• This paper focuses R&D activities and specifically the choices of where, and by whom, they are performed. We propose the term “rightsourcing” for the balance of location at home and abroad combined with the balance of in- and outsourcing. We identify the studied companies, Canon and Honda, to be idea and research based. The rightsourcing of their R&D activities showed that R&D represents core competence. In theory it is often claimed that core competence could or should not be outsourced. Canon and Honda went one step further. They declared that R&D was their heart and soul, based in their core values imagines and dreams. Core competence founded in core values was a strong barrier against outsourcing. Canon and Honda took advantage of regional heterogeneity in resources and customer preferences, when they located R&D. We introduce the rightsourcing matrix as a tool to visualize rightsourcing of R&D.

Nyckelord

Rightsourcing

location

in/out-sourcing

R&D

core competences

core value

rightsourcing matrix.

Ekonomistyrning

Ekonomistyrning

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)