How do you measure R&D success at different stages of your product's life cycle?

In between Ideation and development phase there is most important phase is called POC, proof of concept or prototype building. This is the phase we need to analyze the effectiveness of the design ( assembly and fitment, functioning, meeting design intent) and it's ability/ eligibility for mass production or mass market. Based on POC we should calculate and analyse all PQCD aspects. If it's viable product then it should be released for development. Having major design changes or modifications after development is huge cost to the company, it's waste of resources, time and money.

Ideation stage is the essential phase of the research and development process. It is generating innovative and creative ideas for new products or services. It involves brainstorming sessions, market research, feedback from customers. The success of the development phase depends on the quality and feasibility of the ideas generated in the ideation stage. The goal is to leverage technology and human imagination to develop something that meets the needs of the market. Collaborative brainstorming and in-depth analysis of external and internal factors help to identify problem areas and potential solutions. It's important to evaluate the potential commercial value, customer appeal, technical feasibility and competitive landscape of the ideas.

It's essential to invest time and effort wisely during this stage to ensure clear requirements, objectives, and specifications are defined. What's equally important is establishing clear validation criteria for the generated ideas/solutions, ensuring they align with the company's strategy, market demands, and available resources.

ECOs, Call Center Volume, Process 3Ds (Defects, Delays & Deviations), HelpDesk Queries and so forth. Any type of rework, return, or repair is a direct indication of something that didn't flow well with the new design. Opportunities are missed Carbon Foot Print (CFP) reduction options.

Sure, features added or bugs fixed can be helpful, but focusing on them too much will make you miss the bigger picture—like the overall quality of the product and how users interact with it. Listening to user feedback is essential because it guides improvement. However, it shouldn’t dictate all changes, as the product should be useful and appealing to a wide range of users, not just a few early adopters. Additionally, while technical aspects, like reliability, are crucial, they shouldn’t overshadow the main functions of the product.

Development stage where products or processes are imagined, designed and tested before they are brought to the market. In this stage, scientists and engineers work to develop new ideas, identify potential applications, and create prototypes. During this stage, the R&D team will conduct extensive research and experimentation to determine the feasibility of their idea, the potential market size, and the resources needed to make it successful to create a high-quality and viable product. product development involves several stages, including ideation, research, design, prototyping, and testing. The goal is to develop a product that meets the needs of consumers while also being cost-effective to manufacture, safe, and reliable.

Some teams look at their North star metric for validation of progress. I also find that it is usefull to have identified key assumptions made during the ideation phase, and proxy metrics that can be used to detect if the assumptions hold or not - ie - time to value for a new customer, avg number of ## ## ## insert your own key object here

The most critical phase is growth stage that many organizations, , experience as they develop and commercialize new products, services, or technologies to validate their ideas and concepts. In the Growth stage, the company seeks to refine and optimize its product, increase market penetration, to increase market share. It involves scaling up production, expanding sales and distribution channels, and innovating to stay ahead of the competition. Overall, R&D Growth stage marks a critical milestone in the success of any organization. It's a period of intense learning, growth, and experimentation, which can lead to new opportunities and challenges for the future.

When we're dealing with aging or mature technology, all the technological excellence that was put into it comes to play. The durability starts to be tested and a lot of the limited that were once a distant KPI starts to become crucial and ideally renovations an transformation are in order. It's just how technology grows.

Handling products in the maturity stage requires a sharp and thoughtful approach. Using only traditional metrics like NPS and CSAT might hide how a product is really doing, focusing too much on past achievements instead of current market position. Customer feedback is essential, but it shouldn’t stop a product from evolving or trying new things. Also, lots of new products or high R&D investments don’t always mean real progress or better competition. It’s key to keep a balanced view of these aspects to guide the product effectively during its maturity.

Work with Objective and Key Results (OKR): Set time at the start of the project and at every stage to meet the stakeholders, review the design of experiment and align on the OKRs. Quantify the deliverables, make the results visual and take feedback from the cross functional team about the performance of the R&D. This approach should help the R&D team to deliver with excellence.

Often overlooked, but considering the team’s well-being as a metric indirectly impacts the outcomes at each stage of the R&D process, influencing the overall success. For instance: During Ideation: A motivated team is more likely to generate innovative and diverse ideas. Their mental well-being can be reflected in the quality and quantity of ideas produced. Development Stage: A team that feels supported and valued is more likely to be productive and meet development milestones, affecting the pace and quality of the product being developed. Launch and Implementation: A well-supported team can better manage the stresses and challenges that come with launching a product, ensuring smoother implementation and quicker adaptation to feedback.