Posted by Jerry Lamigo on Thu, Jan 07, 2010
Now that you have selected the right product, it is time to start preparing for the implementation. If not planned carefully, the execution can be a long, tense, and frustrating experience.
Here are the top 5 tips that can help you make your project successful:
1. Establish a core team
It is critical that you set up a core team. This team will be responsible for answering vendor questions, providing feedback, and training other users. Choose the team carefully. Have at least one representative from the IP team who has visibility beyond a specific function such as docketing or annuities. If possible, include somebody from the IT organization who can help you in extracting your data from the existing database and/or provide help with setting up for on-premise installations.
2. Be realistic
IP asset management is a new discipline. Take time to understand your situation. Do you know what you want? Do you have the in-depth understanding of the workflows or processes that you would like to implement? Do you understand nuances of the data migration process? It is fine if you don't. Most IP departments do not have any experience in deploying enterprise scale products. Most departments have not worked in an environment where various stakeholders such as inventors, patent committee members, and law firms are collaborating. Let the vendor help you document the processes.
3. Be mindful of scope creep
Understand that a good product delivered in a reasonable time is better than a great product never delivered. Prioritize and focus on the must-have critical items. "Nice-to-have" items can always be added later. If a situation happens only once a year for a single user, it can wait.
4. Treat the vendor as a partner and communicate openly
You must believe that you and your vendor have the same end goal, a successful project delivered in reasonable time. This can only be achieved if everybody works together as one team.
Treat your vendor like a partner. If you have an end date in mind, share it. If you don't like the user interface, share your concerns. That's the only way the vendor will know your issues.
5. Iterate
For a successful IP asset management project implementation, it is important that the custom implementation is accepted by their team, outside counsels, and inventor community. To achieve that, think iterations. Two or three iterations are fine, but more than 4 iterations can only mean one thing: either the team should go back to the design or your vendor does not have the right tools.
Lecorpio has an excellent track record of successful IP asset management project implementations. Lecorpio's professional services use a powerful combination of strategic insight and superior execution to optimize the cost and efficiency of our client's IP operations. Feel free to contact us if you need more information on best practices for IP asset management project implementation.
Posted by Jerry Lamigo on Wed, Jan 06, 2010
There are many myths about IP Asset Management Systems related to project implementation, data migration, and actual costs to name a few. Here is a list of the top 5:
Myth 1: Docketing = IP Asset Management
Many organizations still believe that the docketing system is all what an IP asset management system is. Indeed for law firms, but not for corporate IP departments. Now you have an option to transform your IP operations from a support cost center to a strategic function. You can improve inventor community satisfaction, reduce costs and make your team more effective by creating a self service portal for them to submit new invention disclosures or check the status of their submissions/patent activity. You can monitor the activity of your law firms in real-time and keep a tight control over the budget. You can perform sophisticated analysis on your portfolio to find out key areas of innovation or spot any process bottlenecks. Of course you can do docketing, and so much more.
Myth 2: IP Asset Management software is a commodity product
A typical legal department does not have much exposure to enterprise-wide implementations. Yet, without full understanding of client's processes, many vendors pitch their products at an unrealistic price. One of our customers had demos from over 40 vendors before making a decision. About 90% of them did not even have a web based system. A web based system which runs on all browsers should be your starting point for any discussion with a potential vendor. It is unreasonable to expect your entire inventor community to install software on their computers just to submit new ideas.
Myth 3: Data Migration is nothing but import and export of some data
Many organizations underestimate the complexity of data migration. They wait until the end of the project implementation to start the data migration. This approach leads to catastrophic failures. Moving from a desktop based system to server based enterprise workflow system is a huge shift. The data in the legacy application may not fit into the new workflows unless carefully mapped. Be sure to make this an important part of your project plan.
Myth 4: We have the same process as everybody else
In all the implementations that we have done, we have yet to find a single mid-large size organization, whose processes are exactly same as anybody else. On the contrary, we found that each mid to large organization has unique processes, unique systems for integration, unique systems for data migration, unique UI requirements and preferences and unique team members. It is far easier to adapt the application to the needs of thousands of potential users over the alternatives.
Myth 5: My IT organization can provide first level of support
If you are a typical IP department in a mid to large size organization, the chances are that you are not in the priority list of IT department. For on-premise installations, you must ensure their participation from the beginning of the project. IT departments have higher turnover than the IP department, which means you should also check their transition plan.
The breadth of functionality provided by Lecorpio applications combined with personal attention to clients enables Lecorpio to avoid these pitfalls and offer tailored solutions to organizations of different sizes and industries. Please don't hesitate to contact us for a free consulting session to help you better plan for a successful IP asset management project.
