R&D Sourcing Strategy: increase effectiveness
An Innovation Driven Procurement (IDP) Service
Capgemini Consulting is the strategy
Tags:
and transformation consulting brand
of Capgemini Group
• Business Innovation
• Procurement
• Outsourcing
• Business Model Innovation
• Open Innovation
• Co-creation

Outsourcing R&D requires a substantiated choice of the sourcing mode, as
well as close alignment of the business models with Suppliers & Partners
Many companies source the majority of their revenues from suppliers and Partners.
Outsourcing initiatives has been increasing significantly over the years. Following the
Situation Open Innovation concept, companies have initiated co-creation with supplier and
partners. The next step is starting outsourcing R&D.
R&D is one of the most protected business function in the large companies. Driven by
IP and risk management this is not something likely to share with the outside world.
Complication There is hardly any experiences, leadership, culture, methods and tools available in the
current organisation to really open up or even to outsource R&D effectively.
So how can companies outsource its R&D (or at last a part of R&D) in order to increase
Question flexibility and effectiveness of R&D, whilst maintaining focus and dedication to the value
chain’s needs?
Companies should assess the criticality of their innovation programs and decide on the
appropriate model of sourcing using the Global Sourcing of Services (GSS) model. The
GSS model is a decision support tool for the right sourcing strategy for their Business
Services and or functions.
Answer Once an outsourcing decision has been made, suppliers/partners must be selected
based on their ability and willingness to take over (part of) R&D. The business models
need careful alignment and for current suppliers/partners, the change from contractor
to developer will be substantial.
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Open Innovation concepts can increase the effectiveness of R&D by the
concept of “Spin IN and Spin OUT”
IDP based on Open innovation
Value chain internal mechanisms
Allowing suppliers to leverage innovations in other
value chains for increased profitability
Connecting existing suppliers with engineers
Searching and stimulating new developments within
the existing supply base
Set up joint development programs, co-creation,
partnerships
Provide toll gate services for new technologies
throughout the innovation funnel
Value chain external mechanisms
Ensuring influx of innovations from other value
chains through suppliers
Scouting for new developments outside the existing
Innovators outperform the market
supply base and in completely different markets
3,4%
Creating flexibility in supplier segmentation and
14,3%
dependency
11,1%
Building scenarios of future markets with boundary
spanning networks
Connecting with new ventures inside & outside the
product chain
0,4%
Changing the market focus or future market
Return to Shareholders Margin Growth
Source graphic: Prof Henry Chesbrough UC Berkeley, Open Innovation: Renewing Growth
from Industrial R&D, 10th Annual Innovation Convergence, Minneapolis, Sept 27, 2004
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Source bar charts: S&P 1200 1995-2005 research

A trade-off must be made how to source a Research % Development program,
by deciding on the optimal Ownership, Location and Management style
The Global Sourcing of Services (GSS)
model is a decision support tool which helps
organisations to define the right sourcing
strategy for their services/functions.
Eight different sourcing modes are defined
Offshore
varying in:
Location
- Location (onshore or offshore)
- Ownership (in-house or outsourced)
Onshore
Light
- Management Style (light or tight management) Management
Tight Style
The GSS model ranks the different sourcing In-house Outsourced
options based on attractiveness by Ownership
evaluating the R&D program in scope, the
organisation and the environment
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Each R&D program can be analysed by five sets of Environmental
Characteristics that affect the choice of the right Sourcing Mode
Each set of characteristics provides
a unique insight into what the
current maturity and preferred
sourcing strategy is for the R&D Service
Organisation’s
program in scope Characteristics
Characteristics
Together they form the basis of the
sourcing strategy and will facilitate SOURCING
DECISION
organisations to make these Customer Competitor
sourcing decisions more effectively Demand Characteristics
Characteristics
by providing a systematic approach
to diagnosing decision parameters
Supply Market
Characteristics
Based on the outcome of the GSS
model and the subsequent
discussions, companies will be able
to determine their strategy based on
research and best practices
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Using the analytics of the GSS model we build a Realistic Future Positioning of
the R&D function of the company
Example
To-Be:
Outsourced,
The analysis of an R&D program
Offshore and Tight
Management.
can result in a change in Sourcing
Offshore
Supplier is seen as
Mode. For any Sourcing Mode,
(strategic) partner
there are two options with respect
to suppliers:
Location
1. Develop the current supply base
Onshore
2. Extend and/or change the current
Light supply base
Management
Style
Tight
As-Is:
In-house, Onshore
In-house Outsourced
and Tight
Management.
Supplier is seen as Ownership
contractor
Analyzing the R&D program can result in a different supplier relationship or
Innovation Partnership
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The Four Collaboration Enablers help a company to decide for the right partner
to source
Levers
Levers
Definition of
Organization
objectives
Power struggle
Evaluation system
Key processes
Remuneration
Procedures
modes
Dashboards
Supplier
and indicators
development
IT systems ARE THEY IS THERE AN
Pressure /
Interface with
constraints
other functions
ABLE INTEREST
TO DO IT? FOR THEM?
DO THEY DO THEY
WANT
KNOW
Levers Levers
TO DO IT?
HOW TO DO IT?
Training Participation to the
conception
Knowledge transfer
Emulation, Pride
Coaching
Management modes
Skills import
Support basis
Communication
Collective project
Experimentation
Simulation exercise
If any of the four enablers is answered with “no”, the company should decide whether to
upgrade the current supplier/partner, or to source for a new or additional
supplier/partner
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Once the suitable sourcing mode and supplier/partner is defined, the Business
Models of the company and supplier/partner need to be synchronised
The business model shows the
relationships between the customer, the
value offered to the customer, and the
organisational setup making it possible Resources Offer Customer
Co-creation
As soon as the company decides to move
activities to the partner network
(suppliers), core capabilities within the Partner Customer
Network Relationship
company and supplier will need to shift
This shift in capabilities must be Core Value Value Distribution Customer
Capabilities Configuration Proposition Channels Segment
managed carefully in order to prevent
redundancies, or worse, gaps
Furthermore, the deal structure must fit Cost Revenue
PROFIT
Structure Streams
the cost and benefit drivers of both
Financial Performance
parties. The four enablers of collaboration
must be monitored continuously
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Capgemini has extensive experience in sourcing R&D and supporting and
managing suppliers in high-tech environments
Outsourcing
Piloted appropriate methods & tools
transition
Set up supplier mgt organization
R&D
Supported R&D transition to suppliers
Increased supplier R&D capability
management
Outsourcing
Capgemini conducts R&D activities for
Airbus in a long standing partnership
R&D
and
Collaboration methods and tools are
set up for management of R&D by Airbus
Other R&D and
management
Supply chain control for Siemens
credentials
supplier
Supplier mgt optimization for Basell
Supplier R&D mgt for Snecma
Co-innovation process for Faurecia
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Koen Klokgieters| Capgemini Consulting
Vice President Business Innovation Consulting
koen.klokgieters@capgemini.com
+31 (0) 6 27159293
Robbert den Braber | Capgemini Consulting
Senior Consultant Procurement Transformation
Robber.den.Braber@Capgemini.com
+31 (0) 6 15030901
Capgemini Consulting is the strategy
and transformation consulting brand
of Capgemini Group