Coaching, mentoring, consulting roles in technical intelligence

1
Coaching, mentoring, consulting roles in
technical intelligence

• Suzanne Cristina, Research Analyst
• Information Network _at_ Hamilton Sundstrand
• United Technologies Corporation

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Strategic Shift

• the real value-added comes with the intervention
  of humans.
• Prof. Liam Fahey
• Data - Information - Knowledge - Decisions
• The Information Professional bridges the gaps.

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Definition

• Technology Intelligence (TI) is defined as
  business-sensitive information about external
  scientific or technological developments that can
  affect a companys competitive position.
• Research Technology Management
• 9/10 2000 p. 23

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Definitions

• Consulting - listening, discussing, recommending
  solutions
• Coaching - equipping and enabling people to find
  solutions
• Mentoring - guiding a novice through the process

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Need for TI Consulting/Coaching/Mentoring

• Often, no one in these functions (RD, market
  research, etc.) is trained to deal with the
  discovery and analysis of critical issues.
• Sy Friedman, CHEMTECH, 6/1999
• We dont have time to think we are busy
  putting out day to day fires. We need you to
  alert us to trendshelp us.
• WR, Sr Engrg Mgr, UTC

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2-D/3-D Analogy

• Group Goal leap frog developments in
  technology
• Current view of group 2D
• Need TI coaching/mentoring/consulting to show
  group the possibilities of 3-D - what can be
  done
• Result Customized tool (patent database - reuse
  potential)
• Now group reevaluates its current perspective

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Skills Needed for TI

• A balance of technical business knowledge
• Able to identify, evaluate utilize reliable
  information sources
• Pattern trend recognition
• Human intelligence gathering
• Resolve disparate facts/findings (tools)
• Lateral thinking - to see beyond obvious to
  hidden opportunities

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Skills continued..

• Integrate external information with internal
  knowledge
• promote connection to external sources of
  innovation - as a strategy for stimulating good
  ideas
• Dr. Mark Rice Radical Innovation
• UTRC Presentation on innovation

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Characteristics Needed for Consulting

• Credibility - established via relationships
• View organization from outside perspective
• Risk Taker - willingness to drive to insight and
  affect organization
• Assertive/persistent in selling ideas - can do
  attitude
• Communicate visionary potential of new ideas
• Low ego need, good ideas not carried further

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Consulting Process - Getting Started

• Know your organization
• Evaluate opportunities
• Develop objectives
• Identify your champion
• Identify other champions of TI

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Opportunities Abound

• Each step generates data
• Real value is in analysis and interpretation
• Present state Desired state
• Data rich Managed data
• Intelligence poor Intelligence rich

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Finding TI Opportunities

• Gaps in existing TI processes
• Human intelligence not gathered
• Under-utilized information repositories
• Product/process challenges
• External forces beyond competitors
• regulations, contracts, technology trends

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Example - Consulting Process

• UTC Chief Technology Officer challenge
• Goal - achieve success at BU - new technology to
  add to top line growth of UTC
• Consult - present opportunity, establish
  timelines, management
• Coach - revise timelines, establish CI Board
• Mentor - person in charge of CI effort

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Information Audit as a Tool

• The information audit answers questions about
  organization-wide/department-wide information
  processes. It assists in evaluating current
  information needs, the effectiveness of existing
  information sources and information flows. It
  identifies information management objectives,
  information gaps and inconsistencies.

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Information Audit Objectives

• Managing Relationships
• Identifying Gaps
• Optimizing information flows
• Building corporate memory
• Extending knowledge transfer

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Example - Engineering Group

• Advanced Technology Team member
• -coaching in use of patents to catalyze
  innovations to existing product
• -mentoring/consulting for technical data to
  support design and development
• Provided consulting in the development of a CI
  update in key program areas

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Example - ViA Team

• ViA - Virtual Access Initiative - web based
  Unigraphics/ IMAN software design/ manufacturing
  initiative at HS
• Team member
• Consulted by recommending use of UTC Best
  Practices Database for user groups
• Shared with all of United Technologies

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Example - Green Technologies

• Driven by UTC HS EHS and government
  environmental requirements/regulations
• Consult - develop system to monitor
  product-specific uses of alternatives in 5 areas
  applicable tech developments
• Intelligence Analysis - monitor to ensure
  strategic edge in our products

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Intelligence Analysis Definition

• A step in the production of intelligence in
  which intelligence information is subjected to
  systematic examination in order to identify
  relevant facts, determine significant findings
  and conclusions. Jan Herring

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Example -Laminar Flow Device

• Bypass valve design for PW6000 engine
• New approach
• Would it work?
• Utilized existing sources - tech, searched
  patents for similar applications
• Engineering knowledge to analyze intelligence
• Consulted by identifying similar applications

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Example - Hydrogen Storage

• Key technology area to UTC
• Cross business unit applications
• Fast moving lots of research
• Example incorporates consulting, coaching,
  mentoring and analysis

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Hydrogen Storage Update

• Customer coaching/consulting
• -weekly meeting to define project
• -check data/preliminary results
• -cost/time tradeoffs
• -output - utilization/reuse
• -value added elements

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H2 Storage Update continued

• Information Staff Mentoring
• -involve new staffers at beginning
• -observe interactions/attend meetings
• -train in optimal search techniques
• -increasing participation in the project

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H2 Storage Update continued

• Intelligence Analysis
• -utilizing tools - ProCite
• -highlight new technologies
• -synopsis of news articles
• -monitoring patents and assignees
• Feedback quarterly
• Realign search and analysis strategies

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Conclusions

• Evolving role of information professional
• Information Audits
• Relationship Management
• Risk Taking

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Questions??

• Suzanne Cristina, Research Analyst
• Information Network
• Hamilton Sundstrand, A United Technologies
  Company
• cristisp_at_utrc.utc.com
• 860-654-4352