Evaluating R&D Effectiveness
Research and development (R&D) work is subjective since it is directed toward the innovation, introduction, and improvement of products and processes. Therefore, when this work undergoes a critical effectiveness review, it is paramount for systems engineering management to display quantitative data that shows that the organization is working effectively. A critical review of R&D department effectiveness can be achieved by displaying the department’s performance metrics that quantitatively show progress.
R&D performance metrics are systems engineering tools that that measure R&D effectiveness with relation to government expectations and overall program development. In particular, technical performance measures (TPMs) are a systems engineering management tool that could be used to show how well R&D work is satisfying requirements and meeting milestones. Along with the ability of tracking milestones, TPMs are critical to the systems engineering process as they are able to connect functional requirements to measurable design characteristics by quantitatively assessing how well they satisfy stakeholder requirements. Attendees of the critical review will be able to quantitatively see percentages of project completion, project requirement satisfaction, and other items of interest such as budget.
Along with technical performance measures, measures of effectiveness can be utilized to display R&D effectiveness. MOE are performance metrics designed to correspond to accomplishment of organizational objectives and achievement of desired results. Perhaps an objective of the R&D process was to develop a new technology. MOE can be used to access how the technology developed compares to the technology that was planned on being developed. Additionally, MOE can quantify the desired results of a system and translate those values into probabilities of a system performing its required function. Tests can be run on a new R&D technology to determine how it will perform in an operational environment when it is integrated into a larger system. This will give attendees of the critical review insight into how the R&D department works.