Perceived usefulness of Technological Forecasting techniques

Abstract

Although there are a number of powerful technological forecasting (TF) techniques, not all of them are perceived equally useful, nor are they applicable in all situations. The technique used depends on the forecasting objectives of the firm, which in turn depend on the nature of the firm or industry. In this article, the perceived usefulness of some of the common TF techniques (based on a survey) is analyzed. The results lead to the categorization of the techniques into two distinct groups. The relationship between the industry and its preference for a specific category of TF is suggested. Some suggestions are offered for increasing the usefulness of TF within a firm.