A Training Method Proposal for R&D Project Managers

When a research and development (R&D) technology leads to the development of a product, obstacles occur such as the so-called "Valley of Death" and the "Devil's River." Our earlier study reported on conquering obstacles in applying new project management processes in R&D, depending on the level classification of R&D technology themes. However, in many cases, there is no project manager (PM) in the R&D section and it is necessary to train PMs to handle these processes. A new method is proposed for short-term training of PMs in the R&D section, as per the level of the R&D technology theme, using progressive tool utilization and applying the meeting administration technique. Also the risk management method that is particular to the R&D section is applied for training of PMs. Further, it was demonstrated that a PM in the R&D section after acquiring project management skills can he a part of the project team of the product in development, and contribute in the formulation of a smooth and effective process from R&D to product development. The result of training method and the effectiveness in several R&D technology themes were exhibited.