Management of Technology and Innovation
A new challenge for business and government managers in the U.S.
is management of technology and innovation in their organizations.
A National Academy of Science report identifies the inability
of managers to incorporate new technologies and to manage these
technologies effectively is a major problem in global competitiveness
of U.S. organizations. The report also identifies the need for
a cross-discipline approach to technology management. Faculty
of the College of Business Administration have joined with colleagues
in other areas of the University and with professional researchers
from business organizations to work toward technology management
solutions. Most recently, the commitment has resulted in a cooperative
venture of the Colleges of Business Administration; Arts &
Sciences; and Engineering, Architecture, and Technology to offer
a Master of Science in Telecommunications Management. This program,
today in the College of Business Administration, directs research
efforts to this rapidly emerging area of worldwide businesses.
Researchers in the Department of Management are developing technology
management solutions in the form of decision support systems for
use by decision makers in firms and to assist firms' strategy
development. Management faculty, in cooperation with engineering
faculty and corporate researchers, are developing expert systems
to increase the competitiveness of U.S. firms. Accounting faculty
are developing information systems to improve the efficiency and
accuracy of the corporate audit process. Neural networks are being
used by management researchers to predict firm bankruptcy and
to forecast energy demand. Other faculty are investigating obstacles
to the incorporation of new technologies in organizations and
ways to overcome these obstacles. The success of these efforts,
when shared with corporate and government decision makers, will
enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. economy in world markets.