IBM Launches R&D Consulting Practice

IBM to Help Companies Innovate by Maximizing R&D Operations and Investments
Marketwire reports that IBM Global Business Services unveiled a new management consulting practice intended to help companies produce innovation and competitive differentiation from research and development (R&D) spending.

Specifically, IBM's R&D Management consultants will focus on the following solutions for clients:

-- R&D transformation and optimization -- IBM consultants assess the R&D
business model to help R&D executives identify which areas R&D should focus
on from both an effectiveness and efficiency standpoint that will enable
the most impact to profitability and strategic differentiation. IBM
consultants also provide a roadmap and business case for R&D strategy,
management, vision and execution.
-- R&D Strategy -- IBM consultants develop product/services strategies,
business models and operating models (including people, process and
technology) that best link R&D strategy with the overall business strategy.
-- Product Innovation Management -- IBM consultants perform a strategic
assessment on the lifecycle of product innovation and provide a roadmap to
efficiency and effectiveness.
-- Portfolio management -- IBM consultants provide strategies and
management systems to create the correct balance and trade-off within a
company's product portfolio.
-- Collaboration -- IBM consultants help clients identify what types of
collaboration are beneficial and help create the structure needed to
support collaboration efforts within the enterprise and across innovation
networks.
-- Ideation -- IBM consultants assist clients with the strategies and
management systems designed to create and sustain the flow of innovative
ideas and to manage these ideas as a portfolio of assets.
-- Impact of future technology -- IBM consultants utilize a scientific
methodology to understand what future technologies may have an impact on a
company's product portfolio and provide guidance for how to incorporate
future technologies into future products.