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Medicine man: the medical industry has benefited from an adhesive manufacturer's policy to tell its own staff to spend half a day a week doing whatever they want. Brian Collett finds out about the benefits of `chasing rainbows'. (Medical Adhesives).

Article Excerpt
Imagine how most bosses would react if a researcher went off and did his own thing for at least half a day every week. Far from blowing a gasket at the very thought, the people in the 3M organisation actively encourage the practice.

The 15 per cent rule, as it is known, is part of the culture at 3M, the American-owned multinational multi-product enterprise, which calls itself a technology company that listens to the customers. The aim is clearly to see or anticipate a need in any area in which the company operates, especially when it is flagged up by customers, and try to fashion a product that fills the gap.

Contrary to popular belief, that is the classic inventor's approach. Discoveries rarely happen by accident. They are usually a response to a requirement.

At 3M, therefore, researchers in the laboratories are expected to think divergently when they observe one of those gaps and put ideas on a drawing board to add to or improve the company's products. The intriguing 15 per cent rule means these researchers devote 15 per cent of their working time being inventive.

Ron Baukol, who retired as executive vice-president of 3M's international operations at the end of February, says `Our employees are supposed to spend 15 per cent of their time on their own ideas. We insist that they go away and chase their rainbows, and that way they may come up with something.'

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