JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT
Year:2013 | Volume:1 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:6

Evaluation of innovative capacity at the national level is the most fundamental step in STI policymaking. In this regard, numerous researchers have dealt with the issue to date. Therefore, the current paper aims at critical review of the main evaluation schemes worldwide and in Islamic Republic of Iran (I. R. I) as well to investigate the weaknesses and strengths of existing schemes. Analyzing the prominent schemes and considering the national considerations of I. R. I., a new model has been developed. The introduced model consists of four main components: input, output, process and environment. Each of the four components has been discussed thoroughly. Finally, the model validity has been investigated through content evaluation panel.

Appropriate and on-time information is one of the most important needs of policy and decision makers in various technological fields. This paper introduces technology intelligence system as a system which increases decision-making power in the field of technology and its main approach is acquisition, analysis, and transforming the relevant data into meaningful information. The main purpose of this paper is to derive functional structure of technology intelligence system in the field of “ Fuel Cell Technology” at the national level. To achieve the objectives, this work is performed in four phases: identifying Fuel Cell Technology (FCT) stakeholders and their needs through semi-structured survey, deriving framework of intelligence needs of FCT and functions of Technology Intelligence System based on the framework, and finally proposing a proper functional architecture using IDEF0 model. We used secondary research, comparative study, and expert panel to do this research. Based on the results obtained, stakeholders of the fuel cell technology intelligence system are divided into five groups from the decision making point of view. Also, the main function of the system at the first level is divided into six functions: requirement analysis and guidance, search and acquisition, processing, organizing, storing, analyzing, documentation and disseminating at the second level. The results indicate that the lack of these functions may lead to the instability of the system.

Technology forecasting as the first step in technology planning procedure, is defined as continuous monitoring of technological developments to evaluate its potential capability and early detection of its future applications. In developing countries, the lack of these studies in technology policy making process causes investments in R&D activities not to have desired effectiveness and put these countries far behind frontiers of technology. In this study, in order to monitor technological developments in glaze field and forecast its future trend, related patent information was retrieved from EPO and USTPO for further analysis and evaluation. After determining essential key words, 1591 patents were retrieved for analysis. Then using text mining techniques and K-means clustering methodology, glaze technology was divided into six technological clusters: "glaze main material", "additive materials", "Special glazes", "diversity in glaze appearance", "firing equipment", and "preparation methods". Finally, technology life cycle stage was determined for each of these clusters using Bi-logistic growth curve. Results showed that glaze technology is in maturity or saturation stage in all of its sub clusters and it would probably be replaced with other new advanced technologies in the near future.

According to the mission of Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs), they are responsible for technology development and facilitating its commercialization. The complexity and specific nature of each technology and industry requirements, lead to numerous problems in defining technology development and commercialization process and also lack of integrity and compliance with the type and time of technological needs of industry and the defined model for technology development in RTOs make the problems more difficult for RTOs. In order to respond to these theoretical challenges, this study used a deductive approach to theory building from the perspective of those involved in technology development and commercialization to extract and explain the various models used for the technology development and commercialization in RIPI using exploratory qualitative research methodology. These models are based on case study (multiple-case study) of the technology development and commercialization process for twenty different technologies which are executed in RIPI and six different models of technology development and commercialization have been established. To validate the proposed model, it was checked by experts opinion and the result was compared with the models of the under developed technology projects to receive the views of experts and pattern matching of models. The evidence provides adequate support confirmation of the developed models. Finally, the results of the study along with an appropriate analysis were presented.

Globalization as a dominant phenomenon in worldwide economy has had a huge effect on manufacturing and service companies in recent years. Increasing the importance and complexity of "entering to global market" is one of these effects. If in the past, companies entered to the other countries economy by export and direct sales, now there are several methods and mechanisms to enter new markets. Appropriate selection of such markets can lead to the success of the organizations. This study analyzes “ entry mode” as one of the key success factors of global activity of companies. After literature review, effective factors on the selection of entry mode were identified and were categorized in a conceptual model. Using this model a case of automotive industry was analyzed to evaluate the effect of considered factors. The result shows that some important factors have been ignored and some strategic decisions have been taken based on less important factors.

Since the present century is drastically changing, complex and competitive, any organization requires continuous or fundamental improvement to achieve growth and competitive advantage. Therefore, today's leaders should be innovating. Research has shown that innovation in organizations is one of the main stimulus factors for competitiveness and national development. However, little empirical research works have been done on employees’ perception considering the impact of organizational factors on individual innovation. The objective of this paper is to identify organizational (or internal) factors important to an individual’ s contribution towards innovation. This study is a descriptive and practical survey. Statistical population is consisted of all employees of Gas Corporation in Yazd. To investigate the effect of factors on the innovation, Path Analysis was performed using LISREL software. The results of Path Analysis showed that there is significant relationship between the investigated seven factors and individual innovation. Furthermore, among these factors knowledge was ranked in the first position.