A COMPUTER-AIDED PROCES FOR ASSESSING THE ABILITY OF SHIPYARDS TO USE TECHNICAL INNOVATION

This paper details a prototype personal computer based organizational evaluation system that allows a shipyard to evaluate its potential for technological innovation against a composite innovative organization. The system was developed by a combination of meta-analysis of available literature, interviews, and survey of shipbuilding industry personnel. The system is designed for self use by organizational members, and produces output that serves as basis for dialogue about changes necessary to increase the innovative capacity of a shipbuilding organization. Development and use of the system is explained, and examples of output from 2 field tests is presented. Further system development plans are examined.