Controls over research and development. Consolidated Electronics Corporation conducts its research and development activities in a separate building near the central corporate headquarters. The research staff comprises 20 scientists and engineers and 30 research assistants. The staff spends approximately 60 percent of its time on improvement of existing products and processes. Most of this work results from requests of personnel in the firm's operating divisions. The staff spends the remaining 40 percent of its time on projects of particular interest to the scientists and engineers. In some cases, these efforts result in patents for new products or processes that Consolidated either uses or sells to other com- panies. In other cases, these research efforts lead to publishable papers in professional journals. In some instances, nothing usable results and the firm discontinues the project.
Design an effective control system for this research and development activity.