support process to end with an owner-manager’s decision as to whether they intend to continue the implementation process taking into consideration the right of the owner-manager to withdraw at any stage. The aim of the 6th step of the process is to measure and evaluate the degree and effect of implementing new non-technological innovation. The guidelines propose an evaluation tool of measuring the effect of support – an assessment and evaluation questionnaire. It could be used after a certain period of evaluation: the process of supporting and performing the intermediaries as well as the scope and degree of implementing the recommended actions and most importantly changes in owner-manager’s performance due the implementation of actions. The guidelines suggest that changes in the performance of the owner-manager could be measured by the owner-manager’s self-assessment of the observed/predicted impact of the recommended actions leading to innovation. The self-assessment method is recommended when the measures applied may be affected by difficulties in isolating factors determining the owner-manager’s implementation of recommendations, a longer period required for observing the effects of activities as well as a diversified initial level of the innovative capacity of enterprises. Also, the outcome of innovations can strongly depend on the length of the life cycle of the product and thus can take on very different values in certain industries. Innovation studies indicate the need to consider the indirect effects of innovation processes, because they can influence the achievement of innovative success long time before tangible, financial effects appear. The last advice on the guidelines is related to a follow-up meeting that should be organized to collect information and material for a success story from the owner-manager. Those stories might be very helpful in conducting the process with other companies as they are informative and inspirational.
5. Measuring and Evaluating Output The entire process of supporting non-technological innovation based on the 6-step tool should be evaluated. This applies to both the support process itself and its effects. The assessment will be subjective based on OM perception of both the process and its effects. This subjective approach results from the fact that OM is its main recipient and the beneficiary of the entire support process. It was decided to implement the three-part tool for measuring and evaluation purposes. A. Part 1 for evaluating the process of supporting and performing the intermediaries. B. Part 2 for measuring the scope and degree of implementing the recommended specific organizational and marketing innovation actions. C. Part 3 for assessing changes in OM performance due the implementation of actions. Part 1 Part 1 for evaluating the process is based on a typical tool used for determining the quality of the process and the satisfaction of the enterprise with support. It contains questions regarding satisfaction with the process of providing support, the extent that support was in line with OM expectations, satisfaction with the recommended actions, etc. Every stage of the 6-step counselling tool should be evaluated separately – just after finishing it. It is not applied to the 1st and 2nd steps, which can be done together. The sequence of the steps is not important. In case of skipping a certain step, evaluation for it is not used. 20
01/04/2020