Innovation grow platforms

Building an expert network – a practical workshop

For most companies, innovation-led growth these days is less about technical leadership in a single technology, and more about combining multiple technologies. To achieve this, the organization faces a number of choices.

• Invest in greater levels of internal expertise, this is costly and can reduce flexibility within the organization.
• Create a core expertise that can be supplemented by external experts, this provides added value with less risk. But there is a need to identify experts and engage with them effectively.
• Build a virtual R&D capability; this requires a different management style, an overview of synergies between the technology strands and a significant resource for managing contracts.

nu Angle has used its experience of building expert networks for clients

to inform this practical workshop. It combines a discussion of best practice – based on knowledge of what works in the real world – including interactive simulations with relevant industry experts. This workshop aims to build the skills required by a technology management team to create expert networks that will add value to a company’s technology strategy.

It will include:

Rationale for the use of external experts

• The benefits
• Challenges – organizational culture, legal and contractual issues, management of mavericks
• Key success factors based on industry experience
• Existing capability and skills gaps

Creating a framework for exploration

• How to ‘frame the need’ to elicit useful information
• Real world case-studies
• Common mistakes

Exploration tools

• Review of 3Es – Environment, Embodiment and Enabler – for evaluating technology
• Use of mind maps and management tools

Identifying potential experts

• Role of desk research
• Data sources and evaluation of relative benefit
• Existing networks and sources of contacts
• Practical exercises with industry experts to build skills within a team

Starting to build the network

• Collating and managing the information
• Questions to ask to keep on track
• Evaluating the quality of the network
• Managing and maintaining the network

Engaging with experts

• From initiating contact to establishing a contract

For more details of how this 3-day workshop can be adapted for your organization please contact nu Angle.