Centre for Technology Management

Technology Management Process Assessment: A Case Study

R Phaal, CJ P Farrukh and DR Probert

University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering, UK

Abstract

The effective management of technology as a source of competitive advantage is of vital importance for many organisations. It is necessary to understand, communicate and integrate technology strategy with marketing, financial, operations and human resource strategies. This is of particular importance when one considers the increasing cost, pace and complexity of technology developments, combined with shortening product life cycles. A five-process model provides a framework within which technology management activities can be understood: Identification, Selection, Acquisition, Exploitation and Protection. Based on this model, a technology management assessment procedure has been developed, using a 'procedural action research' approach. This paper presents an industrial case study describing the first full application of the procedure within a high-volume manufacturing business. The impact of applying the procedure is assessed in terms of benefits to the participating business, together with improvements to the assessment procedure itself, in the context of the procedural action research framework.