FROM

POSSIBILITY TO

PRIORITY

Case Study

Turning a broad research portfolio into focused action

A global pharmaceutical team had a broad portfolio of research archetypes competing for attention. The challenge was deciding where the team could create the greatest portfolio value and where limited capacity should be concentrated.

Impactful Authenticity designed and facilitated a structured prioritisation process to help the team challenge the purpose, value and feasibility of each archetype, then turn the strongest priorities into practical next steps.

Sharpen Research Priorities

Identify where the team could make the greatest contribution

Set up for action

Identify owners, quick wins and dependencies so priorities could move beyond discussion.

Connect Work to Value

Create a stronger link between research activity, portfolio decisions and measurable strategic value.

OBJECTIVES

  • Co-designed a practical prioritisation framework around the team’s archetypes

  • Challenged each area through three value lenses

  • Facilitated cross-functional discussion across value, applicability and feasibility

  • Used Start, Maintain, Stop and Focus choices to force meaningful prioritisation

  • Action planning for top priorities

  • Synthesis and recommendations

APPROACH

A sharper research portfolio

A smaller group of archetypes emerged as the strongest areas for investment, while lower-value activity was actively deprioritised.

Stronger Strategic Judgement

The process surfaced where scientific potential needed to be balanced against execution constraints, portfolio needs and available resources.

A clear route to action

Priority areas were translated into use cases, ownership, quick wins and capability needs, creating a practical basis for moving from discussion into delivery.

RESULT

The work gave the team a more disciplined way to decide not only what to pursue, but why and where to focus limited resources.

The resulting priorities provide a foundation for the team to strengthen its role as a strategic partner across R&D, concentrating effort where it can support earlier, higher-confidence portfolio decisions while continuing to reassess priorities as business needs evolve.

CONCLUSION

If you want to explore whether this approach would translate to your context, we’re happy to share lessons learned

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