Abstract
Technology roadmaps have been widely adopted as an important management tool during the past three decades after their invention by Motorola in the 1980s. Technology roadmapping processes can be integrated with a firm’s competence sets and play dominant roles in strategy definitions. Although the issue of how multiple objectives can be dealt with in technology roadmaps by including the uncertainties of the modern management environment is important, it has seldom been addressed. To remedy this, we aim in this research to propose a competence set expansion method based on fuzzy multiple objective programming (FMOP). An empirical study based on the roadmapping of silicon intellectual properties (SIPs) of automotive applications will be used to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed roadmapping method. In the future, the proposed analytic technique can be integrated with the data mining results of academic research database, patent libraries, etc. The well-verified mathematical programming method can serve as a basis for research and development (R&D) strategy definitions by managers of high-technology firms as well as policy makers of governments.
Highlights
The perception of the technology roadmap was proposed by Robert Galvin, the chief executive officer of Motorola in the 1980s
The overall competence set expansion process should include the following steps at least: (1) a detailed review of the most up-to-date status of technology, (2) a forecast of the technology required in the prediction period, (3) a comparison between the current competence set of the firm and the competence set to be expanded, and (4) a decision on the methods for expanding the competence set as well as the definitions of strategies for achieving the above-mentioned expansion
An analytic framework with fuzzy mathematics, multiple objective decision-making, and the concept of competence set expansion is fully compatible with the nature of real-world research and development (R&D) and science and technology development projects
Summary
The perception of the technology roadmap was proposed by Robert Galvin, the chief executive officer of Motorola in the 1980s. A technology roadmap is an overview of science and technology plans in the form of maps, irrespective of whether the future technologies or products will be for firms or governments. The roadmapping procedure is the establishment of a roadmap, which always includes a multiple-layer illustration of a plan which links technology and products with market opportunities [2]. The general technology roadmap is a chart with date or time data; the chart usually consists of numerous layers of technologies and products, which typically include both commercial and technological aspects. A technology roadmap reveals how a technology can be fitted with product and service developments, business strategies, and market opportunities [3]. Technology roadmaps have been widely adopted in numerous sectors, including the high technology, manufacturing, and service sectors, at the levels of firms, industries, and governments [4]
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