BEST PRACTICE CASE STUDY
GPSVISION 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: GPSVision Ltd
GPSVISION Ltd
The Techno Centre
Puma Way
Coventry
CV1 2TT
Telephone: 02476 223110
Email: patrick@gpsvision.co.uk
Website: www.gpsvision.co.uk
Commercial Director: Mr. Patrick Taggart
GPSVision specialises in the Return on Investment from Organisational training programmes.
They bring fresh approaches to organisational development by providing and measuring a range of Development Programmes which have a real impact and offer qualifications from leading awarding bodies
They provide Organisational Improvement Consultancy where they will assist clients to develop a positive learning climate that engages all stakeholders and increases commitment and accountability
They carry out Employee Opinion Surveys and benchmarking services utilising their on-line questionnaire system to get an employees view of the organisationINNOVATION
Innovation (5) Creative Industries/Digital Media/Software, Media and Communications
THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
GPSVision have a web based diagnostics system (GPSVisionPIC©) that helps their clients to gain a useful benchmark of managers skills and confidence levels before embarking on a development programme. It is used 6 and 12 months after the programme to measure behavioural change and organisational impact. GPS Vision needed IT support to make it a more complete system that the client could use to manage the complete impact, measurement and evaluation process for all their development initiatives.
This would allow them to drive the process and make them more self sufficient. GPSVision did not have the IT solutions or resources for this.
Benefits: It will save each client thousands of pounds per year and prove to be a great return on their investment. It will make the support processes that are required to improve ROI more efficient and accessible.
WORK UNDERTAKEN
5 days on site work, developing usability issues and a web based system to support organisational learning
QUOTE
“Without the INDEX programme, we probably wouldn't have thought about approaching a university for input, and would have gone straight to commercial software developers. The work we have done with our voucher has cut development time drastically with benefits far beyond the £3000 fact value of the voucher. It has also had the added benefit of developing a relationship that we hope will continue into the future.
Patrick Taggart, Commercial Director, GPSVision
ABOUT THE HEI: Aston University
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Aston University
Aston Triangle
Birmingham
B4 7ET
UK
ABOUT THE ACADEMIC
Dr Tony Beaumont, Lecturer, Computer Science, School of Engineering & Applied Science
Dr Anthony Beaumont is a lecturer in Computer Science at Aston University. His role includes lecturing to undergraduate students on Java Programming Foundations, Internet Programming with Java and to postgraduate students on Enterprise Applications Technology.
Research