Mediating and catalysing innovation: A framework for anticipating the standardisation needs of emerging technologies

The development of technology strategies are often supported by strategic frameworks. Although standards can be critical in fostering technological innovation, particularly by supporting knowledge diffusion, their importance is often neglected by commonly used strategic frameworks. This paper presents a framework which uses the knowledge that needs to transition between key anticipated innovation activities to anticipate potential standardisation needs for emerging technologies. The framework draws attention to strategic considerations and dimensions that might otherwise be overlooked, including different types of standards; standardisation stakeholders; the alignment, coordination, and sequencing of standards; and how these all change over time. A technology roadmapping based framework was used because it explicitly characterises the alignment, coordination, and sequencing of innovation activities (over time) and can be configured to draw out information against the other above strategic considerations and dimensions. The principles and utility of the framework are demonstrated in three contrasting case studies: synthetic biology, additive manufacturing, and smart grid. These show how standards mediate between innovation actors by codifying and diffusing knowledge and can enhance and catalyse innovation. The proposed framework can be used to reveal where standards might be used to support innovation, better characterise the types of standards needed, identify the stakeholders needed to develop them, and highlight any potential alignment, coordination, and sequencing issues related to standardisation activities.Thanks are due to colleagues in BIS, BSI, TSB and Innovate UK for insights, useful conversations and advice on technological domains, and to BIS, BSI and The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, United Kingdom (GA3230) for their financial support. Thanks also due to two anonymous reviewers who helped to refine and more clearly articulate the messages in the article.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2015.11.00

Enabling technologies, lifecycle transitions, and industrial systems in technology foresight: Insights from advanced materials FTA

This paper investigates opportunities to enhance Future-oriented Technology Analysis (FTA) of emerging technologies within innovation systems. We address key challenges faced by policymakers developing innovation strategies for emerging technologies. In particular, we explore ways that FTA might be structured to investigate the complex innovation system journeys of novel technologies as they are developed, diffused, and deployed. In doing this, we draw on concepts from technology and operations management and related literatures to more carefully characterise the: (1) ‘technical infrastrucutre’ required to develop emerging technologies; (2) key technology transitions involved in diffusion; and (3) complex industrial value networks into which they may eventually get deployed. We investigate the extent to which these categories are already used within national technology foresight exercises. In particular, we review over 240 international FTA-related policy, strategy, and analysis documents for ‘advanced materials’. We find that – although generally used inconsistently and unsystematically within FTA – these categories repeatedly emerge as important elements in many policies, strategies, and underpinning foresight exercises. We conclude by arguing that these categories should be carefully considered in initial FTA design. And that, by doing so, FTA exercises may better reveal potential ‘innovation system failures’ and help policymakers coordinate policy actions in response

Enabling technologies, lifecycle transitions, and industrial systems in technology foresight: Insights from advanced materials FTA

This paper investigates opportunities to enhance Future-oriented Technology Analysis (FTA) of emerging technologies within innovation systems. We address key challenges faced by policymakers developing innovation strategies for emerging technologies. In particular, we explore ways that FTA might be structured to investigate the complex innovation system journeys of novel technologies as they are developed, diffused, and deployed. In doing this, we draw on concepts from technology and operations management and related literatures to more carefully characterise the: (1) ‘technical infrastrucutre’ required to develop emerging technologies; (2) key technology transitions involved in diffusion; and (3) complex industrial value networks into which they may eventually get deployed. We investigate the extent to which these categories are already used within national technology foresight exercises. In particular, we review over 240 international FTA-related policy, strategy, and analysis documents for ‘advanced materials’. We find that – although generally used inconsistently and unsystematically within FTA – these categories repeatedly emerge as important elements in many policies, strategies, and underpinning foresight exercises. We conclude by arguing that these categories should be carefully considered in initial FTA design. And that, by doing so, FTA exercises may better reveal potential ‘innovation system failures’ and help policymakers coordinate policy actions in response.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.06.02

A Critical Review of the Criticisms of System Dynamics

This paper presents a review of the criticisms of system dynamics and assesses the validity of these against recent findings in the field. The authors survey the literature critical of system dynamics and review their criticisms using the current understandings in the system dynamics field. This work suggests that there are some pertinent criticisms that have been aimed at system dynamics. These include the apparent disagreements regarding the role of historical data in model confidence building, system dynamics' reductionist perspective and how system dynamics addresses plurality and hierarchy. Overcoming these criticisms require the ever present need for education, communication and theoretical work. It is hoped this paper will strengthen the mandate of system dynamics in the eyes of its critics, assist and improve the field and its general acceptance as a tool of analysis

Re-engineering Manufacturing for Sustainability

This edited volume presents the proceedings of the 20th CIRP LCE Conference, which cover various areas in life cycle engineering such as life cycle design, end-of-life management, manufacturing processes, manufacturing systems, methods and ..

System Dynamics and Scenario Planning: Implementation Challenges

In this paper we discuss key implementation challenges of a systems approach that combines System Dynamics, Scenario Planning and Qualitative Data Analysis methods in tackling a complex problem. We present the methods and the underlying framework. We then detail the main difficulties encountered in designing and planning the Scenario Planning workshop and how they were overcome, such as finding and involving the stakeholders and customising the process to fit within timing constraints. After presenting the results from this application, we argue that the consultants or system analysts need to engage with the stakeholders as process facilitators and not as system experts in order to gain commitment, trust and to improve information sharing. They also need be ready to adapt their tools and processes as well as their own thinking for more effective complex problem solving