Who does what research?

Depends on the team make up and expertise.

Assessments of macro trends, competitive forces, and your processes (the value chain) have a whole system focus and should be research by three or four folks from different departments. Diversity is very important to avoid being "anchored" to last year's conclusions.

Customer research, market opportunities, and business opportunities are R&D, business development, marketing or sales responsibility: financials by Finance or Accounting, employee research by HR. These analyses are presented to the entire team for discussion.

Give the younger folks point the organized the research: to challenge, to question, to learn!

Put you mouse on the blue buttons again and think about who needs to do the research?