Title: Technology road mapping: the issues of managing technology change

Authors: David Probert, Noordin Shehabuddeen

Addresses: Centre for Technology Management, Manufacturing and Management Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RX, UK. Centre for Technology Management, Manufacturing and Management Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RX, UK

Abstract: Technology road mapping has emerged in recent years as a key management tool in formulating the link between technological resources and the exploitation of market opportunities. A powerful aid to strategy formulation and communication, the technique has the major advantage of bringing many functions within a business together around a common plan. Although there is no definitive guide to road mapping practice, the application in many different businesses has revealed a number of generic aspects. A major common factor is that technology road maps are concerned with the introduction of technology change into an organisation. This paper proposes a conceptual model of the factors significant for the successful introduction of technology change. The relevance of this framework to technology road mapping is discussed based on the in-depth experience of developing and implementing TRMs for three large companies. Also discussed briefly are results of questionnaires sent to these three companies to obtain a feedback on their post-implementation experiences.

Keywords: technology road mapping; technology change; technology strategy; technology planning; technology implementation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1999.002742

International Journal of Technology Management, 1999 Vol.17 No.6, pp.646-661

Published online: 06 Jul 2003 *

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