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even if a contract is signed. It is unrealistic to assume that economic expectations of either investment or return can be corrected as time progresses. It also must be clearly understood that there is a risk associated with any R&D project and nothing is a guarantee. But the level of risk and the key issues and uncertainties surrounding the project must be clearly defined and understood by all parties before a formal agreement is signed. |
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With actual contractual execution, certain boundaries are defined, but often levels of detail are not addressed in a formal agreement. Therefore, it is incumbent on the people actually involved with the work, from both organizations, to clearly define for themselves the following areas of activity. |
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What, specifically, is the project that will be carried out? This is not a broad scope definition, but rather a specific and detailed description of the project to be undertaken with definition of |
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overall project goal/objective, |
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clear definition of what is going to be done and who is going to do it, |
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definition of milestones and decision points, |
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specification of a schedule, |
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specification of overall project costs delineated on either an annual basis for each planned activity in a given year or for expenses projected to reach each identified milestone, and |
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clear definition of decision criteria, data required to make those decisions, and studies to provide those data (i.e., what constitutes a good versus a bad outcome, what are the go/no-go criteria, etc.). |
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B.
Operational Processes and Procedures |
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In general, these are mundane things that most people would not consider too important in the grand scheme of the overall project. However, these simple elements can and do lead to misgivings and bad feelings on both sides. Each of the items listed below really deals with various levels and forms of communication within a respective party of the alliance and between the alliance partners. Each item describes an area that should be part of an overall communication policy/process that both parties understand and adhere to. As in many relationships, problems often result from lack of and/or poor communication. Prospectively addressing these elements can substantially decrease the potential for problems over the long term. |
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