Title: Technology planning based on an industry's cultural propensity for innovation

Authors: Bruce A. Vojak, Nevra Cihan

Addresses: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of General Engineering, College of Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 306B Engineering Hall, 1308 West Green Street Urbana, IL 61801, USA. ' Department of General Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 117 Transportation Building, 104 South Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

Abstract: A methodology is proposed for supporting technology planning by evaluating the cultural propensity of industry participants to display behaviour consistent with a given innovation theory. Our premise is that, to the extent that industry participants acknowledge acceptance of an innovation theory|s principles, these same industry participants can be expected to exhibit innovative behaviour consistent with that theory – and that technology planning can be enhanced by having access to such industry intelligence. We demonstrate the application of this method by surveying participants in the electron device industry (n = 450), evaluating the industry|s propensity for disruptive innovation as described by Clayton Christensen in The Innovator|s Dilemma.

Keywords: technology planning; technology forecasting; disruptive innovation; organisational culture; innovation theory; innovative behaviour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2005.006515

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2005 Vol.1 No.2, pp.205 - 219

Published online: 18 Mar 2005 *

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