Product Description

The Research and Development business capabilities model (R&D) is a logical and intuitive decomposition of R&D functions into granular business capabilities. The R&D capability matrix includes about 200 capabilities across three levels.

(Note: As the R&D Business capabilities model is a digital deliverable, we do not accept returns or issue refunds. So, please read the product description and the terms carefully.)

Transforming the R&D Function

It is a strategic imperative to transform the R&D function for the company’s growth and competitiveness. Below are the critical reasons for this strategic shift:

• Accelerating innovation: Fast-paced changes in technology and market dynamics require quicker adaptation to stay ahead of competitors.
• Keeping pace with R&D innovations: The rapid rate of R&D advancements demands staying up-to-date with new techniques, processes, and tools to maintain a competitive edge.
• Leveraging emerging technologies: Adopting AI, machine learning, and big data analytics can supercharge the R&D function, driving efficiency and effectiveness.
• Enhancing collaboration: Leveraging cross-functional and external partnerships to gain insights and boost creativity.
• Agile decision-making: Adopting agile methodologies to streamline processes, improve speed, and enhance efficiency.
• Reducing time-to-market: Speeding up product development cycles to capitalize on new opportunities and meet customer demands.
• Managing risks effectively: Leveraging advanced analytics and risk management tools to identify, assess, and mitigate potential threats.
• Optimizing resource allocation: Ensuring the most impactful and strategic R&D projects receive the necessary funding and resources.

R&D Capabilities as the Cornerstone of Transformation:

R&D business capabilities can serve as an anchor and foundation for driving the transformation of the research function. Business capabilities encapsulate what business does, providing a holistic perspective of the research and development value chain. By leveraging R&D capabilities, companies can identify improvement areas and develop new ways to innovate, invent, and improve. This can involve investing in new technologies and tools to supercharge the R&D function. By enhancing R&D capabilities, companies drive innovation and growth while remaining competitive in today’s fast-changing business landscape.

Research and Development Business Capabilities Model Deliverables

The R&D business capabilities matrix includes the following artifacts. (The map comprises about 200 capabilities across three levels.)

• An Excel spreadsheet with a grouped list of capabilities.
• A PowerPoint presentation with the top two levels presented in a nested visualization.
• A Word document with capabilities in a multilevel list format.
• Capability Definitions (at Level 3)
• Capability KPIs (at Level 2)
• Plus, bonus files.

Value of the Research and Development Business Capabilities Model

A business capabilities model is a fundamental and foundational entity in the business architecture continuum.

The Research and Development function has emerged as a mission-critical and strategic differentiator, particularly in a highly competitive world where only the innovative survive. The Capstera R&D capability map encapsulates the essence of the function with a detailed, multilevel capabilities list.

There are several benefits from business capabilities, including, among others:

• Foster alignment between business and IT using capabilities as an everyday language.
• Capabilities are structurally sound and internally coherent abstractions of business functions.
• A capability-based roadmap eliminates redundancy and replication and focuses on capability evolution.
• Juxtaposing capabilities and systems/applications provide a footprint analysis and can lead to better application portfolio rationalization decisions.

Created by business architects and domain experts, the research and development capabilities list is detailed, in-depth, and conforms to the construct of MECE (mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive).

Will these Capabilities Fit our Company?

As a generic, multipurpose set of capabilities list, we strive to meet 60-80% of a firm’s needs, not 100%. Please get in touch with our business architecture consulting team for paid engagements if you need additional customization.

• Business Capabilities Matrix: A functional area occupies one box in many business capability maps. Some may wonder why we decomposed the capabilities into 100X or more capabilities. We humbly submit that one box or entry in a one-page diagram is Wall Art, not an implementation tool. Decomposing capabilities into a nested list of granular items will help understand a capability’s depth, breadth, scope, and importance. It is also possible that some capabilities in our matrix may not be relevant to you. Similarly, we may have captured and documented some relevant and essential capabilities of your firm.
• Capability Definitions: The definitions do NOT cover every capability as, at a certain level of granularity, the capabilities are self-evident, and their meaning is self-explanatory. We try to provide definitions at a granular level we think is appropriate. Please feel free to add, expand, or modify the definitions.
• Capability KPIs (Key Performance Indicators): We added a few KPIs for capabilities (mostly at Level 2) to get you started. You may not measure these KPIs in your company and have an entirely different set of metrics. Again, use them as a springboard, and not debate the applicability to your firm.

And lastly, a note about the cost:

Well, the cost of our capability models is less than an inexpensive team dinner or far less than the loaded cost of a team of four spending an hour in a conference room whiteboarding the capabilities.

Furthermore, avoiding the blank slate syndrome and jumpstarting the capability-building process will ensure you can spend more time socializing, refining, and executing the ideas.

Fine Print: