Emerging Technology Assessment Process (Updated 5/31/2009, Original 1/26/2009 by TQM Doctor)
When organizations adopt emerging technologies, the ultimate success of the endeavor is difficult to predict. Although this statement is axiomatic, there is an assessment process specifically related to searching for and considering emerging technologies that can mitigate the inherent unpredictability of adoption. The assessment process I refer to includes: (a) scoping, (b) searching, (c) evaluating, and (d) committing (Doering & Parayre, 2000).
The first step of scoping means that we must define the extent of our technology search and the applicable field related to the ability of our organization to use the technology (Doering & Parayre, 2000). In scoping, we must also evaluate the prospects and risks to the company. Searching means that the organization must establish a process of looking for and evaluating emerging technologies and determining their value (Doering & Parayre). In the searching step, an organization must define sources of information and the internal processes required to monitor and evaluate prospective technologies.
The evaluating step involves prioritizing the candidate technologies obtained from the searching step. Organizations then sort technologies in order of the related organizational competence, opportunity, and market requirements (Doering & Parayre, 2000). The evaluating step also employs many traditional MBA assessment tools like an implementation plan with the associated financial and competitive analyses. The final step of committing relates to the “how” of technology adoption where the first three steps relate to the “which” and “if” (Doering & Parayre).
Reference
Doering, D. S. & Parayre, R. (2000). Identification and assessment of emerging technologies. In Day, G.S. & Schoemaker, P.J.H. (Eds.), Wharton on managing emerging technologies (pp. 75-98). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.