An Innovation Capability Assessment Method for Early-stage Start-ups in Thailand

The Thai government recognizes innovation as a key driver of economic development. This has led to an emphasis on innovation-driven growth and the establishment of science and technology parks within universities. These parks serve as incubators to support the delivery of innovative products and services. This research used Chiang Mai University's Science and Technology Park (STeP) as a case study and focused on the assessment of Technological Innovation Capability (TIC) among SMEs and start-ups in Thailand.
An initial literature review coupled with interviews with members of STeP identified TIC as a high priority because it facilitates companies to build competitive advantage. Furthermore, a need for practical models to inform developments within companies was identified. A mock-up of an assessment method that used the maturity level system to quantify aspects of TIC was designed and evaluated through application to eight companies from STeP. Results from the evaluation revealed that, while there was potential value in understanding TIC capability, the mock-up was overly complex for use in practice. Moreover, a need for more specific support in new product development (NPD) capability was identified. As a result, the scope of the assessment method was narrowed to concentrate on the development of NPD capability in early-stage start-ups.
The contribution of this thesis is a method for assessing NPD capability in early- stage start-ups in Thailand. The method was designed for use as part of continuous improvement processes and in response to two design goals: a need for NPD capability assessment tools and suitability for use in target user companies. This assessment method starts with an NPD process template which users tailor to reflect the development stage of their company. Maturity levels are then used to quantify a company's existing NPD capability. Its effectiveness was evaluated through application to seven start-ups within STeP. Results indicated that the method facilitated both understanding of current NPD capability and the identification of improvement opportunities.