This document discusses the work of the BBC Research & Development team. It provides an overview of some of the products and projects they have worked on, including BBC Taster (an experimental website), Makerbox (a connected studio), an augmented reality app called Civilisations, and personal data stores. It also discusses what has and hasn't worked well for the team based on their experience over the past 5 years. The document concludes with lessons learned from working as a product manager in an innovation lab, including the importance of clear vision, rapid prototyping, the right partnerships, and embracing uncertainty.

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A Research & Development Approach to PM
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5. Research & Development
How to be a Product
Manager in a
Research &
Development lab
1
Eleni Sharp

6. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
2
Research & Development
Hello!

7. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
Who are BBC research &
Development?
3
Research & Development

8. Research & Development
BBC R&D
BBC: The world’s leading public service broadcaster
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9. Research & Development
BBC R&D
Our role
5
- Drive innovation
- Horizon scanning
- Add tangible value
- Maintain BBC strategic partnerships
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/mar/15/tim-berners-lee-we-need-social-networks-where-bad-things-happen-less
Research & Development
Our purpose
To define the future BBC, drive UK
competitiveness and benefit digital citizens
by generating knowledge, assets and
capabilities that advance the technological
state of the art of the media industries.

10. Research & Development
NOT JUST TECHNOLOGY: BBC R&D
Measuring our success
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Financial — Minimum 2:1 ROI in year
Non-financial
• Standards
• Prototypes
• Patents
• White papers
Every year
Financial — 5:1 to 9:1 ROI
Non-financial
• Qualitative assessments
• Partnership assessments
Every 5 or 10 years
£
£
Are we generating insights that can
be of future benefit?
Have those insights translated into
benefits after implementation?
Research & Development
Our focus
Horizon scan
Public service innovation
drivers for technological
change
Partnerships
Add tangible value to media
industry, academic & wider
ecosystem
Domain expertise
Problem solving & driving
opportunity through
technology, psychology
design research

11. Research & Development

12. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
What product’s do I work on?
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Research & Development

13. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
BBC Taster
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Research & Development

14. What is Taster?
A website that’s
a home for our
new ideas
A label for the
experimental
& innovative
A place for
audiences to try,
rate & share
something new
Beta

16. With the tools to experiment and get
live feedback,
we can make the BBC the most
innovative organisation in the world.

17. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
Makerbox
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Research & Development

18. MakerBox connects curious minds to the tools
community & resources to inspire them to
create the future of digital content
Connected Studio:
MakerBox

20. R&D
Connected Studio MakerBox
Technology themes and signals
R&D
Connected Studio MakerBox
Cross Reality (XR) Live interactive IP events Object Based Media
Artificial intelligence Interactive Voice exp User Generated Content

21. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
AR App
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Research & Development

22. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
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Research & Development

23. Research & Development
NOT JUST TECHNOLOGY: BBC R&D
Civilisations
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- 40+ institutions were involved
contributing over 50 objects
- Relationships with Apple and Google
to publish and promote
- 1M+ downloads since launch
- Used by Apple as an example AR App

24. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
Personal Data Stores
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Research & Development

25. Research & Development
PERSONAL DATA STORES
Why is this important?
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At least 39 different organisations hold personal
data on the average UK citizen
82% of people don’t know what personal
information companies hold about them
State of Identity 2020 Analysis, Mood of the Nation 2020
-

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27. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
What has/hasn’t worked?
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Research & Development

28. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
What’s worked?
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- 66 Events ran
- 9 Countries
- 8 Tools made available
- Million’s of visitors to Taster
- 90K+ pieces of audience feedback
- 130 pilots on Taster
- Best in industry AR App
- 13 awards won
Data from 2017 - 2021

29. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
What hasn’t worked?
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- Not distinctive
- Not scalable
- One off’s
- Transfer issues
- Challenging partnerships
- Lack of hypothesise and not always
connected to wider strategy

30. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
10 things I have learnt being a
Product manager in an innovation lab
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Research & Development

31. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
1. Clear Vision
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AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
2. Adapt & collect processes
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33. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
3. Rapid prototyping
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AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
4. Reflection
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AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
5. Metrics
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AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
6. The right Partnerships
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37. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
7. Research
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38. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
8. Mixed discipline teams
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39. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
9. Get a good lawyer!
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40. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
10. Embrace the fog
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41. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
+ 1 more…
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Research & Development

42. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
Trust your instincts
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43. Research & Development
AN R&D APPROACH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
What advice would I give the
21 year old me?
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Research & Development

44. Research & Development
Thank you
LinkedIn: Eleni Sharp
Twitter: @EleniGuest

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