Team working to develop technology strategy
by Martin J. Read, Anthony E. Gear
International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM), Vol. 9, No. 2, 1994

Abstract: The technology base of a company is the set of technological competencies or capabilities (knowledge and skills) that the company controls, which can be augmented, developed and exploited in various ways. This management process is substantially different from the routine of established activities. The costs of transfer of knowledge and competence can be very high, and the time-scales can be long. Hence, there is a crucial need to evaluate and select appropriate technologies in which to invest. This is an area fraught with uncertainties, involving predictions and judgements about future exploitation potentials. This paper describes a practical approach to this process based upon the use of a group of experienced and knowledgeable personnel especially brought together for the purpose of technology assessment. A case study is described based on an application of the approach in the chemical industry. In this case, a long list of 'business options' was generated in relation to a set of 'business drivers', each recognized as important by an assembled group of executives. The on-line group process support system, known as TEAMWORKER, was used by the group of executives at a three-day meeting in order to identify the most important subset of business options and associated technologies for more concentrated attention by the company. A feature of the meeting was the ability to identify and discuss differences of opinion within and between sub- groups of executives representing R&D and commercial interests.

Online publication date: Sat, 23-May-2009

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com