Welp MagazineWill CEN/TS 16555-6:2014 (PD ISO/IEC 19753-6:2012) offer any advice on how to manage innovation? Yes, it certainly will. Compared to CEN/TS 16555-5:2011, it specifically addresses these aspects on innovation management, and innovator’s roles and responsibilities, in more detail, under the development of a product, while liability and ethical considerations are under the responsibility of the project manager. This makes it clear indeed that the project manager is strongly involved in the development of the product and has a strong responsibility to be aware of his or her role in risk assessment and management.
ISO/IEC 19753-6:2012, in addition to the typical four project phases of project management, adds a fifth phase of ‘production’. And when it comes to the phase of ‘development’, ISO/IEC 19753-6:2012 states: ‘Development activities create or modify a product concept, plan or design, and develop the specification, ensuring that a product is able to meet its requirements.’ To innovate means not only to develop or improve a product but also to create a new one or adapt an existing one. This basic idea is the starting point of CEN/TS 16555-6:2014.
Innovation is a key activity in the production process, either for creating new products or improving existing ones with the aim to achieve an added value towards the customer’s preferences. Innovation promotes the competitiveness of the organization, and it generates growth, revenue, and new jobs. In addition, innovation is the multiplier of the value of the organization through its employees, and employees accomplish innovation by continuously developing new knowledge and skills. Indeed, innovation is the engine for change, which maintains and fosters a competitive advantage for the organization.
The basic idea of CEN/TS 16555-6:2014 is to state the role of the project manager in relation to innovation management. According to ISO 19753, through its role of project manager, the innovator can achieve an added value for the customer. With this idea in mind, this standard covers the following topics:
- Market research and analysis for innovation
- Requirements analysis and development
- Organizational involvement for innovation
- Risk analysis and management
- Invention , technological developments and innovation
- Innovator’s roles and responsibilities
Market research and analysis for innovation
If you plan to develop a product, you need to analyze the market or market sector you wish to face. Your customer and other stakeholders are sharing views on how the product should be valued by the market.
Requirements analysis and development
When you have analyzed the market, you can work on the requirements analysis phase. You analyse the problems, needs, and expectations of your customer. You make use of all available information and tools to undertake the analysis.
Organizational involvement for innovation
The organizational involvement for innovation is a crucial phase. It involves all key stakeholders with different roles and responsibilities in the organization, to discuss the choices and options that are available. The aims are to develop a common understanding of the ideas involved, and to move forward towards a better match between the specified requirements and the ideas.
Risk analysis and management
In the risk analysis phase all potential risks are identified, assessed and prioritized. The major risks related to product development will be addressed, and counter measures will be defined to mitigate possible risks and to avoid further risks. In case of product modification, risks related to the changes are considered.
Invention, technological development and innovation
The invention phase addresses the creative process titled as invention, technological development and innovation. It covers both the important steps of inventing a new product, and the issues related to improving an existing products. The development of new disciplines, such as electronics, bioelectronics, bioinformatics and bioengineering require new invention, technological development and innovation.
Innovator’s roles and responsibilities
The project manager is responsible for the innovator’s roles and responsibilities. He will take a leading role in the innovation activities of a product, in co-operation with his or her various stakeholders. The innovator is responsible for the idea, the creation of the project, and the production of the product.
Specific roles for the project manger are defined, such as the provision of an environment which is conducive to innovation and the care of the project and its activities. The project manager is also responsible for the quality of the product, and is accountable for the deliverables, the project methods, and project activities.
The project team has the responsibility for the provision of a favourable environment for innovation and the assurance of the best practice in achieving the required level of confidence. Stratifications of qualified collaboration between the innovative team members working in the virtual environment is an important role to be approved by both parties.
Distribution of responsibilities for innovation management
CEN/TS 16555-6:2014 specifically illustrates the position of the project manager in the field of innovation management. Following the PD, the distribution of those responsibilities is as follows:
Product development is the responsibility of the project manager who ensures all activities related to the development of a product are performed in the appropriate sequence and with the lowest level of risk.
The project manager will have the overall responsibility for the project development and will lead and co-ordinate the project team. The interrelation between the project manager and the project members has been thoroughly elaborated upon in CEN/TS 16555-6:2014.
All project participants are responsible for the deliverable quality. This is a new point that will be defined by the project manager.
In the risk analysis phase, the project manager must take care of the risk analysis, assessment and prioritization for the project.
In the invention phase for a new product, the project manager will ensure that the whole innovation process is managed properly
