Roadmapping for technology push and partnership: A contribution for open innovation environments

There are several tools in the literature that support innovation in organizations. Some of the most cited are the so-called technology roadmapping methods, also known as TRM. However, these methods are designed primarily for organizations that adopt the market pull strategy of technology-product integration. Organizations that adopt the technology push integration strategy are neglected in the literature. Furthermore, with the advent of open innovation, it is possible to note the need to consider the adoption of partnerships in the innovation process. Thus, this study proposes a method of technology roadmapping, identified as method for technology push (MTP), applicable to organizations that adopt the technology push integration strategy, such as SMEs and independent research centers in an open-innovation environment. The method was developed through action-research and was assessed from two analytical standpoints: externally, via a specific literature review on its theoretical contributions, and internally, through the analysis of potential users` perceptions on the feasibility of applying MTP. The results indicate both the unique character of the method and its perceived implementation feasibility. Future research is suggested in order to validate the method in different types of organizations (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Advances in upper limb stroke rehabilitation: a technology push

Strokes affect thousands of people worldwide leaving sufferers with severe disabilities affecting their daily activities. In recent years, new rehabilitation techniques have emerged such as constraint-induced therapy, biofeedback therapy and robot-aided therapy. In particular, robotic techniques allow precise recording of movements and application of forces to the affected limb, making it a valuable tool for motor rehabilitation. In addition, robot-aided therapy can utilise visual cues conveyed on a computer screen to convert repetitive movement practice into an engaging task such as a game. Visual cues can also be used to control the information sent to the patient about exercise performance and to potentially address psychosomatic variables influencing therapy. This paper overviews the current state-of-the-art on upper limb robot-mediated therapy with a focal point on the technical requirements of robotic therapy devices leading to the development of upper limb rehabilitation techniques that facilitate reach-to-touch, fine motor control, whole-arm movements and promote rehabilitation beyond hospital stay. The reviewed literature suggest that while there is evidence supporting the use of this technology to reduce functional impairment, besides the technological push, the challenge ahead lies on provision of effective assessment of outcome and modalities that have a stronger impact transferring functional gains into functional independence.

Foresight exercises as a tool for decision-making: the example of two case studies in health

Based on the report for the unit “Foresight Methods Analysis” of the PhD programme on Technology Assessment at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. António B. Moniz

How to design and develop There App: A mobile app focused on live video streaming, promoting new social interactions

This work project aims to demonstrate how to design and develop an innovative concept of video streaming app. The project combines technology push and market pull theories into developing a product that is more suitable for the customer needs, with the particularity that there is no other way of seeing any place in the world, live and ondemand. An analysis on the bigger influencers in terms of design-thinking and new product development, as Tim Brown or Paul Trott, lead to a better understanding on how There App should evolve, keeping in mind the customer desires and technical features.

Offering planning with support of roadmapping in project business

Tämän tutkielman tavoitteena on tutkia kuinka roadmapping-tekniikkaa voidaan käyttää tarjonnan suunnittelun tukena uusien tuotteiden valmistamisen yhteydessä. Työ koostuu teoreettisesta ja käytännönläheisestä osasta. Teoreettinen runko on luotu selventämään kuinka tämän hetkisen tutkimus- ja kehitys projektit lopulta muodostavat tulevaisuuden tarjoaman. Menestyksekkään tuotetarjoaman luominen vaatii, sekä uusien teknologioiden kehittämistä, että markkinoilla olevien asiakkaiden tarpeiden ymmärtämistä. Asiakassuuntaisten tuotteiden kehittäminen vaatii toimintaympäristöstä ja asiakasrajapinnasta tulevien signaalien tunnistamista ja niiden ohjaamista tuote- ja teknologia platformeille. Strategia luodaan tukemaan päätöksentekoa prosessin eri vaiheissa. Yrityskohtainen osio koostuu analyysistä, joka on tehty teetetyn kyselyn ja haas-tattelujen pohjalta. Osana analyysia ovat Major project-yksikön tämänhetkinen tarjonnansuunnitteluprosessi, strategian soveltaminen, informaation kerääminen ja priorisointi, portfolionhallinta ja roadmap-tekniikan käyttö. Ratkaisussa on esitet-ty tarjonnan suunnitteluprosessi ja siihen liittyvät kriittiset komponentit. Roadmapping-tekniikkaaon luotu yhdistämään toimintaympäristö, tuotteet ja teknologia toisiinsa. Toimintaympäristö ja tuotteet on yhdistetty myös linked-grids-tekniikan avulla.

Product Launch in Industrial Markets – Financial Risks in New AMD Elevator Door Launch

Tuotekehitys ja uusien tuotteiden lanseeraus on teollisen yrityksen menestyksekkään liiketoiminnan elinehtoja tämän päivän kilpailussa. Teollisuusyrityksen tuotteiden innovaatioaikakausia on ollut lukuisia, samoin kuin uuden tuotteen lanseerauksen lähtökohtia. Aikakausista, jolloin tuotteita kehitettiin yrityksen omista lähtökohdista, kuten valmistuksellisista eduista, on edetty tilanteeseen, jossa markkinoiden tarpeita tulee ottaa yhä enemmän huomioon. Kuitenkin, teollisuudessa esitellään tuotteita yhä puhtaasti tuotantolähtöisesti, ja tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selvittää taloudellisia riskejä, joita liittyy puhtaasti teknologiavetoiseen tuotteiden kehitystyöhön, valmistukseen ja lanseeraukseen. Normatiivisena tutkimuksena työ pyrkii asiakastarpeita ja teollisuusyrityksen loppuasiakkaiden näkökulmia huomioon ottaen osoittamaan markkinoinnin keinojen merkityksen tuotantolähtöisen tuotelanseerauksen taloudellisten riskien minimoimiseksi. Uuden teollisen tuotteen asiakastarpeita on selvitetty kyselymuotoisen markkinointitutkimuksen menetelmiä hyväksikäyttäen. Tuotteen tärkeimpien ominaisuuksien, kuten turvallisuuden, kestävyyden ja hinnan merkitystä voidaan hyödyntää ennen tuotteen kaupallista esittelyä potentiaalisten asiakassegmenttien kartoitukseen ja menestyksellisen lanseerauksen edesauttamiseksi.

Perfil da indústria brasileira de biotecnologia centrado nas relações com o mercado

O futuro das empresas de base tecnológica depende essencialmenteda maximização do seu desempenho nas relações que elas estabeleçam com seus mercados, e do equilíbrio entre as suas competências tecnológicas e mercadológicas. Neste contexto, o "braço" de mercado das empresas é constituído pelo marketing, que atua como função maximizadora. Na indústria brasileira de biotecnologia, além de incipiente, ele é desconhecido, constituindo-se num verdadeiro calcanhar-de-Aquiles do acoplamento entre oferta e demanda. Este trabalho retrata, pela primeira vez, o perfil das atividades da indústria brasileira de biotecnologia, centrado nas relações com o mercado e busca avaliar o estágio atual da relação existente entre as competências tecnológicas e as mercadológicas das empresas. Tem por objetivos propiciar informações essenciais e realizar um diagnóstico inicial sobre o tema, para que os personagens envolvidos possam tomar consciência de seus pontos fortes e fracos e, em decorrência, assumir posturas e elaborar planos para um reposicionamento e o desenvolvimento de competências específicas em suas relações com o mercado. A partir de estudo exploratório qualitativo, seguido de estudo descritivo com uma amostra de 54 empresas e dados do primeiro semestre de 1996, é feita a descrição das características gerais relativas à gestão e à tecnologia das empresas, sendo dada atenção especial às atividades de marketing. São analisadas as relações entre as competências técnicas e mercadológicas das empresas, apresentadas as decorrentes implicações, formuladas recomendações à indústria e sugeridas questões para futuras pesquisas. As organizações estudadas atuam essencialmente no mercado industrial e buisinessto- business, mostrando-se como technology push e praticando muito mais uma filosofia de gestão "produtos-orientada" do que "mercado orientada". Exercem somente em parte, as atividades essenciais da função marketing. A relação mercado-tecnologia mostra a supremacia da competência tecnológica sobre a mercadológica, indicando que, para ganhar maior competitividade, a maioria das empresas deve rever seu atual posicionamento, planejar e promover significativo desenvolvimento de competências mercadológicas específicas.

Identification of Practices, Design, Construction, and Repair Using Trenchless Technology, TR-570, 2010

Trenchless technologies are methods used for the construction and rehabilitation of underground utility pipes. These methods are growing increasingly popular due to their versatility and their potential to lower project costs. However, the use of trenchless technologies in Iowa and their effects on surrounding soil and nearby structures has not been adequately documented. Surveys of and interviews with professionals working in trenchless-related industries in Iowa were conducted, and the results were analyzed and compared to survey results from the United States as a whole. The surveys focused on method familiarity, pavement distress observed, reliability of trenchless methods, and future improvements. Results indicate that the frequency of pavement distress or other trenchless-related issues are an ongoing problem in the industry. Inadequate soil information and quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) are partially to blame. Fieldwork involving the observation of trenchless construction projects was undertaken with the purpose of documenting current practices and applications of trenchless technology in the United States and Iowa. Field tests were performed in which push-in pressure cells were used to measure the soil stresses induced by trenchless construction methods. A program of laboratory soil testing was carried out in conjunction with the field testing. Soil testing showed that the installations were made in sandy clay or well-graded sand with silt and gravel. Pipes were installed primarily using horizontal directional drilling with pipe diameters from 3 to 12 inches. Pressure cell monitoring was conducted during the following construction phases: pilot bore, pre-reaming, and combined pipe pulling and reaming. The greatest increase in lateral earth pressure was 5.6 psi and was detected 2.1 feet from the centerline of the bore during a pilot hole operation in sandy lean clay. Measurements from 1.0 to 2.5 psi were common. Comparisons were made between field measurements and analytical and finite element calculation methods.

The design and implementation of a standards-based mobile messaging platform - case WAP Push Proxy Gateway

Tässä diplomityössä perehdytään WAP:in Push -viitekehykseen. WAP-standardit määrittelevät kuinka Internet-tyyppisiä palveluita, joita voidaan käyttää erilaisia mobiileja päätelaiteitteita käyttäen, toteutetaan tehokkaalla ja verkkoteknologiasta riippumattomalla tavalla. WAP pohjautuu Internet:iin, mutta huomioi pienten päätelaitteiden ja mobiiliverkkojen rajoitukset ja erikoisominaisuudet. WAP Push viitekehys määrittelee verkon aloittaman palvelusisällön toimittamisen. Työn teoriaosassa käydään läpi yleinen WAP-arkkitehtuuri ja WAP-protokollapino käyttäen vertailukohtina lanka-Internetin arkkitehtuuria ja protokollapinoa. Edellistä perustana käyttäen tutustaan WAP Push -viitekehykseen. Käytännönosassa kuvataan WAP Push -välityspalvelimen suunnittelu ja kehitystyö. WAP Push -välityspalvelin on keskeinen verkkoelementti WAP Push -viitekehyksessä. WAP Push -välityspalvelin yhdistää Internetin ja mobiiliverkon tavalla, joka piilottaa teknologiaeroavaisuudet Internetissä olevalta palveluntuottajalta.

The Usage of Microsoft Push Notification Service on Mobile Devices

Along with the increasing in demand of mobile computing, Push Notification (PN) is widely used in mobile phones and other devices. PN allows the developer to send messages to the end users even when the client application is not running at the moment. This solves the problem produced by non-supported multi-tasking feature as well as saving battery life. Microsoft Push Notification Service (MPNS) is one solution to use PNs in Windows Phones. The thesis gives the developers an idea of how to use PNs by introducing MPNS, comparing MPNS with other Push Notification Services, usage of different PN types analysis, and PN simulation system implementation.

A study of the information seeking bebavior of science and technology teachers and researchers of Cocbin University of Science and Technology and University of Kerala in the cbanged library environment

Information communication technology (IC T) has invariably brought about fundamental changes in the way in which libraries gather. preserve and disseminate information. The study was carried out with an aim to estimate and compare the information seeking behaviour (ISB) of the academics of two prominent universities of Kerala in the context of advancements achieved through ICT. The study was motivated by the fast changing scenario of libraries with the proliferation of many high tech products and services. The main purpose of the study was to identify the chief source of information of the academics, and also to examine academics preference upon the form and format of information source. The study also tries to estimate the adequacy of the resources and services currently provided by the libraries.The questionnaire was the central instrument for data collection. An almost census method was adopted for data collection engaging various methods and tools for eliciting data.The total population of the study was 957, out of which questionnaire was distributed to 859 academics. 646 academics responded to the survey, of which 564 of them were sound responses. Data was coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and also with the help of Microsofl Excel package. Various statistical techniques were engaged to analyse data. A paradigm shift is evident by the fact that academies push themselves towards information in internet i.e. they prefer electronic source to traditional source and the very shift is coupled itself with e-seeking of information. The study reveals that ISB of the academics is influenced priman'ly by personal factors and comparative analysis shows that the ISB ofthc academics is similar in both universities. The productivity of the academics was tested to dig up any relation with respect to their ISB, and it is found that productivity of the academics is extensively related with their ISB. Study also reveals that the users ofthe library are satisfied with the services provided but not with the sources and in conjunction, study also recommends ways and means to improve the existing library system.

Enabling knowledge creation through outsiders: towards a push model of open innovation

Open innovation is increasingly being adopted in business and describes a situation in which firms exchange ideas and knowledge with external participants, such as customers, suppliers, partner firms, and universities. This article extends the concept of open innovation with a push model of open innovation: knowledge is voluntarily created outside a firm by individuals and organisations who proceed to push knowledge into a firm’s open innovation project. For empirical analysis, we examine source code and newsgroup data on the Eclipse Development Platform. We find that outsiders invest as much in the firm’s project as the founding firm itself. Based on the insights from Eclipse, we develop four propositions: ‘preemptive generosity’ of a firm, ‘continuous commitment’, ‘adaptive governance structure’, and ‘low entry barrier’ are contexts that enable the push model of open innovation.

A methodology to measure the interface shear strength by means of the fiber push-in test

A methodology is presented to measure the fiber/matrix interface shear strength in composites. The strategy is based on performing a fiber push-in test at the central fiber of highly-packed fiber clusters with hexagonal symmetry which are often found in unidirectional composites with a high volume fraction of fibers. The mechanics of this test was analyzed in detail by means of three-dimensional finite element simulations. In particular, the influence of different parameters (interface shear strength, toughness and friction as well as fiber longitudinal elastic modulus and curing stresses) on the critical load at the onset of debonding was established. From the results of the numerical simulations, a simple relationship between the critical load and the interface shear strength is proposed. The methodology was validated in an unidirectional C/epoxy composite and the advantages and limitations of the proposed methodology are indicated.

Knowledge management systems:finding a way with technology

Purpose - To consider the role of technology in knowledge management in organizations, both actual and desired. Design/methodology/approach - Facilitated, computer-supported group workshops were conducted with 78 people from ten different organizations. The objective of each workshop was to review the current state of knowledge management in that organization and develop an action plan for the future. Findings - Only three organizations had adopted a strongly technology-based "solution" to knowledge management problems, and these followed three substantially different routes. There was a clear emphasis on the use of general information technology tools to support knowledge management activities, rather than the use of tools specific to knowledge management. Research limitations/implications - Further research is needed to help organizations make best use of generally available software such as intranets and e-mail for knowledge management. Many issues, especially human, relate to the implementation of any technology. Participation was restricted to organizations that wished to produce an action plan for knowledge management. The findings may therefore represent only "average" organizations, not the very best practice. Practical implications - Each organization must resolve four tensions: Between the quantity and quality of information/knowledge, between centralized and decentralized organization, between head office and organizational knowledge, and between "push" and "pull" processes. Originality/value - Although it is the group rather than an individual that determines what counts as knowledge, hardly any previous studies of knowledge management have collected data in a group context.

Marking high-technology market evolution through the foci of market stories:the case of local area networks

Previous research suggests that changing consumer and producer knowledge structures play a role in market evolution and that the sociocognitive processes of product markets are revealed in the sensemaking stories of market actors that are rebroadcasted in commercial publications. In this article, the authors lend further support to the story-based nature of market sensemaking and the use of the sociocognitive approach in explaining the evolution of high-technology markets. They examine the content (i.e., subject matter or topic) and volume (i.e., the number) of market stories and the extent to which content and volume of market stories evolve as a technology emerges. Data were obtained from a content analysis of 10,412 article abstracts, published in key trade journals, pertaining to Local Area Network (LAN) technologies and spanning the period 1981 to 2000. Hypotheses concerning the evolving nature (content and volume) of market stories in technology evolution are tested. The analysis identified four categories of market stories - technical, product availability, product adoption, and product discontinuation. The findings show that the emerging technology passes initially through a 'technical-intensive' phase whereby technology related stories dominate, through a 'supply-push' phase, in which stories presenting products embracing the technology tend to exceed technical stories while there is a rise in the number of product adoption reference stories, to a 'product-focus' phase, with stories predominantly focusing on product availability. Overall story volume declines when a technology matures as the need for sensemaking reduces. When stories about product discontinuation surface, these signal the decline of current technology. New technologies that fail to maintain the 'product-focus' stage also reflect limited market acceptance. The article also discusses the theoretical and managerial implications of the study's findings. © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.