The issue of assessing technology for business application is cited as a major concern for managers in industry. Representatives from a range of industries were interviewed to review the tools and techniques currently available and to identify gaps and limitations. This paper, produced for the 14th International Conference on Management of Technology in Vienna, examines the area of technology valuation in the context of a timeline from early-stage technology to more mature technologies.New approaches are proposed which integrate and complement existing tools and techniques to fill the gaps along the timeline.

The authors say that many organisations now make extensive use of technology lifecycle and competitiveness analysis, R&D project portfolios, technology management processes and technology roadmapping to help them fully understand the broader business impact of the technology at their disposal.

However, they point out however that there are still many key questions remaining, particularly with regards to estimating the current and future value of a particular technology to specific organisations. This can be key to choosing developing projects and the decision to acquire technology external to the company.

Read full paper:

Business Appraisal of Technology Potentials – development of a practical approach to valuing technology, Clare Farrukh, Marcel Dissel, David Probert, Francis Hunt, Rob Phaal & Rick Mitchell, Charles Romito, Emre Kazancioglu, IfM, 2005

Recommended by David Probert, post by R&D Today admin.