Design activity requires investment. If a business does not have an understanding of the funding required to develop and implement a design solution then design activity will be compromised. If a business has procedures in place it will be able to identify the design investment required alongside the potential payback. It will be able to account for the impact of design in both the short term and the long term and will understand both the quantitative and qualitative benefits that can accrue from design.

Evidence that might be accessed

Is the business able to assign resources to design activity?

Level 1
The business is unable to understand the potential of design investment and is unwilling to commit resources to design activity

Level 2
The business is able to understand the potential of design and assign funding but with no review of potential returns

Level 3
Budgets are allocated to design activity on the basis of potential return with a limited number of financial procedures in place to assist in decision making

Level 4
Budgets are allocated to design activity on the basis of potential return with financial procedures in place to help assist in appraising design investment, assessing risk and tracking returns