COMPARISON OF TWO MANAGEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY EDUCATIONAL METHODS APPLIED FOR MIDDLE MANAGERS OF THE OIL INDUSTRY

摘要

Management of Technology (MOT) has been recently incorporated in Latin America to some MBA programs to which middle managers of oil firms attend as means of business competences development. In such context MOT content covers traditional topics such as Technology Planning, Technology Strategy, Technology Transfer, Change management and Technology Portfolio Management among others. As educational technology evolves, MOT local face-to-face programs are being challenged by international programs applying long distance education techniques. This paper compares the performance of MOT students of each of the two educational methods, using Research in Action Method of analysis, considered appropriate because the researcher conducts the research field. This method is a cyclical process of diagnosis, action planning, action performing (activities), assessment and learning definition or objectives assessment, in which a systematic revision is required to identify the change impact (double loop learning). Being recognized mat the method operates in the research-practice borderline, is considered as the only method mat combines research design and knowledge creation where researchers, where researchers, managers and operations responsible work together in quest of technological change. Under this framework, changing the face-to-face program to on line means represents a technological change, therefore a comparative analysis was made to identify the MOT learning performance in terms of competences, of a group of Middle technical managers working in the oil industry that are enrolled in a MBA program delivered in several countries of Latin America. Results suggests differences in competence development because while the students in the face-to-face program developed competences to structure a Technology Plan, students in the on line program developed analytical competences to identify technology requirements to support efficiencies and to enable the competitiveness of the firm.