1st Edition

Project Management for Research and Development Guiding Innovation for Positive R&D Outcomes

By Lory Mitchell Wingate Copyright 2015
    518 Pages 74 B/W Illustrations
    by Auerbach Publications

    Today’s leading organizations recognize the importance of research and development (R&D) to maintain and grow market share. If companies want to survive into the future, they must accelerate their R&D-to-market cycles or find themselves behind the competition.

    Project Management for Research and Development: Guiding Innovation for Positive R&D Outcomes explains how to apply proven project management methods to obtain positive outcomes in R&D and innovation projects. It addresses the specific factors companies must consider when using project management to scope, define, and manage R&D projects. It also offers best practices and case studies that illustrate actual applications of theory.

    This book details methods to help readers optimize results in R&D through the use of structured processes derived from the project management field and other complementary disciplines. Each chapter includes diagrams, surveys, checklists, and question-answer forms to guide readers in determining where their activity falls along a project spectrum and to help them structure their own R&D project.

    The methods presented in this book can easily be applied to innovation projects and creative endeavors. As there are limited sources of information on how to utilize project management methodology effectively in these types of projects, this book is an ideal resource for anyone looking to add structure and proven methods to enable R&D, innovation, and other creative activities.

    Project Management Approaches
    Nature of Projects
    Formality of Project Management
         Formal Project 
         Semiformal Project 
         Informal Project
    Traditional Project Management 
         Scope 
         Deliverables/Outcomes 
         Requirements 
         Approach 
         Organization 
         Schedule 
         Budget 
         Risk Management 
         Performance Measurement 
         Communications
    Flexible Project Management 
         Types of Flexible Development 
         Key Components
    Program Management 
    Portfolio Management 
    The Hierarchy of Project versus Program versus Portfolio Management 
         Apply Now
    Life Cycle Approach to Project Management
         Life Cycle Approach and R&D
              Research Phase
              Development Phase
              Control Phase
         Apply Now
    Case Study: Explorers Connect8 Website Development Project
         Background
         Life Cycle Perspective
         Project Management
              Scope
              Deliverables/Outcomes
              Requirements
              Approach
              Organization
              Schedule
              Budget
              Risks and Mitigation Plan
              Performance Management
              Communications
         Outcomes
              Critical Branch Points
              Leadership
              Lessons Learned
         Case Analysis
    Key Point Summary
         Key Concepts
         Key Terms
    Apply Now
    References

    Project Management as an Enabler
    Traditional Project Management
    R&D Project Management
    Disciplines That Complement Project Management
         Flexible Methods
              Spiral Development
              Agile Method
         Management Frameworks
              Scrum
              Unified Process
              Dynamic Systems Development Method
              Product Lifecycle Management
         Apply Now
         Systems Engineering
              Systems Engineering Management Processes
              Systems Engineering Technical Processes
         Industrial Engineering
         Complementary Disciplines’ Value on R&D Projects
         Apply Now
    Driving Innovation with Project Management
    Case Study: The Design, Build, and Flight Test of a MIG-31 Model Aircraft
         Background
         Life Cycle Perspective
              Design
              Initial Build
              Flight Test #1
              Flight Test #2
              Flight Test #3
         Project Management
         Project Integration and Systems Engineering Challenges
         Outcomes
         Lessons Learned
              Selected R&D Challenges
              Selected Programmatic Challenges
         Case Analysis
    Key Point Summary
         Key Concepts
         Key Terms
    Apply Now
    References

    Bounding the Creative Spaces
    Elements of R&D
         Research
              Research Methods
              Apply Now
              Typical Steps in Research
         Development
              Development Methods
              Typical Steps in Development
         R&D Projects versus Other Projects
    Elements of Innovation
          Innovation versus Other Types of Projects
              Innovation versus R&D
              Innovation versus Invention
              Innovation versus Creative Projects
    Project Management Approach for R&D
         R&D Project Leadership
              Special Considerations: Project Leadership
         R&D Project Definition
              R&D Project Plan: Project Definition
              Special Considerations: Project Definition
         R&D Project Planning.    
              R&D Project Plan: Project Planning
              Special Considerations: Project Planning
         R&D Project Controls
              Special Considerations: Project Controls
    Project Management Approach for Innovation
         Innovation Project Leadership
         Innovation Project Definition
         Innovation Project Planning
         Innovation Project Controls
    Case Study: Mars Environmental Capability Assessment (MECA) Project
         Background
         Life Cycle Perspective
         Project Management
         Outcomes
         Lessons Learned
              Selected R&D Challenges
              Selected Programmatic Challenges (Lessons Learned)
    Case Analysis
    Key Point Summary
         Key Concepts
         Key Terms
    Apply Now
    References

    Measuring Success
    Defining Success
         Essential Foundations
              Project Manager
              Communications
              Project Baseline
         Definitions of Success across Disciplines
    Types of Measurements
         Measures versus Metrics
    Governance
         Change Management
         Configuration Management
    Trend and Variance Analysis
         Technical Performance
         Schedule Performance
         Budget Performance
         Risk Management
         Resources Allocation
         Outcomes
    Test, Verification, and Validation
    Reviews
         Management Reviews
         Audit Reviews
         Information Reviews
         Peer Reviews
              Requirements Reviews
               Design Reviews
              Verification Reviews
         Phase, Decision Point, or Gate Reviews
         After-Action, Retrospective, Reflective, and Postmortem Reviews
    Quality
         Quality Metrics
         Quality Inspection and Audit
         Benchmarking
         Statistical Modeling and Analysis
         Quality Controls
              Quality Tools
    Technical Readiness
    Case Study: Trekking the Planet—Bringing Geography to Life
         Background
         Life Cycle Perspective
         Project Management
              Defining the Scope
              Develop the Objectives
              Identify the Requirements
              Outline the Deliverables
              Develop the Schedule
              Develop the Budget
              Develop Risks and Mitigation Plan
              Develop a Contingency Plan
              Critical Branch Points
         Outcomes
         Lessons Learned
         Case Analysis
    Key Point Summary
         Key Concepts
         Key Terms
    Apply Now
    References

    Building Blocks to Success
    Key Objectives
    Measurements for Different Project Types
         Basic and Applied Research Measures
         Development Measures
         Innovation Measures
         Production Measures
         Apply Now Measures
    Measurements for R&D Projects
         Essential Measurements
         Implementing the Techniques
         Metrics for R&D
              Apply Now
    Measuring R&D Performance
         Documentation
         Budget and Schedule
         Outcomes
              Apply Now
         Change and Configuration Management
         Risk Management
         Reviews
         Quality
         Leadership
         Communications
    Case Study: Flower Circles and Watercolours Project
         Background
         Life Cycle Perspective
         Project Management
              Defining the Scope
              Develop the Objectives
              Identify the Requirements
              Outline the Deliverables
              Develop the Schedule
              Develop the Budget
              Develop Risks and Mitigation Plan
              Critical Branch Points
         Outcomes
              Defining Success
              Types of Measures Used
              Governance
              Trends and Variances
              Test, Verification, and Validation
              Reviews
              Quality
              Controlled Progression
              Leadership
              Communications
         Lessons Learned
         Case Analysis
    Key Point Summary
         Key Concepts
         Key Terms
    Apply Now
    References

    Overcoming Obstacles
    Risk Management
         Risk Management Processes
         Risk Management Plan
    Risk at the Project Level
         Identification of Risk
          Risk Assessment
         Responses
         Mitigation
         Monitoring and Change Control
         Apply Now
    Risk at the Program Level
    Risk at the Portfolio Level
         Compiling
         Assessing
         Downselecting
         Apply Now
    Essential Risk Management for R&D
         R&D Risk Plan and Approach
         R&D Risk Decision Support
         R&D Risk Responses and Mitigation
         R&D Risk Monitoring and Change Control
    Case Study: LEGO® Mindstorms®
         Background
         Life Cycle Perspective
         Project Management
              Defining the Scope
              Develop the Objectives
              Identify the Requirements
              Outline the Deliverables
              Develop the Project Schedule
              Develop the Budget
              Develop Risks and Mitigation Plan
              Critical Branch Points
         Outcomes
              Defining Success
              Types of Measures Used
              Governance
              Trends and Variances
              Test, Verification, and Validation
              Reviews
              Quality
              Controlled Progression
              Leadership
              Communications
         Lessons Learned
         Case Analysis
    Key Point Summary
         Key Concepts
         Key Terms
    Apply Now
    References

    Facilitating the Creative Team
    Leading the R&D Team
         R&D Project Management
              The Leadership Role
              Apply Now
              The Management Role
    Managing the Workforce
         Staff Selection and Diversity
         Team Building Activities
         Objectives Alignment
         Workforce Sharing
         Team Evolution
         Apply Now
    Optimizing the R&D Output
         Organizational Alignment
         Learning Environment
         Free Time
         Free Speech
         Focus on Outcomes
         Creative Physical Environment
         Performance Incentives
         Apply Now
         Accountability and Responsibility
              Commitment
              Responsibility
              Fortitude
    Project Management for Specific Disciplines
         Researcher or Scientist R&D
         Artistic R&D
         Engineer R&D
         Software R&D
    Case Study: Adventure Day Camps on the Shores of Lake Grapevine
         Background
         Life Cycle Perspective
         Project Management
              Defining the Scope
              Develop the Objectives
              Identify the Requirements
              Outline the Deliverables
              Develop the Project Schedule
              Develop the Budget
              Develop Risks and Mitigation Plan
              Critical Branch Points
         Outcomes
              Defining Success
              Types of Measures Used
              Governance
              Trends and Variances
              Test, Verification, and Validation
              Reviews
              Quality
              Controlled Progression
              Leadership
              Communications
         Lessons Learned
         Case Analysis
    Key Point Summary
         Key Concepts
         Key Terms
    Apply Now
    References

    Process Steps for the R&D Project
    Project Fit, Alignment, and Approach (Steps 1 and 2)
    Elements of Complementary Disciplines (Step 3)
    Facilitate the Type of R&D Project (Step 4)
    Project Management and Systems Engineering Documents (Steps 5 and 6)
    Project Baseline and Measurements (Step 7)
    Active Management (Step 8)
    Mitigate Risks and Seize Opportunities (Step 9)
    Facilitate and Support the R&D Team (Step 10)

    Bibliography
    Appendix 1
    Appendix 2
    Index

    Biography

    Lory Mitchell Wingate has achieved notable success in program and project management within policy research, aerospace engineering, production and support, and scientific research organizations. With over 25 years of experience in both for-profit and non-profit companies, Wingate possesses detailed knowledge and expertise in project management and has developed a strong method for combining the best practices from several disciplines into a winning formula for the management of research and development.

    She has an MBA in information technology management, and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP®). Wingate’s area of expertise is in project management, program management, and systems engineering, and she actively pursues opportunities to present training workshops and materials associated with her areas of expertise.