An analytical concept for the selection, flow, and transference of technology in a large electronics/aerospace firm

Abstract

The basic functions of any firm can be separated into planning, control, and operations, the time span of decision being the separating variable. In the planning sector, the three basic factors of importance are the methodologies and concepts used to relate and integrate corporate strategy, structure, and policies. As the physical size of a firm changes, possibly accompanied by shifts in customer and market orientation, the combinations of strategy, structure, and policies change. In the electronics/aerospace industry, these three factors readily translate into 1) a process for selecting market areas as well as developing a technological resource base for a firm, and 2) a process of ensuring that this technological activity is embedded in an environment which will permit an intrafirm flow and transference of technology. For the selection process, a method is presented which develops a technique for establishing a physical cross-sectoral relationship between the military and commercial markets using a unique tree diagram and matrix approach. A related concept for developing technological flow and transference is developed using a Shannon-Weaver communication model. A composite organization structure model correlating all of these factors is also developed using a small group behavior, linking pin, and decision model.