Decision-making for new technology: A multi-actor, multi-objective method

Scott W. Cunningham

doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2008.08.012

Return

Decision-making for new technology: A multi-actor, multi-objective method

2009-01-01

Scott W. Cunningham *

Telli E. van der Lei

DOI：10.1016/j.techfore.2008.08.012

Original

Save

View PDF

Abstract

En 中文

Technology managers increasingly face problems of group decision. The scale and complexity of research. development and alliance efforts in emerging fields of technology mandate as correspondingly sophisticated form of group coordination. Information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology are good examples of sectors with complex coordination problems. Choices made include the selection of projects, the choice of investment alternatives, and the formation of technology licensing agreements. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods are often used to help decision-makers in such situations. This paper explores an approach closely related to MCDA, known as exchange modeling. Exchange modeling incorporates actor preferences, and assumptions about the play of the game, to better examine the resulting preferences of groups. The advantage of this method is that the results provide an improved prescription for strategy, given the constraints of preferences and existing alliance structures. The model is motivated based upon the needs of technology managers in new, converging fields of technology. The model is formally analyzed using operations research techniques. We then apply the model to a representative technology management problem in the converging fields of informatics, bio and nanotechnology. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords:

Technological decision-making

Exchange models

Multi-criteria decision making

Inter-firm alliances

AI Summary

Key information extracted from the uploaded paper, including a brief overview, abstract, background, key highlights, visual analysis, and future outlook.