I. Bitran

Assessing the management of innovation with software tools: an application of innovationEnterprizer

This paper presents an NPD managerial decision-making software system: innovationEnterprizer. Furthermore, the paper reports on the application of the system at a major European parts supplier to the German automotive industry which was carried out during September 2004. Ten facilitated sessions were conducted with managers. The main results indicated that the project team (human and integration factors) were extremely weak when compared with the formal side of innovation, for which the company had formal processes and scored very strongly. Furthermore, the consistency between units was very high, indicating that general innovation policy, which was formulated at corporate board level, was not adapted to the unit-specific level. This was despite the boards recognition that each unit has a need for its own uniquely combined set of success factors.

SMART: System for the development, management and support of strategic alliances

Abstract Despite the increasing number of strategic alliances (SAs), how to ensure their success is poorly understood. Studies suggest that up to 75 percent of alliances fail to meet their initial objectives due to a multitude of cultural, political, technological and human factors. If such an eclectic set of competencies is required for success, alliance management is clearly a difficult task for todays manager. Traditionally, managers wishing to develop SA competencies have relied on ad-hoc consultancy services and training. This has not, to date, resulted in a notable improvement in alliance success. The SMART project redresses this growing need by developing a knowledge-based software support system to help managers conceptualise, implement and manage SAs. First, this paper introduces the field of SAs; then the foundations of knowledge-based support systems are discussed. Finally, how the SMART approach will create value for managers is relayed.

innovationEnterprizer: system for evaluating and managing corporate innovation

As product and service lifecycles shrink, managers place greater emphasis on the timely and efficient development of new products, processes and services. This paper relays the development, methodology and application of a systematic method for assessing and promoting innovation in corporations: innovationEnterprizer. This method provides the framework for a software-based knowledge system, which also contains comprehensive support and training materials. Subsequent to the introduction, an overview of the concepts and issues relating to the field of corporate innovation is given. Thereafter, the innovationEnterprizer methodology and algorithm are relayed, as are the software functionalities. Finally, the benefits of innovationEnterprizer are highlighted.