21st Century Business Strategy for Samsung Corporation. SRI led a team of business consultants and economists in the development of a growth-oriented business strategy for Samsung Corporation for the 21st century. The SRI team began by identifying key economic, technological, consumer behavior and competitiveness drivers. This was followed by a scenario planning exercise to determine likely outcomes in business areas critical to Samsung. SRI then analyzed and laid out the relative growth prospects for five industries of major interest to Samsung, and assessed the strengths and weaknesses of competitor Fortune 500 firms in these industries. Finally, SRI recommended new corporate management practices and investment strategies, which were adopted by the Samsung Corporation in its corporate strategic planning.
Assessment and Strategic Planning for Alberta Technology Centers. SRI evaluated three provincial research centers -- in telecommunications, microelectronics, and advanced manufacturing. SRI reviewed the centers' objectives, strategies, organization, and accomplishments in supporting industry growth. One recommendation to redirect investment saved the province nearly $20 million.
Des Moines Agribusiness Park: Strategic Elements for Successful Development. SRI worked with the City of Des Moines to create a cluster-based development strategy for the Des Moines Agribusiness Park, a new technology/industrial park being developed on a brownfields site by the City of Des Moines and public/private stakeholders. This strategy drew on lessons learned from successful technology parks and agribusiness clusters around the United States, and integrated the results attained from SRI’s earlier industry cluster analysis carried out for the State of Iowa. Inputs from park stakeholders were also incorporated to create a strategy that focused on creating a value-added physical environment, offering critical park services and amenities, using effective marketing and investment attraction techniques, and developing an appropriate mix of target industries for the park.
Global Impacts Of Fedex On The New Economy. For the FedEx Corporation, a team of SRI economists conducted a comprehensive study to assess the FedEx’s impacts on the New Economy. The assessment covered four impact areas: business impacts, consumer impacts, transportation/logistics industry impacts, and macroeconomic impacts. The study measured a corporation’s impacts beyond traditional yardsticks, such as shareholder value, profits, employment, and tax contributions. In addition to conducting conventional economic analyses, the study team utilized impact modules, qualitative assessments, analytical constructs, and other innovative approaches to provide a comprehensive look at both New Economy and Old Economy influences and benefits generated by FedEx. A number of overriding New Economy the themes were addressed in detail, including just-in-time inventory management, productivity growth, customer fulfillment, and the power of information technologies in transportation and logistics management.
Kentucky Policy Framework for Entrepreneurial Development. In this project sponsored by the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, SRI conducted an audit of the state’s policy framework for encouraging entrepreneurial development. SRI identified barriers that impede the commercialization of technology and the start-up and growth of innovative Kentucky companies. Following the SRI project work, the state government made a number of changes to encourage seed capital, stimulate new starts, and commercialize new technologies.
Namibia Scenario Planning. SRI International carried out a scenario development exercise to assist in the evaluation of ongoing USAID economic development activities and to inform the strategic planning process for ongoing development assistance. For this exercise, SRI conducted research on the current situation, trends, and high impact variables shaping the economic, political, social, regional, and environmental dimensions of the country. A “most likely” scenario for Namibia was developed, as well as a range of alternative scenarios. These scenarios were presented to government, private sector and NGO stakeholders at workshops hosted by USAID/Namibia. The output from these workshops was a set of forward-looking recommendations generated by participants. These recommendations outline significant actions to be taken, in public-private collaboration, on high-priority issues that would lead to the best development outcome for the country.
Regional Adaptation within Statewide Collaboration: Centralization/Decentralization Optimization for Strategic Planning. SRI developed a conceptual model for optimizing the degree of centralization and decentralization of strategic planning at the state level. The model is built on a series of variables including the stage of product development in the life cycle, standardization of mission, and characteristics of baseline position. The model was useful in stimulating informed discussion as to the optimal level of centralization of strategic planning for economic development in the State of Connecticut.
Small Business Development Strategies. SRI examined innovative ways for communities to address problems confronting small businesses by redefining traditional policy relationships between local governments and the private sector. The study focused on local government policies and on redefining public-private relationships in the community to change the behaviors of the marketplace, institutions, and individuals to enhance growth opportunities for small business and the local economy. The project resulted in development of a guidebook for local communities on small business development options and collaboration with Bank of America to produce a report and edit a collection of essays on small business.
SRI University – Training on the Discipline of Innovation. SRI has developed a comprehensive training course designed to introduce and expand innovation at the organizational level. This course proceeds through a logical set of modules designed to improve innovation discipline and performance. This course has been conducted for public and private sector clients in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Michigan Technical Workforce Development Incentives. In this study funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, SRI reviewed the state’s post-secondary financial incentives, policies and programs that support technical careers. The study also reviewed the federal resources that were being leveraged by the state, its students, and other potential technical workers. A set of national best practices in the design of vocational education incentives was compiled. The results of the study were used to assist the state to align all available financial resources to ensure that they make technical careers more attractive, desirable and achievable for young people entering the workforce.
Strategic Planning for High-Technology Economic Development in Thailand. SRI was asked by Thailand's Board of Investment to develop a strategic and organization plan to promote high-technology investment. SRI benchmarked Thailand with competitors and developed detailed, pragmatic recommendations to enhance the role of technology in economic development.
Strategy to Position Omaha as a Midwestern Leader in Information Technology. Working with Omaha business and community leaders, SRI defined an industrial development strategy to facilitate expansion and attraction of information-intensive businesses that are the core of the Omaha regional economy. SRI developed an integrated economic and technology plan, assisted in fund-raising, and participated in the implementation of the Nebraska Applied Information Management Institute which integrates programs in college and university curriculum development, continuing education programs, and applied research in financial information management.
R&D Divisions