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View answers to typical questions received by the PROMISE team and find out more about the PROMISE GateWay Toolkit and how it could help your company.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PROMISE stands for PROject Management of product Innovation in Smaller Enterprises. It’s an EC project, funded through the Commission’s Innovation Programme (DGXIII) as a Technology Transfer Initiative. It’s focus is identification, transfer and adaptation of good practices related to managing the product innovation process. The transfer is predominately from larger national and multi-national companies; the adaptation is to make outputs suitable for widespread SME usage. The project started in January 1997 and finishes at end of May 1999.
What has happened during the project? During the project the partnership have undertaken a number of key steps. In particular they’ve:
The results include an adapted and tested integrated process, with metrics to demonstrate the impact of usage. Additionally these processes and support mechanics have been further refined and "productised" into the PROMISE GateWay Toolkit.
Will the PROMISE resources be available to non-partner companies and organisations? Through the PROMISE GateWay toolkit one can access support material to guide a user from assessment through to full process implementation and evaluation. This toolkit will be available from 30 May 1999. A series of dissemination events and pre-production launches, across 4 EU countries, will also advise participants of the main findings and processes involved on a more general basis.
What is in the PROMISE GateWay toolkit? Two versions of the toolkit have been developed. The first – the facilitators’ version – is directed at business support organisations and individuals who want to assist smaller companies improve their product innovation processes. This toolkit provides a mentored support tool to assist organisations such as this who want to become licensed PROMISE facilitators. A similar toolkit is available for direct company usage. However we strongly advise that, to optimise toolkit usage, companies work with licensed external facilitators. For more detail on toolkit contents click here
Can anyone use the PROMISE GateWay Toolkit? Some companies may currently lack the fundamental structure to take on board the integrated process. Others may only require elements of the toolkit to refine an already cohesive approach. The PIP scoring "taster" and the full Assessment & Diagnostic process will together help identify individual capabilities and needs. The support tools are written in such a way that the approach can be customised to individual company needs.
How can I find out what is most likely to ensure the PROMISE approach work for us? Throughout the toolkit we have integrated "Drivers of Success". These highlight the practical issues and approaches that, during the piloting activities, were find to be most critical to making the process work effectively and efficiently.
Yes. Case studies summarising the responses within their own companies are available. Direct contact information is also included as majority of these companies are now acting as host sites for the processes adapted and implemented.
Will we need strong control procedures after adopting the integrated PROMISE approach? This toolkit has been specifically developed to meet the needs of smaller company – i.e. those looking to apply a more structured approach to their product development process - without imposing excessive bureaucracy? So the procedures are minimised; but they are present and they are essential if the approach is to work. You will however be guided through these processes and advised how to customise them to your own requirements.
What training and associated support is required and does this need to be company wide? It has proved best when the broadest level of company personnel are introduced the integrated approach, what it is aiming to achieve and the core elements that will impact on day-to-day work. Beyond that the majority of the training is focused on needs of the senior management and the product team(s) – in many case in the smaller company these are the same people, undertaking new product development work on a "part-time" basis. Training is split into the core process and support elements – eg. team building, creativity and basic project management. Individual companies’ support needs will vary, so the toolkit helps you develop the Training Action Plan that meets your specific requirements. |
