Technology Management

Introduction

Technology - definitionTechnology is a concept that deals with an specialized

usage of tools, utilities and knowledge. It is a consequence of science and engineering.

Technology refers to material objects of use by people, such as machines, hardware, software or utensils.

It can also be understood as systems, methods of organisation and techniques.

The practical use of applying science for industrial use

The four elements of technology

Technique: machinery, tools, materials, and their application in the work process

Knowledge: applied science, skills, intuition Organization: Structuring of the work process

according to technological or socioeconomic goals or constraints

Product: The output of the work process and the purpose of applying the technology

Drivers of technologyHow is the innovation made? Who creates innovation?Stakeholders participants of innovation systemCustomers and technology – changing environment –

driver of innovationsSponsors of innovation IT standards

Examples of technology categories

Black box technology: A technology which is implemented partly, so that only its application (but not adoption, improvement or development) is mastered by the user, e.g. a word processing system

Disembodied technology: Technology which is transferred independent of specific capital equipment, e.g. by journals or training programs

Embodied technology: Technology which is transferred together with specific capital equipment, e.g. application of a production machinery

Generic technology: Basic engineering knowledge that is not yet proprietary (public domain methodology, e.g. as developed by public research institutions)

Examples of technology categories

High-technology: 'Sophisticated technology based on recent scientific advances'. The element of theoretical knowledge is pronounced, whereas the element of practical experience may be accordingly weak

Proprietary technology: Technology directly related to processes and products and not freely available ('in-house technology'), e.g. a patented process, or simply a technology unknown or unavailable to outsiders. Proprietary technology can be traded (like a commodity)

Service technology: Technology for production of services (rather than goods)

Management - definitionThe art and science of extracting the most from specific

assets for fulfilling desired goals.Hence:

Finance ManagementHuman Resources ManagementMaterials ManagementOperations Management.Maintenance ManagementTechnology Management

Technology management integrated planning, design, optimization, operation and

control of technological products, processes and services, a better definition would be the management of the use of technology for human advantage

Technology management – why it’s important

It is the Age of technology and knowledge so it must be managed to live with it

Only societies and people who gain maturity in technology will have the right in the global discussion

To get the best results , technology can be mastered only by managing it efficiently and effectively

Parameters of Technology Management:

Product QualityMachine ProductivityEnvironment ManagementEffective use of Raw MaterialMachine AvailabilityEnergy ConsumptionLife cycle of components Innovative aspects

Effective Technology Management

Strong PlanningReduce InterruptionsReduce Production RejectionsStrengthen the Information SystemProvide Technology LeadershipProvide Good AdministrationPreventive Maintenance

Benefits of Effective Technology Management

Work becomes EASIERJOB SATISFACTION increasesPROFITS increaseBusiness Becomes COMPETITIVE

How technology affects life ;-) A programmer works in a software-

development company. One day he didn't come to work. The next day too. His co-workers called his phone, but nobody answers. They started to worry about him and decided to visit him. So, they found him in the bath, wet and blue because of cold, half-dead, holding an empty bottle from shampoo and reading the label of it.

It says: "Apply a small amount to wet hair, massage it through, rinse out thoroughly. Repeat."

Development (definition) As compared with a change - a process leading from

one state of affairs towards a different state of affairs - a development is an intended process leading from an original state towards a desired state - towards a development goal

Actor-network theory ANT is a approach to social theory and research which originated in the

field of science studies. ANT maps relations that are simultaneously material (between things) and 'semiotic' (between concepts). It assumes that many relations are both material and 'semiotic' (e.g. the interactions in a bank involve both people and their ideas, and technologies. Together these form a single network).

ANT assumes that all the elements in a network, human and non-human, can and should be described in the same terms. This is called the principle of generalized symmetry. The rationale for this is that differences between them are generated in the network of relations, and should not be presupposed.

Concept of translation Process, in which innovators attempt to create a forum,

a central network in which all the actors agree that the network is worth building and defending.

Four moments of translation:ProblematisationInteressementEnrolmentMobilisation of allies

Concept of translation 1. Problematisation

What is the problem that needs to be solved? Who are the relevant actors? Delegates need to be identified that will represent groups of actors. So, a union head represents workers or a Member of Parliament represents his constituency. During problematisation, the primary actor tries to establish itself as an obligatory passage point (OPP) between the other actors and the network, so that it becomes indispensable.

2. InteressementGetting the actors interested and negotiating the terms of their

involvement. The primary actor works to convince the other actors that the roles it has defined them are acceptable.

Concept of translation 3. Enrolment

Actors accept the roles that have been defined for them during interessement

4. Mobilisation of alliesDo the delegate actors in the network adequately represent

the masses? If so, enrolment becomes active support.

Elements in a networkActantsActants are human and non-human actors, and they do

by virtue of their relations with one another. ANT assumes that nothing lies outside the network of relations, and there is no difference in the ability of technology, humans, animals, or other non-humans to act (and that there are only enacted alliances.) As soon as an actor engages with an actor-network it is caught up in the web of relations.

Elements in a networkPunctualisation If taken to its logical conclusion, nearly any actor can be considered merely a

sum of other, smaller actors. An automobile is an example of a complex system. It contains many electronic and mechanical components, all of which are essentially hidden from view to the driver, who simply deals with the car as a single object. This effect is known as punctualisation, and is similar to the idea of abstraction in object-oriented programming. When an actor network breaks down, the punctualisation effect tends to cease as well. In the automobile example above, a non-working engine would cause the driver to become aware of the car as a collection of parts rather than just a vehicle capable of transporting him or her from place to place. This can also occur when elements of a network act contrarily to the network as a whole.

Elements in a networkTokens/quasi-objects In the above examples, 'social order' and 'functioning car' come into being

through the successful interactions of their respective actor-networks, and actor-network theory refers to these creations as tokens or quasi-objects which are passed between actors within the network.As the token is increasingly transmitted or passed through the network, it becomes increasingly punctualized and also increasingly reified. When the token is decreasingly transmitted, or when an actor fails to transmit the token (e.g., the oil pump breaks), punctualization and reification are decreased as well.

How technology changes human behaviour?

Restricts some behaviours (e.g. DRM copy restriction) It is hard to find out who is „good person” and who is

„bad person”, because technology makes a decision instead of single person

-> Technology makes people immoral

InnovationThe “functional” source of innovation depends upon the

functional relationship between innovator and innovation:An INNOVATION is anything new that is actually used

(“enters the marketplace”) – whether major or minor.An innovation is a USER innovation when the developer

expects to benefit by USING it;An innovation is a MANUFACTURER innovation when the

developer expects to benefit by SELLING it.

InnovationModels of innovation Sources of innovation Strategy for innovation Implementation of innovation

Innovation lifecycle - Adoption of technology

Technology maturity

Business Strategy to the Technology Strategy

Definitions of Business strategyDefinitions of Technology Strategy Influence of business on technology Influence of technology on business petterns

New technologies and competition

Aspects of technology developmentSpecialisation,NicheCore competenciesOther