View source for Technology scouting

{{Futures studies}}
'''Technology scouting''' is an element of [[technology management]] in which 
:(1) [[emerging technologies]] are identified, 
:(2) technology related information is channeled into an organization, and 
:(3) supports the acquisition of technologies.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Rohrbeck|first=René|date=2010-03-01|title=Harnessing a network of experts for competitive advantage: technology scouting in the ICT industry|journal=R&D Management|language=en|volume=40|issue=2|pages=169–180|doi=10.1111/j.1467-9310.2010.00601.x|s2cid=154201060|issn=1467-9310}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wolff|first=Michael F.|title=Scouting for Technology|date=1992|jstor=24156524|journal=Research Technology Management|volume=35|issue=2|pages=10–12}}</ref> 
It is a starting point of a long term and interactive matching process between external technologies and internal requirements of an existing organization for strategic purposes.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Holzmann|first1=Thomas|last2=Sailer|first2=Klaus|last3=Galbraith|first3=Brendan|last4=Katzy|first4=Bernhard R.|title=Matchmaking for open innovation – theoretical perspectives based on interaction, rather than transaction|journal=Technology Analysis & Strategic Management|date=23 June 2014|volume=26|issue=6|pages=595–599|doi=10.1080/09537325.2014.913344|s2cid=8890066}}</ref> This matching may also be aided by [[technology roadmap]]ping.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Phaal|first1=Robert|last2=Farrukh|first2=Clare J.P.|last3=Probert|first3=David R.|title=Technology roadmapping—A planning framework for evolution and revolution|journal=Technological Forecasting and Social Change|volume=71|issue=1–2|pages=5–26|doi=10.1016/s0040-1625(03)00072-6|year=2004}}</ref> Technology scouting is also known to be part of [[competitive intelligence]], which firms apply as a tool of competitive strategy.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Brenner|first=Merrill S.|date=1996-09-01|title=Technology intelligence and technology scouting|journal=Competitive Intelligence Review|language=en|volume=7|issue=3|pages=20–27|doi=10.1002/cir.3880070306|issn=1520-6386}}</ref> It can also be regarded as a method of [[technology forecasting]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Bodelle|first1=Jacques|last2=Jablon|first2=Claude|date=1993-09-01|title=Science and Technology Scouting at Elf Aquitaine|journal=Research-Technology Management|volume=36|issue=5|pages=24–28|doi=10.1080/08956308.1993.11670924|issn=0895-6308}}</ref> or in the broader context also an element of [[corporate foresight]].<ref name="rohrbeck-2010">Rohrbeck, Rene (2010) ''Corporate Foresight: Towards a Maturity Model for the Future Orientation of a Firm'', Physica-Verlag, Heidelberg and New York, {{ISBN|978-3-7908-2625-8}}</ref> Technology scouting may also be applied as an element of an open innovation approach.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Spitsberg|first1=Irene|last2=Brahmandam|first2=Sudhir|last3=Verti|first3=Michael J.|last4=Coulston|first4=George W.|date=2013-07-01|title=Technology Landscape Mapping: At the Heart of Open Innovation|journal=Research-Technology Management|volume=56|issue=4|pages=27–35|doi=10.5437/08956308X5604107|s2cid=153099807|issn=0895-6308}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rohrbeck|first1=René|last2=Hölzle|first2=Katharina|last3=Gemünden|first3=Hans Georg|date=2009-09-01|title=Opening up for competitive advantage – How Deutsche Telekom creates an open innovation ecosystem|journal=R&D Management|language=en|volume=39|issue=4|pages=420–430|doi=10.1111/j.1467-9310.2009.00568.x|s2cid=153682248|issn=1467-9310}}</ref> Technology scouting is seen as an essential element of a modern technology management system.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Edler|first1=Jakob|last2=Meyer-Krahmer|first2=Frieder|last3=Reger|first3=Guido|date=2002-03-01|title=Changes in the strategic management of technology: results of a global benchmarking study|journal=R&D Management|language=en|volume=32|issue=2|pages=149–164|doi=10.1111/1467-9310.00247|issn=1467-9310}}</ref>

The technology scout is either an employee of the company or an external consultant who engages in [[boundary spanning]] processes to tap into novel knowledge and span internal boundaries.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Klueter|first1=Thomas|last2=Monteiro|first2=Felipe|date=2017-06-01|title=How Does Performance Feedback Affect Boundary Spanning in Multinational Corporations? Insights from Technology Scouts|journal=Journal of Management Studies|language=en|volume=54|issue=4|pages=483–510|doi=10.1111/joms.12252|s2cid=158036607 |issn=1467-6486}}</ref> They may be assigned part-time or full-time to the scouting task. The desired characteristics of a technology scout are similar to the characteristics associated with the technological gatekeeper.  These characteristics include being a [[Lateral thinking|lateral thinker]], knowledgeable in science and technology, respected inside the company, cross-disciplinary orientated, and imaginative personality.<ref name=":1" /> Technology scouts would also often play a vital role in a formalised technology foresight process.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Reger|first=Guido|date=2001-12-01|title=Technology Foresight in Companies: From an Indicator to a Network and Process Perspective|journal=Technology Analysis & Strategic Management|volume=13|issue=4|pages=533–553|doi=10.1080/09537320127286|s2cid=8598335|issn=0953-7325}}</ref>

== Case studies ==
Documented case studies include:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Organization !! Project !! Year
|-
| [[DZSF]]  || ''"DZSF - Projekte - Voruntersuchung zu Gestaltung und Betrieb eines teilautomatisierten Technologiescouting-Systems"''<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blumenthal |first1=Frederick |last2=Buder |first2=Thomas |last3=Löbling |first3=Lisa |last4=Sickenberger |first4=Thorsten |last5=Tagiew |first5=Rustam |last6=Tilly |first6=Roman |last7=Yao-Lakaschus |first7=Phillip |title=Ein Technologie-Scouting-System für Recherche und Vernetzung im Schienenverkehrssektor |journal=ETR – Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau |date=2023 |volume=01-02 |url=https://eurailpress-archiv.de/SingleView.aspx?show=4695274}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tagiew |first1=Rustam |last2=Witzler |first2=Sebastian |last3=Portier |first3=Martin |title=Towards Assessing Digital Technologies for the Future of Mobility |journal=SSRN |url=https://ssrn.com/abstract=4151745 |year=2022 |publisher=Social Science Research Network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite conference |last1=Tagiew |first1=Rustam |last2=Tilly |first2=Roman |last3=Lobling |first3=Lisa |last4=Blumenthal |first4=Frederick |title=Technology Scouting as Persuasive Technology |editor=Felix Nti Koranteng |editor2=Nilufar Baghaei |editor3=Sandra Burri Gram-Hansen |book-title=18th International Conference on Persuasive Technology, Adjunct Proceedings co-located with PERSUASIVE 2023 |date=2023 |volume=3474 |url=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3474/paper16.pdf |publisher=CEUR-WS |issn=1613-0073}}</ref> || 2022
|-
| [[Deutsche Telekom]] || ''"Technology Scouting - a Case Study on the Deutsche Telekom Laboratories"''<ref>{{Cite SSRN |last=Rohrbeck|first=René|year=2007|title=Technology Scouting - a Case Study on the Deutsche Telekom Laboratories |ssrn=1896150}}</ref> || 2007
|-
| [[Sonova|Phonak]] || ''"Technology intelligence systems: practices and models for large, medium-sized and start-up companies"''<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Savioz|first=Pascal|title=Technology intelligence systems: practices and models for large, medium-sized and start-up companies|journal=International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning|language=en|volume=2|issue=4|page=360|doi=10.1504/ijtip.2006.011707|year=2006}}</ref> || 2006
|-
| [[Novartis]] || ''"Organisation der Technology intelligence : eine empirische Untersuchung der Technologiefrühaufklärung in technologieintensiven Grossunternehmen"''<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Organisation der Technology intelligence: eine empirische Untersuchung der Technologiefrühaufklärung in technologieintensiven Grossunternehmen|last=Lichtenthaler |first=Eckhard Rainer Volker|date=2002|publisher=Verlag Industrielle Organisation|isbn=978-3-85743-605-5|location=Zürich|oclc=52477904}}</ref> || 2002
|-
| [[Elf Aquitaine]] || ''"Science and Technology Scouting at Elf Aquitaine"''<ref name=":0" /> || 1993
|}

==See also==
* [[Corporate foresight|Corporate Foresight]]
* [[Foresight (futures studies)]]
* [[Futurology]]
* [[Horizon scanning]]
* [[Scientific lacuna]]
* [[Strategic foresight]]
* [[Technology management|Technology Management]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Scientific Journals ==
* [[Technological Forecasting and Social Change]]
* [[Futures (journal)|Futures]]
* [[Futures & Foresight Science]]
* [[Foresight (futures studies journal)|Foresight]]
* [[Journal of Futures Studies]]

{{emerging technologies|topics=yes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Technology scouting}}
[[Category:Strategic management]]
[[Category:Technological change]]
[[Category:Technology forecasting]]
[[Category:Technology assessment]]

[[fr:Veille technologique]]