ERA in Networked Enterprise

Overview of Methodology :

Methodology stretches stepwise over three successive stages that progress to meet the Initiative’s objectives:

I. The Analysis Stage

This stage contains all the ‘muscle’ of the ERA study and is concluded in three successive sub-steps:

1. Preliminary Data Collection and analysis

A thorough scan of related literature and already identified information and key documents is used to initially identify policies, initiatives and actors (i.e. policy makers, decision makers, key stakeholders e.t.c.) at European, national and regional level.

2. Follow-up Data Collection and Data Finalization

The desktop and literature research contributes in extending the initially identified information pool thus providing a concrete insight in the four key areas of Networked Enterprise field. Discussions and interviews are initiated with the actors initially identified as to collect more concise information. This information along with the extended information pool review enables the extension and targeted elaboration of the identified actors contact information.

3. Synthetic analysis and report making

Based on the extended information gathered, an analysis of the main European, national and regional research ICT policies/initiatives is conducted and the European and 28 National Reports are drafted. These reports are synthesized to the Compendium of policies and initiatives. Respectively, the analysis of ongoing FP6 projects and policy-related activities in the Networked Enterprise unit with respect to ERA provides the Compendium of ERA Coordination Actions of the Unit.

These two synthetic reports are compared and analyzed to produce the 1^st version of the Comparative Analysis.

II. The Evolution stage

The analytical part of the study provides detailed understanding of the overall perspective in the field of Networked Enterprise at all levels. This understanding is widened and further developed through this ‘maturity’ stage by sharing knowledge and initiating targeted debate.

Knowledge Hubs are identified and contacts are made with the identified actors. Discussions are initiated over a web-consultation and a first round of workshops, where national and regional stakeholders and EC representatives are brought together to exchange ideas and visions and work toward a coordination strategy and an action plan in the field of Networked Enterprise.

This stage is concluded with the 2^nd version of the Comparative Analysis which is based on the discussions and 1^st round workshops’ outcome influenced by the related stakeholders view.

II. The Optimization Stage

Following up the upgraded Comparative Analysis, a new set of discussions and web consultation is brought forward in the 2^nd round of Workshops. The results of these workshops lead to the optimized (3^rd) final Comparative Analysis along with a compendium of the identified good practices and a recommended action plan to promote further co-ordination at European, national and regional level in the field.

The Methodology Framework

The methodology framework of this Initiative is further analysed and allocated in a set of 8 distinct methodologies and plans that are implemented within the progress of the study:

1. The methodology to identify European, national, regional policies/initiatives linked to the four key research areas, and cases with good practice potential;

2. The methodology to identify the regions to be contacted and the decision-makers;

3. The methodology to identify the national, regional representatives from the public sector and the potential members of the community of national/regional (local) decision-makers and experts;

4. The methodology to identify the key ‘knowledge hubs’ and the flows of knowledge; between the European, national and regional levels;

5. The methodology to contact national and regional representatives from the public sector, to obtain feedback, as well as the methodology to set up the interfaces among them and the EC representatives;

6. The methodology to identify and analyse the study’s activities and good practices, as well as to undertake the comparative analysis;

7. The plan for the design, organisation and delivery of workshops;

8. The plan for the dissemination and promotion of the study’s results.