BEST PRACTICE CASE STUDY
INTER ALIGN ORGANISATION LTD
About INDEX
INDEX (Innovation Delivers Expansion) is a unique demand-led innovation voucher scheme led that invites Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to apply for a voucher to purchase academic support from one of the 13 Higher Education Institutions in the West Midlands. The project is funded by Advantage West Midlands (AWM), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Innovation Vouchers allow SMEs to purchase academic expertise knowledge to develop their innovation and enhance their business.
The Innovation Voucher scheme aims to build links between Universities and SMEs to create a demand led approach to innovation.ABOUT THE BUSINESS: Inter Align Organisation Ltd
Inter Align Organisation Ltd
20 Ladbroke Hall
Ladbroke
Southam
CV47 2DF
Telephone: 01926 810377
Email: daniel@interalign.org
Website: www.interalign.org
Managing Director: Daniel Steenstra
InterAlign develop complexity management systems. InterQB-It© is a fast and effective methodology, based on a unique complexity management framework, for helping people in organisations, together, to deal with complex challenges and develop strategies for effective implementation.
The external pressures on organisations to change are increasing: global competition, customer demand for better products and services, increasing political, social and environmental impact are driving change. Leading an organisation in this context is complex: devising strategies; dealing with people; managing finance; exploring new technologies; building a brand and facing competition.
Organisations need to continuously innovate products and services to stay ahead. But innovation is complex and full of risk because it requires change – and change is threatening because people fear the unknown. Also the whole organisation needs to develop a clear and shared vision to achieve its goals.
Academic and empirical research has demonstrated that InterQB-It® is the most advanced and practical complexity management system. The methodology is successfully applied in a range of sectors. Their clients work in business, education, healthcare and disaster management.
INNOVATION
Innovation (5) Creative Industries/Digital Media/Software, Media and Communications
THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Develop new business model / product development. For the service of the voucher they have developed a basic hardware and software package aimed at organisational development in public and private sector organisations.
Help was provided to develop new a business model, aimed at leadership and organizational development in public and private sector organizations that established features and benefits, product positioning and hazard strategy.QUOTE
“Our first Index project with BCU provided unique access to levels skills, expertise and experience that we otherwise would not be able to afford. As a micro-SME working together with a University and recognised centre of excellence has boosted our credibility. The INDEX project had a very positive impact on our business and we are looking forward to continue working with the West Midlands science base.”, Daniel Steenstra. Managing Director. InterAlign Organisation Ltd
ABOUT THE HEI: Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Perry Barr
Birmingham
B42 2SU
ABOUT THE ACADEMIC
Work undertaken and coordinated by Prof Lynn Martin
Director of the Innovation & Enterprise Research Group
Prof Lynn Martin is an experienced entrepreneur working within a University whose role encompasses developing research and supporting learning in enterprise, innovation and technology transfer and supporting international links with both Europe and Asia. She has worked with different governmental and regional bodies to support policy formation in enterprise and innovation. With over 50 publications on enterprise issues she leads the UCE Enterprise and Innovation Group which researches entrepreneurial culture, business start up and growth, family firms, gender and ethnicity; the practical and theoretical impacts of enterprise education. Working in the West Midlands and in Brussels, Prof Martin is recognized as an expert in innovation by the European Union and NATO Expert groups. She also has experience as a small firm owner and as a senior manager in a large organisation.
Her work has a national and an international focus, involving partnership and liaison with key groups in both Asia and Eastern Europe. Following the completion of her PhD at the University of Warwick, (exploring human capital formation via a qualitative longitudinal study of 128 small firms), she established two research programmes in technology adoption and the impacts of the internet on SMEs. In exploring entrepreneurship and innovation and the SME experience, she has also explored the impact of other factors such as family, gender, ethnicity and the effects of national policies.