Towards a process framework for assessing the potential value of technologies

Current technology valuation literature predominantly focuses on explaining the merits and implications of specific tools, but little research is available that takes a contextual process perspective. The aim of this paper is to further develop an integrative process framework that supports the structuring of the valuation process and the more systematic choice of valuation techniques for new technologies. The paper starts by reviewing key concepts and issues that surround the assessment of technology investments and the evidence of what companies use. Many factors need to be brought into the appraisal process, reflecting technological and market conditions. While there is usually a desire to reduce the assessment to a financial value, it is also widely appreciated that there is long term strategic value in securing a technological lead, which is difficult, or even inappropriate, to assess in purely financial terms. The multiple factors involved in the evaluation activity are identified with respect to the changing nature of the appraisal process as the technology matures and the implications for associated tools. The result of the literature review is a process framework which provides a conceptual basis for integrating valuation techniques. This framework is then populated with the results of industrial case studies on technology valuation to allow conclusions on its applicability to be drawn. © 2011 IEEE.

Challenges in the Silent Aircraft engine design

The Silent Aircraft Initiative goal is to design an aircraft that is imperceptible above background noise outside the airport boundary. The aircraft that fulfils this objective must also be economically competitive with conventional aircraft of the future and therefore fuel consumption and mechanical reliability are key considerations for the design. To meet these ambitious targets, a multi-fan embedded turbofan engine with boundary layer ingestion has been proposed. This configuration includes several new technologies including a variable area nozzle, a complex high-power transmission system, a Low Pressure turbine designed for low-noise, an axial-radial HP compressor, advanced acoustic liners and a low-speed fan optimized for both cruise and off-design operation. These technologies, in combination, enable a low-noise and fuel efficient propulsion system but they also introduce significant challenges into the design. These challenges include difficulties in predicting the noise and performance of the new components but there are also challenges in reducing the design risks and proving that the new concepts are realizable. This paper presents the details of the engine configuration that has been developed for the Silent Aircraft application. It describes the design approach used for the critical components and discusses the benefits of the new technologies. The new technologies are expected to offer significant benefits in noise reduction without compromising fuel burn. However, more detailed design and further research are required to fully control the additional risks generated by the system complexity.

Value roadmapping: A structured approach for early stage technology investment decisions

Deciding to invest in early stage technologies is one of the most important tasks of technology management and arguably also the most uncertain. It assumes a particular significance in the rise of technology companies in emerging economies, which have to make appropriate investment decisions. Technology managers already have a wide range of methods and tools at their disposal, but these are mostly focussed on quantitative measures such as discounted cash flow and real options techniques. However, in the early stages of technology development there seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction with these techniques as there appears to be a lack of accuracy with respect to the underlying assumptions that these models require. In order to complement these models this paper will discuss an alternative approach that we call value road-mapping. By adapting roadmapping techniques the potential value streams of early stages technologies can be plotted and hence a clearer consensus based picture of the future potential of new technologies emerges. Roadmapping is a workshop-based process bringing together multifunctional perspectives, and supporting communication in particular between technical and commercial groups. The study is work in progress and is based on a growing number of cases. (c) 2006 PICMET.

Prognosis of underground structures deterioration based on in-situ measurements

The stability of the underground structure is very important not only from the point of view of the structure itself, but also from the point of view of other structures. Therefore, the evaluation of the process of deterioration can help us very much. In the first part of the paper the ageing of the structures in the scope of their life cycle will be described. The whole process of deterioration is important but limited to certain time intervals and is able to give signals about changes in macro-scale. The second part of the paper is focused on the adaptation of new methods: micro technology of monitoring - such as MEMS (Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems) and wireless technologies for data transfer. It is obvious that such new technologies have to be assessed for the ability to deliver data continuously and for their safety and solidity. At the end of the paper the application of the measurements on the Prague metro's lining is mentioned. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group.

An analysis of factors improving technology roadmap credibility: A communications theory assessment of roadmapping processes

In recent years, many industrial firms have been able to use roadmapping as an effective process methodology for projecting future technology and for coordinating technology planning and strategy. Firms potentially realize a number of benefits in deploying technology roadmapping (TRM) processes. Roadmaps provide information identifying which new technologies will meet firms' future product demands, allowing companies to leverage R&D investments through choosing appropriately out of a range of alternative technologies. Moreover, the roadmapping process serves an important communication tool helping to bring about consensus among roadmap developers, as well as between participants brought in during the development process, who may communicate their understanding of shared corporate goals through the roadmap. However, there are few conceptual accounts or case studies have made the argument that roadmapping processes may be used effectively as communication tools. This paper, therefore, seeks to elaborate a theoretical foundation for identifying the factors that must be considered in setting up a roadmap and for analyzing the effect of these factors on technology roadmap credibility as perceived by its users. Based on the survey results of 120 different R&D units, this empirical study found that firms need to explore further how they can enable frequent interactions between the TRM development team and TRM participants. A high level of interaction will improve the credibility of a TRM, with communication channels selected by the organization also positively affecting TRM credibility. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.