Technology Radar Process Implementation as a Part of Technology Planning

摘要

In a rapid changing technology environment, companies have to monitor and identify alternative relevant technologies which could either create an opportunity for future businesses or could be a barrier for growth of business. The right technology planning will ensure the very early identification and evaluation of technologies - which could be applied within products or production in future - leading to sustainable growth of companies in terms of responding to threats and gaining advantage in competition. Technology management processes are described in literature as a composition of five basic sub-processes: identification, selection, acquisition, exploitation and protection. Although many management tools have been developed for technology acquisition and protection there are few alternative tools for the identification sub-process. The management of that early phase is very difficult since decision makers are in a fuzzy environment with a lack of information. The approach of technology radar has been identified as an appropriate solution ensuring a structured and target-oriented identification and prioritization of technologies ensuring a profound decision making and knowledge management. The paper is about implementing the technology radar at a large R&D intensive company from white goods sector, namely Arcelik A.S. Therefore the method of technology radar needed to be adapted to company specific pre-conditions, like existing technology management processes, organizational structures and incorporated brands. Workshops were held to define requirements and set up the appropriate boundaries for introducing the methodology. With the help of gained requirements the technology radar approach was adapted to specific needs and the whole technology radar process was defined including single knowledge flows, process steps, methods, roles and responsibilities. For testing defined technology radar processes and methods like evaluation schemes or visual communication charts three search fields with corresponding pilot teams were implemented. The project ended with a review of the processes and elaborated contents. Within this paper we will share implementation experiences we have gained along with strengths, weaknesses and difficulties related to this process as part of technology planning.