What is Management of Technology? What is Technology Management?

WKU Master of Science Technology Management

What is Technology Management?

Management of Technology (MoT) links engineering, science, and management disciplines to plan, develop, and implement technological capabilities to shape and accomplish strategic and operational objectives of an organization (National Research Council, 1987).

"MoT is the art and science of creating value by using technology together with other resources of an organization" (Thamhain, 2005, p. 6).

Technology is the modification of the natural environment in order to satisfy human needs and wants (International Technology Education Association, 2000).

What Do Technology Leaders Need to Know?

Current and emerging technologies
Project and process management
Strategic and systems thinking
Resource balance
Organizational leadership
Human behavior (Shenhar, 1991)

By definition, it is the nature of technology to integrate and incorporate knowledge from other disciplines while also contributing to it. Thus, managers of technology must be able to think and communicate across disciplines, both technical and non-technical (Doggett, 2004).

Management of Technology is:

Technological strategy and planning
Technological forecasting
Management of innovation
Implementation of technology
Technology transfer
Requires a science perspective, technical competency, and managerial ability (Markert and Backer, 2003)

"For some people, MoT relates to scientific research and the development of new concepts. To others, MoT means engineering design and development, manufacturing, or operations management, while yet others relate MoT to managing hospitals, financial businesses, the Olympic Games, or eBay. Indeed, the scope of MoT is very broad and diverse. Its boundaries also overlap considerably with those of the major disciplines of science, engineering, and management. Furthermore, with the increasing complexity of our business environment, MoT focuses more strongly on 'managing' the organizational processes and the people affiliated with them" (Thamhain, 2005, p. 4).

What Will MOT Be In the Future?

Leadership of multifunctional teams that cut across traditional organizational boundaries (Khalil, 1993).
The development of practical technical knowledge based on rigorous academic inquiry (Mills et al. 1996).
Understanding of social and economic performance measurements (Bell, 1999).
Design of business and technology architecture using holistic iterative processes (Gharajedaghi, 1999).
Use of thinking models to test assumptions about technology (Goldratt, 1994).
Application of dynamic models to technological systems (Senge, 1999).

For an excellent diagram on MoT, go to the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) website.