A Proposal for a Boost Gate Methodology to Evaluate Corporate R&D

Abstract

In a difficult market environment, the development of technologically superior and novel products is an important corporate innovation strategy. Many studies have been conducted on methodologies for evaluating and filtering R&D themes, and many companies have put these methodologies into practice. The stage-gate methodology and “Product And Cycle-time Excellence (PACE)”, which typify these efforts, are excellent methods for filtering many R&D themes down to only the most promising. However, they risk overlooking promising themes only to have those themes disappear, and there are concerns that the administrative review may decrease researchers’ motivation. This study proposes a “boost-gate” methodology, which incorporates advice provided at gates to promote promising themes while boosting R&D activities. This methodology, implemented during R&D activity at one company, was shown to be effective. Using the number of patent applications as a metric for R&D results, this study confirmed an increase in important patents that lead to innovations. While there is no conclusive evidence at this time, the outcome still suggests that this methodology may be highly effective in promoting R&D. This paper introduces the way in which this methodology should be adopted by businesses. It is hoped that this methodology will be applied to R&D activities at major corporations.