TEN Benefits
The 10 benefits of using The Evidence Network's performance
measurement system are the following:
- Sound, grounded in both practice and
theory
The Evidence Network's methodology is grounded in both practice and
theory. Our experts have an in-depth understanding of what
innovation enablers need, whether viewed from the perspective of
their management, boards of directors, government funders, or other
stakeholders. We use and contribute to the academic and policy
literatures on innovation enablers and intermediaries.
- Measures that are both results-driven and
actionable
Our mission performance measures are results-driven and
provide our customers with evidence of innovation enabler impact on
important outcomes such as changes in firm revenues, employment,
new products, processes and services, etc. Our measures of
service performance, particularly our narrow measures, provide an
in-depth assessment of processes in terms that are meaningful for
management and create a basis for action. Comparisons of
actual and targeted performance motivate management and employees
to focus on organizational objectives, effectiveness, and
impact.
- Results that are reliable
Our results are reliable as bias is minimized in two ways.
First, The Evidence Network replaces innovation enabler-specific
questions that may play to enabler strengths, with a comprehensive
library of standard questions that measure performance on
customizable sets of performance dimensions. This minimizes bias
attributable to instrument design. Second, survey questions ask
respondents to gauge the value of specific services and to report
on specific outcomes, not to make broad judgments of performance.
This minimizes respondent bias.
- Customizable
The Evidence Network provides assessments suitable for innovation
enablers of all types. Technology commercialization
organizations may want to measure impact in terms of new products
or processes, licenses, or patents while economic development
organizations may want to measure impact in terms of increased
revenues, employment, or investment. The TEN Survey Design
Tool facilitates the design of custom surveys so each customer's
survey is appropriate.
- Scalable
Some enablers are large and may have multiple departments in
different scientific or technological disciplines, or in different
industrial sectors. Others are small and operate with limited
resources. The Evidence Network offers scalable,
cost-effective solutions for all its customers. We offer
large customers opportunities to design surveys that measure the
performance of individual departments using appropriate measures,
compare performance across departments, and to aggregate results to
demonstrate overall organization-wide impact.
- Meaningful survey questions
Our customizable approach results in survey questions that
reflect the uniqueness of innovation enabler missions, service
portfolios, and expected impact. For example, innovation
enablers serving the pharmaceutical industry are likely to be
interested in impact on patents, valuation, and time to market of
new products, while those serving the oil and gas industry may be
more interested in impact on revenues, development of new
processes, and environmental impacts. Questions that are
meaningful to survey respondents increase the survey response rate
and the usefulness of results.
- Stable
Our measurement methodology is embodied in a stable set of
dimensions and measures. As a consequence, our approach is
reliable for repeated use, to evaluate changes in innovation
enabler impact over time, even if specific measures change.
- Efficient
Because our measurement approach is customizable and scalable,
surveys are meaningful and short, and response rates are
high. Innovation enablers recognize that firm executives have
little patience for long or irrelevant surveys and want to ensure
that their requests for the time of their clients or members are
appropriate.
- Timely
Our approach provides for timely feedback on innovation
enabler impact. Four easy steps can realize a report on innovation
enabler performance: 1) Registration, 2) Survey design, 3)
Survey administration, and 4) Report preparation.
- Low cost
The Evidence Network's performance measurement services
cost considerably less than any other credible performance
measurement approach.
