Managing design projects in small and medium-sized firms

Abstract

This paper presents initial results of a major study of the benejits and costs of investment in design i n small and medium-sized manufacturers. It shows that UK manufacturers which received a government subsidy to employ a professional design consultant for product, engineering, packaging and graphic design projects recovered their total investment i n an average of 15 months, as well as gaining other indirect benefits. However, problems i n using and managing the design consultants was a factor i n a quarter of the projects that were not implemented or produced disappointing commercial results. The problems most associated with project failure were inadequate briefing of the consultant and internal disagreements about the aims or value of the projects. Severe design management problems were most common i n firms with under 50 employees and especially affected firms with under 10 employees. Thus, while small firms often lack in-house specialist skills such as design, such firms require additional help and advice qthey are to use external resources effectively.

Most of the research reported in the paper was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (Award WF20250021) as part of its Research Programme on the Competitiveness and Regeneration of British Industry and conducted by a joint team from the Open University and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution to the work of other members of the Design Innovation Group and especially Claire H. Capon, Research Assistant responsible for data analysis, and the other UMIST members: Margaret Bruce, Jenny Lewis and Vivien Walsh. (Jenny Lewis is now at the Open University School of Management.).

Most of the research reported in the paper was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (Award WF20250021) as part of its Research Programme on the Competitiveness and Regeneration of British Industry and conducted by a joint team from the Open University and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution to the work of other members of the Design Innovation Group and especially Claire H. Capon, Research Assistant responsible for data analysis, and the other UMIST members: Margaret Bruce, Jenny Lewis and Vivien Walsh. (Jenny Lewis is now at the Open University School of Management.).

Notes

Most of the research reported in the paper was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (Award WF20250021) as part of its Research Programme on the Competitiveness and Regeneration of British Industry and conducted by a joint team from the Open University and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution to the work of other members of the Design Innovation Group and especially Claire H. Capon, Research Assistant responsible for data analysis, and the other UMIST members: Margaret Bruce, Jenny Lewis and Vivien Walsh. (Jenny Lewis is now at the Open University School of Management.).