The question is whether or not a standardized management tool is available to obtain increased coordination and cooperation of military R and D efforts without massive reorganizations and policy changes in the Department of Defense in order to maintain the United States' technological leadership in the face of the rapidly growing Soviet strategic threat and the trend for Congress to appropriate a constant, year-to-year dollar budget for military research and development. Department of Defense documents, publications, and directives pertaining to research and development along with books and articles in magazines on management were reviewed to determine if such a management tool could be found. SPIDER (Systematic Planning for Integration of Defense Engineering and Research) is a group of R and D management concepts and graphic displays developed by the staff of the Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center. If universally used by all Services, SPIDER provides viaibility and direction for R and D efforts and makes participative management possible at all echelons. (Modified author abstract).