Improving Research Performance Through Planning by Readiness Levels in Lean R&D

Among the factors that contribute to increasing the effectiveness of R&D, a special place is occupied by the issue of effective work planning, criteria for monitoring their effectiveness. The low research effectiveness noted at the level of state institutions hinders the innovative development of our country. The first fundamental step in solving this problem is the preparation of detailed comprehensive technical specifications based on effective work planning, the very possibility of which is a hotly debated issue in the scientific and technical community. The direct relationship between results planning and objective monitoring of the work progress, which together lead to increased effectiveness, the possibility of redistributing the budget in favor of highly effective innovative developments, is analyzed, and shown. Based on the lean R&D approach and tailored readiness levels criteria, both the possibility itself and practical step-by-step recommendations for planning and operational monitoring of results are shown. The recommendations are considered on the example of the formulation of detailed criteria for the necessity and sufficiency of pilot sample testing as the most important element of the early motivation of an industrial partner to get into cooperation. The described methodology is an important part of the lean R&D concept developed by the author, towards differentiated risk management based on numerical readiness levels criteria, early decision-making on the transformation of goals and objectives of work depending on the results obtained, and reasonable redistribution of investments. The result of the study is practical recommendations for planning and operational control of the results achieved to create competitive innovative products, early diagnosis of risks, justifications for the redistribution of resources. The article may be of interest to heads of research departments of universities, innovative companies, startups, venture funds, development institutions.