Human resources study as the gate function in the research and development process

Abstract

In the research and development process, the “Boost-Gate” function has gathered increasing attention by many companies as a valid method of filtering out promising themes out of a variety of alternatives. Also, a great deal of research has been conducted on Serial Innovators who provide continuous success in the market and Product Champions who advocate the seeds of ideas, as key persons to achieve radical innovations. In this study, key persons working for food company K, and contributing to the innovative product development, are identified, interviewed, and analyzed. As a result, the existence and activities of such human resources have been confirmed, suggesting the possibility they play the role as the Boost-Gate function in research and development.