TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT

Module I
 TECHNOLOGY: MOST IMPORTANT
• The most important technological artifact
in human history was among the first –
the flint cutting tool used by Homo
habilis (c. 2,500,000 BCE)
 These essential tools allowed relatively
puny humans (who were more
scavengers than hunters) to rapidly
cut, detach, and carry away meat from
carcasses before more formidable
predators and scavengers arrived
 Allowed tiny numbers of humans to
survive
 High-protein diet allowed larger brain
ANIL to evolve
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 EARLIEST TECHNOLOGY
• 2,600,000 BCE: oldest known stone tools
(sharp-edged flakes, flake fragments, and
cores), Ethiopia
• 1,000,000 BCE: hand axes replace simpler
chopping tools, Africa
• 460,000 BCE: earliest known use of fire,
China (although hominids may have
learned to control fire more than
1,000,000 BCE)
• 380,000 BCE: earliest known use of
artificial shelter, Europe
• 250,000 BCE: earliest known use of paint
(red ocher mixed with blood), Europe
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 EARLIEST TECHNOLOGY
• 100,000 BCE: first known human burial, Israel
• 70,000 BCE: oldest evidence of
woodworking, Japan
• 45,000 BCE: first known rock art, Australia
• 37,000 BCE: first known counting devices
(engraved bone & wood), Africa
• 32,000 BCE: first ivory carving, Europe
• 24,000 BCE: first rock paintings, Africa
• 24,000 BCE: first clay and limestone huts,
Europe
• 23,000 BCE: earliest clay figurines, Europe

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 EARLIEST TECHNOLOGY
• 12,000 BCE: grinding stones for gathered grain
and seeds, Middle East
• 11,000 BCE: first known domesticated dogs,
Israel
• 10,500 BCE: first known pottery vessels, Japan
• 10,500 BCE: oldest known solar calendar,
France
• 10,000 BCE: rope invented, Middle East
• 9,000 BCE: earliest farming, Middle East
• 8,500 BCE: sheep & goats domesticated,
Afghanistan
• 8,500 BCE: potatoes & beans cultivated, Peru
• ANIL
8,000 BCE: perhaps earliest log boats, Kuwait
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 EARLIEST TECHNOLOGY
• 7,000 BCE: weaving of cloth appears, Middle
East
• 6,750 BCE: pigs domesticated, Mesopotamia
(Iraq)
• 6,500 BCE: earliest metallurgy, Middle East
• 6,000 BCE: earliest stamp seals, Middle East
• 6,000 BCE: cattle domesticated, Greece
• 5,000 BCE: sailing ships, Mesopotamia
• 4,000 BCE: horses domesticated, Europe
• 4,000 BCE: invention of plow, Middle East and
Europe

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 EARLIEST TECHNOLOGY
• 3,300 BCE: invention of writing, Mesopotamia
(Iraq)
• 2,500 BCE: first cities, Indus Valley
• 2,000 BCE: bronze, Europe
• 2,000 BCE: ironworking, Middle East
• 1,400 BCE: phonetic alphabet, Levant
• 600 BCE: first gold & silver coins, Anatolia
• 200 BCE: invention of concrete, Rome

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 TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
• Throughout human history, technology has had a profound effect on
human development and on the progress of civilization.
• It took humans about 2 million years to develop from nomads
foraging for food in east central Africa to agricultural settlers capable
of augmenting their power with tools and domestic animals.
• This significant development ushered in the dawn of civilization.
• The next several thousand years witnessed the development of the
wheel, the chariot, the water wheel, and mechanical implements.
• It was only less than two centuries ago that the steam engine and the
factory system ushered in the start of the Industrial Revolution.
• Energy generated from water and from mechanical, electrical, and
nuclear sources enabled humans to achieve unprecedented change in
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 TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
• Yet in no other time in history has technology been as pervasive in
human lives as it is today.
• To an ever-increasing extent, it has invaded every aspect of human
endeavour.
• Government operations, global corporations, private enterprises, and
individuals are highly dependent on technology for their success.
• The rate of technological progress and society's dependence on
technology only promises to intensify as the world has moved into the
twenty-first century.
• In spite of the fact that technology is the most pervasive force
influencing human lives today, it remains mysterious to many people,
and its exact definition eludes most of the public and many
ANIL professionals.
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 DEFINITION OF TECHNOLOGY
• Technology can be defined as all the knowledge, products, processes,
tools, methods, and systems employed in the creation of goods or in
providing services.
• In simple terms, technology is the way we do things.
• It is the means by which we accomplish objectives.
• Technology is the practical implementation of knowledge, a means of
aiding human endeavour.
• It is common to think of technology in terms of hardware, such as
machines, computers, or highly advanced electronic gadgets.
• However, technology embraces a lot more than just machines
• There are several technological entities besides hardware, including
software and human skills
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 DEFINITION OF TECHNOLOGY
• Zeleny (1986) highlighted this point by proposing that any
technology consists of three interdependent, codetermining, and
equally important components:
 Hardware: The physical structure and logical layout of the
equipment or machinery that is to be used to carry out the
required tasks.
 Software: The knowledge of how to use the hardware in order
to carry out the required tasks.
 Know-why or Brain-ware: The reasons for using the technology
in a particular way.
• In addition to the above three components, a fourth one must be
considered independently, for it encompasses all levels of
technological achievements:
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 DEFINITION OF TECHNOLOGY
• Know-how: The learned or acquired knowledge of technical skill
regarding how to do things well. Know-how may be a result of
experience, transfer of knowledge, or hands-on practice. People
acquire technical know-how by receiving formal or informal education
or training or by working closely with an expert in a certain field.
Know-how can also be acquired through a recognized method of
technology transfer.

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 KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
• We currently live in what truly can be termed the 'knowledge age'.
• Technology is knowledge applied to the creation of goods, provision
of services, and improvement of our stewardship of precious and
finite resources; on a negative note, it can also be applied for
destructive purposes.
• Whatever the application may be, advancement of technology follows
expansion of knowledge.
• Knowledge is not information, but it is based on the amount of
information available.
• Knowledge is all that has been perceived or grasped by the mind
from the range of information available.

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 KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
• Human beings have been able to sort information accumulated
throughout their environment into a body of facts, principles, and
theories that form a basis for human enlightenment and learning.
• It is only when knowledge is practically implemented to create new
things, operate a system, or provide a service that we enter the realm
of technology.
• The advances in information technology in the second half of the
twentieth century have expanded the amount of information
available in the world.
• This has created an explosion of knowledge and brought about
further dramatic progress in technology.

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 KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
• The invention of the transistor at Bell Laboratories in 1947 and the
subsequent development of integrated circuits have driven the
development of computers and the information revolution.
• The capacity for information processing has been continuously
increasing.
• Pritchett (1994) reported that there has been more information
produced in the last 30 years than during the previous 5,000 years and
that the information supply available to us doubles every 5 years.
• Gordon Moore (Isaacson, 1997), a cofounder of Intel corporation, has
predicted that microchips will double in power and halve in price every
18 months (Moore's law).
• Intel was able to deliver on this prediction, doubling the computing
power and the amount of information processed every 18 months or
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 KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
• Many other companies have been finding many new applications for
microchips that were scarcely imaginable a year or two earlier.
• The advances in microchips and in computer technology, in general,
have led to a new wave of expansion in business expenditure and
practice.
• According to Pritchett, "In 1991, for the first time, companies have
spent more money on computing and communications gear than the
combined moneys spent on industrial, mining, farm, and construction
equipment."
• The information age of the late twentieth century has created an
explosion of knowledge and has had a major impact on the rate of
technological change.
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 KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
• The accelerated rate of technological change is having a profound
impact on society and the standard of living.
• As we move into the twenty-first century, the Industrial Revolution
has given way to the 'technology revolution'.

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 TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS
• An organization can be thought of as a vehicle for introducing one or
multiple technologies to society.
• The goal is to achieve a set of objectives.
• The technologies used can vary in level, from being very basic, on one
end of the scale, to being super-high technologies, on the other end.
• The organization can be non-profit or for-profit.
• Both types are considered production organizations, with production
being any activity that results in the conversion of resources into goods
or services.
• The resources include natural resources, human resources, and other
resources.
• Business enterprises are formed to make profits.
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 TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS
• The pool of knowledge available to society is a major source for
creating business enterprises.
• Technology's contribution is not only in how goods and services can be
produced but also in what can be or even has the potential to be
produced.
• Technology converts the realm of possibilities into realities.
• The technologies that exist in a business are the technological assets
of that business.
• These assets may, therefore, include hardware, software, brainware,
and know-how.
• They constitute the collective knowledge and technical capabilities of
the organization, including its people, equipment, and systems.
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 TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS
• In the past, the value of a company was assessed largely on the basis
of its Capital and physical assets such as land, buildings, equipment,
and inventory.
• Today, the real value of a company is much more than the value of its
physical assets or its simple accounting net worth.
• Technology adds value to the assets of a company.
• The technology resides in the company's people and its technological
systems.
• There are many companies like those of Google, Facebook, Infosys,
etc., which are heavily involved in developing Internet-based
applications and software-solutions.

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 TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS
• For example, Google, which was founded by Larry Page and Sergey
Grin in January 1996, specializes in Internet search, cloud computing,
and advertising technologies.
• The main source of revenue is through Advertising in a number of
Internet-based services and products.
• Similarly, Facebook started operations in 2004 to provide social
networking services.
• By January 2012, it has over 800 million active users.
• Another Indian company Infosys deals in IT business consulting,
technology, engineering and outsourcing services.
• It has a client-base in over 30 countries.

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 TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS
• For such type of companies, the net value of company resides in its
technology and people.
• Their physical assets are relatively insignificant, yet the real value of
these companies due to maturity in technological growth is huge.
• The typical danger with such a company is to maintain the
technological edge over competitors and remain financially
successful.
• However, chances of sustaining success depend the skill of its
management team in managing the technology-based business.

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HIERARCHY OF ORGANIZATIONAL INTELLECT
1. Cognitive knowledge, or know-what: This is the
basic mastery of the discipline. It is essential but
insufficient for commercial success.
2. Advanced skill, or know-how: This is the
translation of book learning into effective
execution.
3. System understanding, or know-why: This is
knowledge of the cause-and-effect relationship
underlying a discipline.
4. Self-motivated creativity, or care-why: This is
the will, motivation, and adaptability needed for
success. Creative and motivated groups
outperform groups with greater financial or
physical
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 CLASSIFICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
• New Technology
 Any newly introduced or implemented technology in an
organization which effects the organization’s production of
products or services.
 E.g. - new computer software introduced to develop
engineering drawings and thus replace manual drafting.
 E.g. - an Internet website designed to market the company's
products.
 The technology does not have to be new to the world, only to the
company.
 New technology has a profound effect on improving productivity
and maintaining a competitive business enterprise.
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 CLASSIFICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
• Emerging Technology
 Any technology that is not yet fully commercialized but will
become so within about five years.
 It may be currently in limited use but is expected to evolve
significantly.
 Examples include genetic engineering, nanotechnology,
superconductivity, and virtual reality
 Emerging technologies create new industries and may make
existing ones obsolete.
 They have the potential of triggering large changes in institutions
and in society itself.

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 CLASSIFICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
• Sustainable Technology
 Any technology that helps development to meet the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.
 Also used to describe a class of electronic devices that can
promote sustainable management of natural resources such as
land, water, energy sources, etc.
 Technology needed to harness renewable sources of energy such
as sunlight, wind-power, tidal-power, and geothermal energy,
biomass, hydroelectricity, etc. fall under this category.
 Future of human survival and well-being of coming generations
heavily depend on how seriously these technologies are managed
by present generation.
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 CLASSIFICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
• High Technology (high-tech)
 Refers to advanced or sophisticated technologies.
 High technologies are utilized by a wide variety of industries
having following characteristics (A company is classified as high-
tech)
 It employs highly educated people. A large number of the
employees are scientists and engineers.
 Its technology is changing at a faster rate than that of other
industries.
 It competes with technological innovation.
 It has high levels of research-and-development expenditure.

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 CLASSIFICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
• High Technology (high-tech)
 It has the potential to use technology for rapid
growth, and its survival is threatened by the
emergence of competing technology.
 Some high-tech companies may be working with
technologies that are 'pushing the envelope‘ - 'super-
high technologies'.
 Example: quantum computers; neural networks;
Nano-machines

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 CLASSIFICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
• Low Technology
 Refers to technologies that have permeated large segments of
human society.
 Are utilized by industries having the following characteristics:
 They employ people with relatively low levels of education or
skill.
 They use manual or semi-automatic operations.
 They have low levels of research expenditure (below industry
average).
 The technology base used is stable with little change.
 The products produced are mostly of the type that satisfies
basic human needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and basic
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 CLASSIFICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
• Medium Technology
 Term medium technology comprises a wide set of
technologies that fall between high and low technologies.
 It usually refers to mature technologies that are more
amenable than others to technology transfer.
 Examples of industries in this category are consumer
products and the automotive industry.
 Example: radio (but not satellite radio), television (but not
HDTV)

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 CLASSIFICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
• Appropriate Technology
 is used to indicate a good match between the technology utilized
and the resources required for its optimal use.
 The technology could be of any level—low, medium, or high,.
 It does not make sense, for example, to use high technology when
there is a lack of necessary infrastructure or skilled personnel.
 Utilizing the appropriate level of technology results in better use
of labour resources and better production efficiency.
 Example: don’t use expensive, sophisticated technology when
simple, inexpensive technology is sufficient (paper and pen
instead of a PDA)

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 Technology and Competition
Technology and competition are two
important factors that shape the business
world.
Technology refers to the tools ,processes
and methods used to create ,produce and
distribute goods and services.
Competiton , on the other hand refers to
the rivalry between businesses for
customers , market share and profits.
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 Together ,technology and competition play a
major role in driving innovation, efficiency and
growth in the economy.

Advances in technology can create new

products and services, and can also improve
existing ones , which can lead to increased
competition as companies try to differenciate
themselves and gain market share.

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 Advantages of competition in
technology
[Link] :
Technology and competiton drive innovation
as companies strive to develop new and
improved products ,services and processes in
order to gain an edge over their rivals.
2. Efficiency :
Competition can drive businesses to be more
efficient in their use of technology, as they
seek to reduce costs and improve productivity.

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3. Consumer benefits :
Competition can lead to lower prices,better
quality, and more choice for consumers , as
businesses strive to offer the best products
and services at the most attractive prices.
4. Economic growth :
Technology and competition can drive
economic growth by creating new industries
and jobs , and by increasing productivity and
living standards.

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[Link]:
Technology has enabled competition on a global
scale, allowing businesses to reach new markets and
customers , and facilitating the flow of goods ,
services , and ideas across borders.
6. Digitalisation :
Technology has enabled digitalization of many
businesses and industries, resulting in more efficient
processes , automation and cost savings.
7. Personalisation :
With the help of technology , businesses are able to
personalize their offerings ,resulting in better
customer experience and increased retention.

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 Disadvantages of Technological
competition
1. Disruption of traditional industries :
Technology can disrupt traditional industries ,
leading to job losses and economic upheavel as older
business models are replaced.
[Link] :
The benefits of technology and competition may not
be evenly distributed , leading to greater income &
wealth inequality.

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[Link] and security concerns:
- Personal data is collected and shared.

4. Dependence on technology :
Businesses and individuals may become too
dependent on technology , making them vulnerable
to disruptions or failures.

5. Impact on human interactions:

Technology may reduce face-to-face interactions and
social connections , leading to isolation and
loneliness.

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6. Short term focus :
Competiton may lead to a short term focus on profits
and market share, at the expense of long term
sustainability and social responsibility.

7. Cost of entry and maintenance:

Small businesses and new startups may find it
difficult to compete with larger ,established
companies due to high costs of technology.

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 Organising technology at enterprise
level
• It refers to the process of managing and utilising
technology within a business or organisation.

• This includes identifying and implementing the

necessary technology infrastructure, managing
and maintaining technology systems and ensuring
that the technology is used effectively and
efficiently to support the goals and objectives of
the organization.

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Importance of Enterprise Technology management,
1. Alignment with business strategy : Organising
technology at the enterprise level ensures that the
organisation’s technology strategy aligns with its
overall business strategy and supports its goals and
objectives.
2. Improved efficiency and productivity: By effectively
managing and utilizing technology, organizations
can improve efficiency and productivity across their
operations and processes.
3. Better decision making: Organising technology at
enterprise level allows for better decision making by
providing accurate and timely data and information.

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4. Enhanced customer experience: By using technology to
support customer-facing operations and processes ,
organisations can enhance the customer experience and
build stronger customer relationships.

5. Cost savings: Organising technology at enterprise level

can help organisations save costs by identifying and
eliminating inefficiencies,reducing duplication of efforts
and optimize the use of resources.

6. Innovation and competitiveness : Organising technology

at enterprise level allows organisations to stay current
with technological trends and developments and to
innovate and stay competitive in their industry.

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 [Link] Management: By effectively organising
technology , organisations can manage and mitigate
potential technology related risks and ensure the
continuity of their operations.

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 Technology innovation
Technology innovation drives economic growth by creating
new industries and job opportunities.
[Link] improves the quality of life by providing new and
improved products and services.
2. It allows organisations to stay competitive in a rapidly
changing business environment.
[Link] can lead to increased productivity and efficiency.
4. It enable new scientific and technological discoveries.
[Link] can help address societal challenges such as
healthcare,energy and environmental protection.
[Link] can improve communication and collaboration on a
global scale.
[Link] can promote the development of new skills and
capabilities.

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 Key issues in managing technology
innovation
1. Balancing short term and long term goals :
Organizations need to strike a balance between
investing in new technologies that can drive
growth in the short term, and those that have
the potential to shape the future but may not
generate immediate returns.
2. Embracing risk :
Innovation often involves taking calculated
risks,and organizations need to be willing to
embrace this risk inorder to reap the rewards.

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[Link] funding:
Developing and implementing new technologies
can be expensive , and organizations need to
secure the funding required to support their
innovation efforts.
[Link] the innovation pipeline:
Organizations need to have a clear process for
identifying , developing and commercialising
new technologies.
5. Building the right team:
Innovation requires a dedicated and diverse
team with the right skills,experience and
mindset.

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[Link] up with the pace of change:
Technology is evolving rapidly and organizations
need to be agile and adaptable in order to keep
pace with the latest developments.

7. Ensuring ethical considerations:

It is important for organizations to consider the
ethical implications of their innovation efforts.
This includes ensuring privacy, security and
compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

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 Forms of Technology
Product Technology & Process Technology
These are the two different types of technology that
organizations use to develop and produce goods &
services.

Product Technology
It refers to the design , development and production
of physical products and [Link] involves the
creation of new products or the improvement of
existing products through the use of new
materials,components and manufacturing
processes.

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• Product technology involves a wide range of
activities including research & development ,
design , prototyping , testing , manufacturing and
marketing.
• In the early stages of product development
research & experimentation will be conducted to
determine the fasibility of the new products.

• Then comes the design phase where engineers

and designers create detailed blueprints and
specifications for the product. This phase also
includes the creation of prototypes which are
used to test & refine the product before it goes
into production.
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Process Technology:
• It refers to the design,development and
implementation of processes and systems that
are used to produce goods and services.
• It involves the optimization of production
processes to make them more efficient , cost
effective and environmentally sustainable.
• Focus:improving quality of production
process and reducing waste.
• It involves a wide range of activities – process
design, process improvement and process
control.

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• Process design phase –
selection of best manufacturing
equipment,process flow and control systems to
ensure that the process is efficient and cost
effective.
• Process improvement phase –
• Continuously improve the production process.
• Use of process control systems to monitor
production in real time.
• Deployment of continuous improvement
methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma and
eliminate inefficiencies in the process.

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