competency development and organizations to clarify expected job performance. This competency list will be used in the future as part of BMCDF for facilitating global R&D projects.