Lessons in technology assessment: Methodology and management at OTA

Abstract

The demise of the congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) was precipitated by larger political forces that in the end, despite a close fight, OTA was unable to withstand. In its time, OTA was the institutional leader in the technology assessment (TA) field. OTA defined and refined a widely respected assessment process that produced hundreds of critically acclaimed reports. OTA studies contributed to congressional deliberations and public debate on a wide range of topics. OTA's legacy also includes some important lessons in technology assessment methodology and management, with implications for reinventing technology assessment for legislative bodies such as the U.S. Congress. The lessons learned are likely to be key to the future of a next generation OTA or the equivalent, and to other OTA-like organizations, whether in the public or private sector. Compared to the old OTA, a reinvented TA organization would have a more flexible product line and study process that can more closely match a variety of congressional needs, while at the same time retaining the OTA hallmarks of balance, objectivity, and broad participation. Methodological improvements are needed and can be implemented quickly, drawing on the OTA lessons and other TA activities in the United States and overseas. The imperative for OTA-like functions continues, given the ever more pervasive role of science and technology in society. As embodied in the Technology Assessment Act, the concept of TA is a noble one. The OTA experience in TA methodology and management should help technology assessors at home and abroad keep the dream alive.