Technological change and the technology intelligence process: a case study

Abstract Various reasons are brought forward for the demise of companies in the face of fundamental technological change. Most often blamed is an insufficient technology intelligence process. However, existing research is contradictory on how this process should be organised. Therefore it is the objective of this case study to derive insight into the organisation of the technology intelligence process by analysing it in the context of radical technological change. The results of a study of the technology intelligence practices of 25 multinational companies are presented. Firstly, the structural, hybrid and informal forms of co-ordination of technology intelligence processes are presented as three parallel layers. Secondly, a framework for the distribution of tasks between the three layers of co-ordination are described and the preconditions necessary for efficient technology intelligence processes are shown. Thirdly, the results are contrasted with past research and conclusions are drawn for further research.

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