Industrial drug development: application of the theoretical framework of Abernathy, Clark, and Kantrow (1983) in an analysis of factors which determine productivity

This study identifies and analyzes factors which determine productivity in the drug industry. It shares a general concern about recent decline in industrial productivity in the United States with Abernathy, Clark, and Kantrow (1983), who developed a theoretical framework for analyzing the causes of lackluster industrial performance. According to Abernathy, et al. (1983), performance is determined by government fiscal and monetary policy, production capability, socioeconomic environment,(of which regulation is a subset), and corporate management. This study finds that the theoretical framework of Abernathy et al (1983) can be used as a context for analyzing productivity in the drug industry. In a recent case of drug development, socioeconomic and managerial problems caused costly delays in development, hampering the company's capacity to be productive. The study also finds that the strategy for industrial revitalization developed by Abernathy et al. (1983) is applicable to the drug industry. Specifically, corporate management must integrate the development activities of innovation, production, finance, and marketing more efficiently. More efficient integration will help management to consider the impact of one activity on the others, and to identify deficiencies which can delay development. This will help management cut development time and increase profits, which will help revitalize the drug industry.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Science and Technology Studies

Department dc:contributor.department

Science and Technology Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1988

Author dc:creator

• Griffiths, Robert Ian

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Pitt, Joseph C.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Paterson, Robert A.
• Mullins, Nicholas C.
• Downey, Gary L.
• Hirsh, Richard F.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-04122010-083717

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42048