Figure 2

Evaluation and the R-D-P process. The flow diagram in Figure 2 explicates the role of evaluation in guiding knowledge generation in the context of technological innovations. The life of the project from beginning to end is shown through a flow of interacting elements from left to right. It represents a stage-gate management model where knowledge outputs from process stages 1 through 9 progress towards the project’s goal achievement in a stage to stage movement, duly controlled by decision gates 1 through 9 at each stage. Data from specific evaluation processes enable the stages to avoid failure at the gates by meeting requirements for outputs. Accordingly, the diagram shows interaction of four types of project elements placed one below the other in four rows. Evaluation processes are shown in nine hexagonal boxes in the top row, held in various combinations of context, input, process, output, outcome and impact evaluations. They connect to nine rectangular boxes in the second row that represent stages 1 to 9 comprising the research to development to production (R-D-P) process of knowledge generation. These are connected to decision gates 1 to 9 represented by nine diamond shaped boxes in the third row. Arrows leaving each gate lead either to the next process stage or to a specific action represented by a corresponding oval box in the fourth row of the diagram. As this row shows, failure to pass through a gate will end the project; and success involves taking knowledge to action. Further, depending on the need for new knowledge (gate 2B), success may imply pursuit of path I (R process) to generate discoveries; or path II (R-D process) to generate inventions or path III (R-D-P process) to generate innovations terminating in product launched and sustained. Or, it may imply a D-P project or a P project.