Collaborate and Grow

I came a cross an interesting article in the June 18 BusinessWeek about how J&J's $16.6 billion purchase of Phizer's consumer health unit has helped the company's consumer products division shore up business as other units struggle. Chief Technology Office J. Neal Matheson has led a mandated change in its research group "into a launchpad for products consumers would rush to purchase," according to the article. This involved creating small teams of chemists to look into various cosmetic challenges, and encouraging partnering with "small, forward-thinking companies." The challenge groups work with marketing and development to get products into stores faster. Have you had your collaboration today?