Richard W. Morris, Program Manager, ATP
Tel: 301-975-4695
E-mail: richard.morris@nist.gov

Robert Bloksberg-Fireovid, Program Manager, ATP

Managerial know-how is increasing with respect to incentive systems, organizational setting, and firm policies that encourage innovation. Successful ATP awardees, for example, are expected to demonstrate (a) a feasible plan for commercializing and diffusing their research results, (b) an experienced and well-qualified team to conduct the work, and (c) a sustainable commitment as well as a workable organizational structure. These conditions are relevant to innovation management in all ATP projects and beyond (see Case Materials).

With these issues in mind, this session will take a practical look at organizational commitment and structure, as well as policies that increase the likelihood of innovation success. A diverse group of panelists including compensation experts, organizational consultants, senior technical managers, and venture capitalists will comment on the experience of current ATP awardees that have dealt with significant human resource challenges. In addition to commenting on real cases, each expert panelist will present tools that they use in their practice to address the following issues.

• What organizational structures help firms build commitment to high-risk projects?
• What planning tools enable firms to build and sustain commitment to high-risk projects?
• How can managers recruit, retain, and prepare the best people for a highly innovative project?
• What makes joint ventures and other alliances productive, manageable, and sustainable?

A central aim of this session will be to identify resources that firms can access in the future to address these challenges, either in preparing a proposal to ATP or in managing their own technology ventures. See "WHY CARE? . . . the link to ATP"