Technology intelligence: identification of technological opportunities and threats by firms

The importance of technology intelligence is widely accepted in theory and practice. In the past, however, many technology intelligence approaches in firms failed. This contribution presents further results of an exploratory case study research in 26 leading European and North American multinationals. Firstly, it is shown along the different steps of the technology intelligence process how the companies studied determine information needs, gather information, assess it and finally communicate it to decision-makers. Secondly, different organisational elements, such as technology intelligence units and expert networks, are described and their roles in the different steps of the technology intelligence process are discussed. Thirdly, the organisation of the technology intelligence process of two companies is discussed in detail. Finally, implications are drawn for future research and a conclusion is given.

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