Interactions with Sponsors
RAL is committed to ensuring that the products it delivers to its sponsors reflect the highest quality science and technology allowed by project budgets and timetables. This requires RAL to become intimately knowledgeable of a sponsor’s detailed needs and requirements. This takes some time and patience on the part of both parties, but has proven to be a key element in completing a successful transfer of technology. We will continue to make this investment of time and energy as we develop new programs as part of this strategic plan.
Dialogue in the “Art of the Possible”
Experience has taught that as a new project is designed in partnership with a sponsor, neither party tends to have a clear understanding of the exact nature of the scientific or technological package to be delivered, or, in fact, the problem to be solved. To design the project as effectively as possible, RAL attempts to engage the sponsor in a dialogue concerning the “art of the possible.” By this is meant an interactive process whereby each party, with its pre-conceived notion of the problem and the deliverable, begins to exchange information regarding what might be possible on the science and technology side and what changes in operating procedures might occur if these changes were deployed for the sponsor. This normally results in a much more detailed understanding of the sponsor’s real needs as compared to perceived needs, and an in-depth understanding of the sponsor’s decision process. Both parties typically shift their thinking to a commonly agreed on set of needs, requirements and definition of the deliverable. This iterative process, which has worked well, will be applied in future projects.
Sponsor’s Role in Guiding our R&D
Having established the goals of the program as outlined above, the next essential step is to guide the research and development carefully so that the deliverable is focused (and sometimes re-focused, within the constraints of time and budget) to meet the operational needs of the sponsor. Two mechanisms are employed to allow the sponsor to guide the R&D from beginning to end: a) formal feedback from user groups (typically operational stakeholders from the sponsor’s community) who work regularly with RAL developers and provide input on interim developments; and b) frequent program reviews with senior managers in the sponsoring organization who can approve work done and make mid-course corrections. This collaborative development process prevents sponsors from being disappointed at the end of the technology transfer, a possibility in many industrial procurements where the sponsor and developer may have different visions of the deliverable.
Validation of Work with RAL Sponsors
The scientific validation of meteorological forecast products is an essential step in determining their utility and represents an important part of our work. Developing improved techniques for forecast validation is a scientific research topic in its own right, and one in which RAL will strive to maintain a strong program.
From the viewpoint of technology transfer and the end user, the operational evaluation of forecast products is equally important. How useful is the capability to the customer? What are the actual efficiency and safety gains attained? What is the anecdotal feedback from the “front lines” regarding whether the product is helpful to their decision process? Such subjective evaluations are often as informative as formal benefit/cost studies, are more readily obtained, and are commonly the primary basis for establishing customer satisfaction.
The operational evaluation is critical in that it literally takes the science and technology out of the laboratory and puts into a societal, operational setting. All aspects of the technology can be evaluated from the sponsor’s perspective and modifications made if necessary. Where possible, this type of validation starts well before the final phase of the project.