Technology Assessment

ISAT 655

Fall 2005

Day 1

Overview Introduction

What we are doing here

How we will do it - syllabus

Definitions

Organizations and Technology

Dr. Geoffrey Egekwu 12th Year as ISAT Professor Also teaches at EMU graduate school 11 years of Industrial experience Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from

University of Nebraska, Lincoln M.S. - Industrial Engineering Master of Business Administration B.S. - Chemical Engineering

Who are you?

Name Job Background – including technical expertise Why are you in the M.S. program? What do you hope to learn in this class?

ISAT 655 Overview To understand the management issues around technology in

organizations To understand some theoretical foundations of technology

and technological innovation Technology evolution and/or forecasting Technology diffusion

To share experiences as we apply technology assessment tools

To understand social context (ethical/legal/social issues) of technology

Explore use of technological innovation as a strategic tool

Syllabus Text and other resources Assignments Grading Outline of topics

Techniques to be used in class Training and Mentoring

Hands-on practice Active help for application of concepts

Teaming Guest lectures Continual Learning

Find new ideas and adopt best practices

Definitions Information Technology Innovation Management

Definitions: Information “knowledge communicated or received

concerning some fact or circumstance..” facts become information if they are

communicated and used in some way information is an organizational resource

that leads to knowledge and organizational decision-making.

Definition - Technology Technology focuses on finding solutions to

problems and meeting needs in the real world

It includes products, processes and systems; and takes into account the environment in which it is developed and deployed - i.e.socially constructed

Technological development as levels of activities Tacit - knowledge that resides with

individuals Codified/Verified - validation and

formalization of tacit knowledge Most challenging level for development of

organizational knowledge. Physically embodied in products and

processes

Major characteristics of Technology A form of human cultural activity Aims at practical ends or purposes It involves choice - in choosing problems

and design approach (these in turn are influenced by culture)

In the end technology transforms the material world

It uses tools and procedures.

Technology Development characteristics emphasized in text Opportunity - event triggered Appropriability - assurance of reward Transferability - not trivial; vital elements

may be lost in process Resources - technology development

require investment of direct and collateral resources

Definition - Innovation Innovations are new improvements made

in things already invented “Imitation may or may not be the sincerest

form of flattery - but it is surely the route that innovation most frequently follows into an enterprise” Techn. Mgt, June 2002

Quotes from Managing Technology and Innovation for Competitive Advantage

The challenge is no longer basic technology – it’s layering services on solutions previously developed.

“If I were to summarize it (the challenge) in one word, it would be integrationintegration – integration of technology, integration of services and integration of applications.”

Marty Kaplan, Senior VP and CTO for Sprint Corp.

Important questions for organization

How do you identify important/useful information – that lead to organizational knowledge?; the “knowing organization”

How do you find the information and technology resources you need?

Other question on technology management?

Definition - Technology Management

Focuses on strategy and organization that make technology choices for an enterprise identification and development of

technological capabilities (core, support) needed for competitive advantage

deployment of technological capability into sellable products and/or services

management of interactions with other functional groups.

Questions – Prepare for class discussion next week What forces help explain why firms are

paying increased attention to the value implications of technology?

Why do we say that technology is socially constructed?

Discuss the interrelationship between information, knowledge, and technological development.