Phase II — Development
The Development Phase (Stages and Gates 4 through 6) first involves establishing a business plan based on the new conceptual knowledge generated in Phase I — Research.
The engineering development methodology is then applied to reduce the Phase I conceptual knowledge to practical form through design, building and testing procedures. The output of the Development Phase is new knowledge in the state of a Prototype Invention that has been tested by end users and approved by other relevant stakeholders.
Follow the images to view supporting evidence for each entry.
Stage 4 — Begin Development Effort
Build business case for commercial product, identify product specifications, and establish engineering development plan.
Lids Off Jar Opener example
Decision Gate 4
Project leader and external partners consider if all elements of the business case have been fully vetted and validated. If yes, continue on to Stage 5. If no, either terminate project or reiterate Stage 4. Key Question is: Should the development plan be implemented?
Stage 5 — Build and Test Prototype
Implement engineering development plan.
Tupperware — Children's Healthy Eating System example
Decision Gate 5
Project leader and external partners determine if the beta prototype will solve the problem and do so in a form that is feasible to deploy in the marketplace. If yes, continue to Stage 6. If no, terminate or reiterate Stage 5. Key Question asks: Should the project continue and go to beta prototype testing?
Stage 6 — Beta Testing
Generate invention through iterative testing and validation.
White Rodgers Thermostat example
Decision Gate 6
Project leader and partners determine if the beta prototype invention demonstrates sufficient value (customer and market value), according to the preliminary assessments, SWOT analysis and business case. If yes, continue to Innovation Phase (Stages 7 — 9). If not, terminate project and apply KT principles (see below) to effectively communicate Prototype Invention output to all relevant stakeholders. The Key Question asks: Should the project continue and go to Production Planning?
KTA for projects terminated at completion of Invention Phase
Knowledge Translation Opportunity — for Prototype Invention Outputs:
Whether or not project continues, pursue this second opportunity to initiate Knowledge Translation activities to ensure the knowledge created in the state of a tangible Prototype Invention is shared with all potential users (i.e. potential product consumers; or intermediary stakeholders such as a Tech Transfer Officer or manufacturer). This assumes that proper safeguards are in place for any proprietary information (Step 4.4). The KT activity ensures that the public funding expended and the project outputs generated have some chance of being put into practice by other stakeholders. The Knowledge to Action diagram and linked table provide more detail reaching external knowledge user groups.
Knowledge to Action (KTA) process diagram for Prototype Invention Outputs
For more detail on ways to reach each knowledge user group, see KTA Table for Invention Outputs
This table lists six stakeholder groups who may be knowledge users, and answers the questions “What to share with each knowledge user group”, and “How to reach each knowledge user group”, while also describing the anticipated knowledge translation outcomes from engaging with each group.