TECHNOLOGY

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TECHNOLOGY PLANNING
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Process of Technology Planning

• Examining all points of view in the organization
• Setting clear, realistic objectives
• Charting path(s) towards achieving the objectives
• Obtaining commitment for execution
• Executing following up on the plan

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Framework for Technology Planning

• Forecast the technology
• Analyze forecast the environment
• Analyze forecast the market/user
• Analyze the organization
• Develop the mission
• Design organizational action
• Put the plan into operation

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Forecasting Technology

• A good forecast must have
• Credibility utility
• Accurate information base
• Clearly described methods models
• Clearly defined supported assumptions
• Quantitative expressions when possible
• Stated level of confidence in the forecast
  information

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Attributes of Technology Most Often Forecasted

• Growth functional capability
• Rate of replacement of an old technology by a new
  one
• Market penetration
• Diffusion
• Likelihood timing of technological breakthroughs

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Methods of Forecasting Technology

• Monitoring
• Expert Opinion
• Trend Analysis
• Modeling
• Scenarios

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Critical Technologies and Technology Maps

• National Critical Technologies
• - Materials
• - Manufacturing
• -Information communication
• - Biotechnology Life Sciences
• - Aeronautics Surface Transportation
• - Energy Environment

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Critical Technologies and Technology Maps

• Critical Technologies at the Firm Level
• - Computers
• - Robots
• - Lasers
• - Scientific Instrumentation

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Technology Audit

• Should answer the following questions
• 1. What are the technologies on which the
  business depend?
• 2. How does the companys technology position
  compare with competitors?
• 3. What is the companys life cycle position?
• 4. Where is the companys strength?
• 5. Is company effectively protecting its
  distinctive core technologies?

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Technology Audit

• 6. What emerging technology could affect
  companys technological position?
• 7. What is the value of companys technology to
  its customers?
• 8. Does company have procedure structure that
  allows optimal exploitation of its technologies?
• 9. Does company have technological assets that
  it can share with other companies?

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Technology Audit

• 10. What emerging technology could influence
  customers or affect the companys market
  position?
• 11. What social, political, or environmental
  factors might impede the natural progress of the
  companys technological plans?

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Basis of Technology Audit Model

• Technological environment
• Technologies categorization
• Markets competitors
• Innovation process
• Value-added functions
• Acquisition exploitation of technology

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Technology Auditor Should

• 1. Analyze firms internal technologies to
  identify core competencies
• 2. Identify external and basic technologies
• 3. Identify technology gaps
• 4. Review the technology/science push and the
  market pull
• 5. Establish if the innovation process takes into
  account science push market pull

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Technology Auditor Should

• 6. Check time to market. Identify constraints in
  the process
• 7. Review the RD strategy
• 8. Check for consistencies between core
  technologies, RD, and marketing
• 9. Look for evidence of continuous improvement in
  marketing

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Technology Auditor Should

• 10. Analyze partnerships and joint ventures
• 11. Review the technology transfer procedures
• 12. Analyze the corporate structure

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Purposes of TAM

• Diagnostic tool for strengths weaknesses
• Method of identifying improvement opportunities
• A tool for benchmarking with competitors
• A tool for measuring progress and effectiveness
• A tool for continuous improvement
• Self-assessment instrument leading to proper
  technology planning

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Sections of Product Technology Roadmap

• Description of the business
• Technology forecast
• Technology roadmap matrix
• Quality
• Allocation of resources
• Patent portfolio
• Product descriptions status report
• Minority report

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A Structured Approach to Corporate Technology
Strategy

• The need for structured thinking about technology
• The assets process
• Implementation of an assets process
• Future directions in technology strategy

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The Assets Process

• Concept of actively using structured process for
  technology strategy management
• Step 1 Assess Current Situation
• Step 2 Specify Technology Strategy
• Step 3 Select Technology Portfolio
• Step 4 Execute Technology Investments
• Step 5 Transfer Results for Deployment
• Step 6 Secure Long-Term Position

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Assets ImplementationPhase 1

• 1. Identify technology/business strategy working
  group
• 2. Pick winner areas to show early success
• 3. Identify top ten technology areas
• 4. Write how to get into top ten circulate
• 5. Require all component business plans to
  discuss technology strategy
• 6. Develop recommendations on how to proceed in
  weak areas

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Assets ImplementationPhase 2

• 1. Convene technology/business strategy group
• 2. Publish a periodic newsletter of technology
  development
• 3. Prepare background forecasts studies for a
  few key technologies
• 4. Identify additional technology candidates
• 5. Show progress on year 1 programs report
  results
• 6. Prepare written technology plan coordinate
  internally

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Assets ImplementationPhase 3

• 1. Emphasize development evaluation of specific
  programs
• 2. Be prepared to terminate some projects
  continue others
• 3. Monitor areas of technology outside existing
  program
• 4. Refine approach to hand off ideas to
  deployment groups
• 5. Reinforce innovation philosophy

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Future Directions in Technology Strategy

• Data Sources
• Analysis Methods
• Organizational Approaches