Title: A toolbox of elements to build Technology Intelligence systems

Authors: Letizia Mortara, Clive I.V. Kerr, Robert Phaal, David R. Probert

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

Abstract: This paper proposes a toolbox of elements which can be used to structure and characterise any Technology Intelligence (TI) system. The toolbox has been derived by reviewing what roles, activities and physical infrastructure companies adopt in practice to build their own TI capability, including social networks. The different choices of elements can be attributed to the four modes of searching from Kerr et al.|s (2006) model: mine, trawl, target and scan. With the exception of the trawl mode, which features just connector elements, all the technology intelligence modes are supported by coordination, source connectors, repositories of information and search elements.

Keywords: technology intelligence systems; system toolbox; knowledge management; scouts; gatekeepers; technology listening posts; social networks; technology management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2009.024433

International Journal of Technology Management, 2009 Vol.47 No.4, pp.322 - 345

Published online: 03 Apr 2009 *

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