Novita Research Report January 1999 - Novita Children's Services

selecting research projects
The Clinical Research and Research & Development
Departments have different committees
and criteria for the approval of research ideas.
6
Research & Development Project
Selection Process
The Research & Development (R&D) Department has
refined its project selection process since the creation of
the Department, to establish and maintain ISO9001 Quality
Accreditation and as a result of annual reviews of the
Department. The essential criteria for project selection have
not changed significantly over the past few years, however the
process of evaluation against the following criteria has been
modified. The criteria for project approval are as follows:
• The idea must have the potential to enhance the lives of,
or provide benefit to more than one individual;
• Ideas should promote a collaborative relationship between
R&D research staff and clinical staff, caregivers and
end users;
• The idea must provide an opportunity for the NovitaTech
R&D Department to create an innovative, technological
solution that meets the needs of people with disabilities
in South Australia;
• Where possible, the need for the idea should have arisen
due to a lack of other existing, suitable or alternative solutions
in the market. The idea should contribute to developing and
piloting of a new product or service alternative;
• The idea or problem solution must be in keeping with
Novita Children’s Services’ Strategic Plan;
• There must be a ‘project champion’ (ideally the person
who submits the idea) who is willing to be involved with the
project through to completion;
• The idea should potentially demonstrate one or more of
the following measurable benefits, to justify the allocation
of Novita resources:
− enhance the lives of Novita clients;
− provide a marketable/profitable end product;
− provide a significant time or cost saving outcome
(this could be to staff, clients, carers, etc.);
− strive to enhance client satisfaction with the services
of Novita;
− clinical-based ideas should strive to increase the
efficiency of Novita staff, and in doing so, benefit
Novita clients.
In the first instance, all project ideas that are submitted to
R&D are filtered against these criteria. If an idea passes this
initial filtering process, the idea is further developed into a
strong business case before it is undertaken as a project.
The secondary process (referred to as ‘Phase Zero’)
is a more exhaustive evaluation that aims to identify and
investigate any weaknesses or ‘areas of concern’ surrounding
the submitted idea, to ensure that the project is feasible and is
likely to produce a significant benefit. These concerns typically
involve work to evaluate items such as the technical feasibility;
an estimate of the significance to the lives of the people with a
disability; an estimate of the number of Novita and other clients
impacted upon; similar work occurring elsewhere in the world;
alternative existing products; resolution of legal and ethical
issues; and consideration of marketing issues.
The output of ‘Phase Zero’ is a business and project plan
that is tabled before an R&D Project Review Panel. This panel
has skills in the assessment and review of business cases
and has the authority to approve or reject project proposals or
recommend additional work on particular parts of the business
case. The panel may also rank or prioritise projects.
The successful business case forms the basis of a request
for project funding which may be sought from internal budget
resources, the Novita Executive Reference Group or external
funding bodies. Proposals where the scope extends beyond
children’s services alone may require external funding, and their
commencement is dependant upon the success of applications
for such funding.
If a project is approved through the selection process it will
then be entered into the R&D project database and project plan.
All projects are then required to be clearly defined, with sign-off
by appropriate personnel at the end of each of the following
stages throughout the life of the project:
• design documents and production;
• design document verification;
• prototype construction or project implementation;
• project internal validation;
• project external validation;
• project completion.
If any of the above stages cannot be met then the project
objectives are revised and re-evaluated at one of the earlier
stages, or the project is cancelled because it is not feasible.
Up until 2004, a group known as the ‘R&D Reference Group’
was used to assist the selection of projects and the allocation
of resources. Members of the group came from the other
Departments within NovitaTech, the former Communication and
Therapy Services division, the occupational therapy and speech
pathology departments of Novita, and also included the parents
of two Novita clients.
Novita Children’s Services Incorporated • Research Report January 1999 – June 2004