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Part II: Update of Activities of Biotech Task Force. Bob McCarthy, Roche Molecular Biochemicals Phone: 317-576-7475 Fax: 317-576-7317 e mail: robert-c.mccarthy@roche.com Alicia Loffler, Director, Center for Biotechnology, Northwestern University
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Part II: Update of Activities of Biotech Task Force Bob McCarthy, Roche Molecular Biochemicals Phone: 317-576-7475 Fax: 317-576-7317 e mail: robert-c.mccarthy@roche.com Alicia Loffler, Director, Center for Biotechnology, Northwestern University Phone: 847-467-1453 Fax: 847-467-2180 e mail: a-loffler@nwu.edu
Background • Charter: Use roadmap tools for evaluating technology in the biotech industry • Participants: • Pharmaceutical/life science research industry • Food industry: providers and packagers • Development of substitute technology: plant/crop based renewable resources • Goal: hold a international workshop on roadmaps for the biotech industry next year • Status: 2 meetings May 27 & September 3 • May 27 kickoff meeting • September 3 meeting: • Definition of the problem • Preliminary discussions on workshop planning
Phases of Biotech Roadmap • Phases of biotech roadmap • Phase 1: Learning: gain experience by addressing a manageable but important problem • Phase 2: Applying: expand scope to more difficult problems to assess the tool • Phase 3: Exploiting: internalize use • Critical issue in Phase 1 is to define manageable problem • “The person who controls the definition of the problem controls the solution” • “A problem well put is half solved”
Key Issue to Consider in Defining a Problem(source: Mitroff: Smart Thinking for Crazy Times) • Pick the right stakeholders • Output must meet needs of critical stakeholders • Expand your options • Single definition of a problem is not acceptable • Phrase the problem correctly • Phrase using human or technical variables • Expand the problems boundaries • Never draw too narrowly, challenge comfort zone • Be prepared to manage paradox • Never solve problem solely by fragmentation • Look at system, interactions of system important
Systems Thinking Approach: TOC • Key assumptions of Theory of Constraints (TOC) • Any system has at least one constraint, otherwise it would be generating infinite amount of output • “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” • Strengthen the chain be addressing weakest link • Constraints dictate the performance of an organization to achieve its goal • Once the weak link is strengthened, a new link will show itself
Differing PerspectivesM. Liebman, Wyeth-Ayerst • Technology producer vs consumer need • Technology vs financial return • Technology vs culture • Technology vs regulatory issues • local/state/region/national/international
Technology vs CultureM. Liebman, Wyeth-Ayerst • Technology- Can You Do It • Culture- Should You Do It • Issues (Process/System Considerations) • convention • (re)education • ethics • regulatory • market need • economics • production, distribution… • funding sources • innovation vs replacement • time vs money
Next Steps • Divide group into 3 sub-groups • Pharmaceuticals/life science research • Food industry • Plant/crop renewable resources • Each group to complete the following assignments • Construct a value chain/network for their industry • Identify critical issues to address in the roadmap • Next meeting to be held in mid-October • Goal will be to review sub-group reports • Use this information to identify topics for the roadmapping effort