Abstract
This paper presents the ‘user needs analysis' – a simple tool designed to build trust and confidence between industrial managers and academic researchers involved in long-term collaborative science research. The authors provide a step-by-step explanation of how the tool has been implemented in three large organizations currently participating in a three-year project concerned with innovation management. The paper shows how multiple needs can be identified and the benefits which can acrue to both sides in the collaboration.
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References
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The UNA tool was designed to be used in collaborations with industry and would need to be adapted for use with government departments or other academic groups.
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For example, CENTRIM's continuous improvement network involves 70 or so associate members in research-based continuous improvement activities.
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EPSRC Technology Management Initiative, GR/K/31756.
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Complex Product Systems are engineering- and capital-intensive, one-off or small-batch customized products or systems such as flight simulators, jet engineers, oil rig platforms, intelligent buildings, sophisticated data networks, etc.
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For example, our Research Council sponsors expressed justifiable concern that the inclusion of an analysis of risk management would spread the resources available for the project too thinly. We were, however, able to arrange to supervise a master level dissertation on this subject by one of the managers of this company and to feed this work into the project.