Title: On the path of enterprise science? An approach to establishing the correspondence of theory and reality in technology-intensive companies

Authors: Hugo Tschirky

Addresses: ETH Center for Enterprise Science, Group of Technology and Innovation Management, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), Zurichbergstrasse 18, CH-8028 Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract: A comparison of common general management approaches and the problems encountered in enterprise management at present reveals a critical gap between management theory and technological reality. This is apparent in the fact that the threat to existence due to technological change currently experienced by an increasing number of companies is not addressed by current theories of company management. The notion of ||enterprise science|| is proposed as a means of closing this gap. This approach is oriented towards scientific, integrative solutions to non-trivial enterprise management problems. Its potential for realisation is explored in an illustration of current teaching and research activities at the ETH Zurich.

Keywords: enterprise science; technology management; models of technology management; teaching technology management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2000.002875

International Journal of Technology Management, 2000 Vol.20 No.3/4, pp.405-428

Published online: 07 Jul 2003 *

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