Maybe it is time to review what research mentality that we, R&D practitioners, have possessed when approaching our technological R&D works for building innovative applications. But first, what is research mentality? In the context of applied R&D, it is a mindset to guide the exploration process of not-yet-available and even uncertain technical capabilities for supporting the potential applicational usages.

Intrinsic R&D uncertainty, regarding what resulting capabilities and required development resources could be, is a common element in all R&D works. It is also challenging as well as the source of excitement and anxiety. In general, this uncertainty in an R&D project can be systematically managed by appropriate research methodologies to yield new capabilities for building an innovative application. Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all research methodology. In fact, new technologies and techniques may establish their own ones. And some have even got systemized in packages such as YOLO embedding with supervised machine learning methodology for executing and monitoring model training processes.

Uncomfortable with the intrinsic uncertainty? As R&D practitioners, wishful thinking would probably not be much. However, along the R&D process, pilot users’ uneasiness on any uncertainties may spill over to the R&D project team. Users have accustomed to the “certainty” model when acquiring information systems for their operational and analytic needs. Such technical development works are driven by pre-defined specifications and implemented by developers and engineers with detailed task scheduling monitored by appropriate project management. Intrinsic uncertainty in R&D works simply breaks this “certainty” tradition. Thus, user perceived uncertainty must be managed.

To realize the potential R&D-enabled applicational usages, a prototype system application is needed. But what would be the eventual look and feel of the innovative user application, at the time of forming an R&D work? Conceptual descriptions even with illustrations may create different imaginations among different individuals on both R&D and user sides. It takes time to communicate and even negotiate to narrow the gap while R&D is under development and the integration of R&D to prototype application is under formulation. Such application uncertainty will linger until the R&D work has reasonably matured. And it also needs to be managed.

The awareness of the above three types of uncertainties may probably be a good start to help train one’s research mentality. And it is hoped that such a mindset may help manage any surprises effectively and timely when going through the R&D journey from formulation stage to pilot usage.

LSCM – Dorbin Ng