Identifying key performance indicators in food technology contract R&D

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jengtecman.2012.11.003
• Publication Date: 2012-12-21T11:35:01Z
• Authors: Steven M. Flipse; Maarten C.A. van ...; Tim van der Velden; Frances T.J.M. Fo...; S.W.F. (Onno) Omta; Patricia Osseweijer
• Keywords: Benchmarking; Performance indicator

Innovating companies increasingly rely on outsourcing to Contract Research Organisations (CROs) for their Research and Development (R&D), which are largely understudied. This paper presents the outcome of a case study in the field of food technology contract research, identifying context specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a CRO. KPIs were identified with a modified version of the Wageningen Innovation Assessment Tool, with which 72 finished successful and less successful projects were analysed. We developed a benchmarking tool to evaluate starting or running innovation project quality, which allows for direct, in situ project improvements by project leaders at CROs.