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.

Comparison of bleed and micro-vortex generator effects on supersonic boundary-layers

An experimental study of bleed and vortex generators in supersonic ow has been conducted. Methods were developed to analyze and directly compare the two systems' effects on turbulent boundary layers to better understand their potential to mitigate ow separation. LDA was used to measure two components of velocity in the boundary-layer for three cases|baseline, with bleed, or with a VG|at Mach numbers of 1.3, 1.5 and 1.8. The bleed system was comprised of a series of 2mm diameter normal holes operated at different suction rates, removing up to 10% of the incoming boundary layer. Three VG shapes were tested only at Mach 1.5 and 1.8. Measurements of the evolution of Hi and Cf downstream of each device indicate that Hi is not an appropriate parameter to gauge the effectiveness of vortex generators due to boundary layer wake distortion. The skin friction coeficient Cf may be a more appropriate measure. Similar increases in Cf were generated by VGs and bleed. The recovery to baseline conditions downstream of bleed was sensitive to Mach number, and more investigation of that effect will be required. Copyright © 2012 by University of Cambridge.