Technology Scouting Overview

Innovation Methodology: Technology Scouting

Technology Sourcing includes the identification of technology developments and the facilitation of the sourcing of technology.
Provisioning of Technology Intelligence to facilitate the Technology Management
Identification, assessment and usage of information on technological developments Acquisition, development, storage, usage and selling of technological knowledge

Technology Intelligence

Technology Management

Scouts identify and assess new technologies

Technology Scouting
Building and using a network of experts for competitive advantage

Scouts facilitate the sourcing of technology

Innovation Methodology: Technology Scouting

Technology Scouting Process consists of five Technology Intelligence steps plus the step of Technology Sourcing.

Definition of search areas

Selection of information sources and methods to employ

Collection of Data

Filtering, analyzing, interpreting of data

Evaluation and decision making

Usage of information and sourcing of technologies Collection of data

Innovation Methodology: Technology Scouting

Technology Sourcing supports the external sourcing of technology and the product specification and development. Innovation Management
Fuzzy-front-end of Innovation Product specification and development Prototype validation and testing Market Launch

Technology Management
External Technology Sourcing Storage, Internal generation and usage of technological knowledge Technology selling or licensing

Innovation Methodology: Technology Scouting

Framework for Empirical Research: PLS path analysis will be used to analyze the success factors of technology scouting and how to organize it best.

Factors

Management Areas

Scouting Success

Factors

Defined Process Functional interweavement Formalized connection to R&D Formulized connection to Marketing Methodological interweavement

Organizational Characteristics

Stimulation of Innovation Characteristics of the Scouts Facilitation of Technology Scouting Management of Scouting Network

Input for R&D projects Triggering of new R&D projects Triggering of new business field

Boundary spanner capabilities Network Size Technological competence Internal Network

Incentive System IT-Support Tools Balanced scout portfolio Role Differentiation

Help in assessment of technology Contact to relevant sources Sourcing needs identified Support in acquisition of technology Successful acquisition of technology

Innovation Methodology: Technology Scouting

Project Planning: PLS-path analysis and in-depth case studies will be used to study organization and success factors of technology scouting.
Quantitative Interviews/Case Studies

Qualitative Interviews

Model Building

Model Valuation

Writing of Dissertation

In depth interviews with 10 multinational companies

Modeling a framework for research on success factors of technology scouting

Build on the Hypothesis of the framework 50 qualitative Interviews are conducted.

In depth case studies will be conducted for six companies.

Based on the qualitative data, partial least-square path analysis is used to validate the hypothesis The case studies are analyzed to gain knowledge of best practices

The dissertation will discuss technology scouting as of a method of technology intelligence and technology management

Innovation Methodology: Technology Scouting

Motivation and Research Question: Further research on Technology Scouting is needed to identify success factors and to give recommendation on how to organize it. Increase in technology complexity Globalization of R&D Shorter product life cycles Increasing volatility of markets No sufficient research on . success factors and organization of technology scouting and ...interaction with other function of the organization

Motivation

Research Gap

Research Questions

What are the aims of Technology Scouting? What are important success factors of Technology Scouting? How should Technology Scouting be interweaved within the company? What organizational forms of Technology Scouting have proven to be effective?

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