Skip to main content

Making Technology Foresight (and Systems Studies?) Useful

  • Chapter
  • 224 Accesses

Abstract

 “Systems analyses” rarely are taken seriously — we rhapsodize with each other, but don’t often add value to policy or managerial decision processes. “Technology foresight analyses” fare similarly. Neither form of analytical process is worth doing unless it affects decision making. What can we do to change this? I address this issue for technology foresight, with overtones pointed to the systems community.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ashton, W.B., and Klavens, R.A., eds., 1997, Keeping Abreast of Science and Technology,Batelle Press, Columbus, Ohio.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coates, J.F., 1976, Technology assessment: a tool kit, Chemtech 6:372–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, T.J., and Glenn, J.C., 1999, Factors Required for Successful Implementation of Futures Research in Decision Making, Army Environment Policy Institute, Atlanta GA (AEPI-IFP-0999).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kostoif, R.N., and Geisler, E., Strategic management and implementation of textual data mining in government organizations, Technology Assessment and Strategic Management (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemons, K.E., and Porter, A.L., 1992, A comparative study of impact assessment methods in developed and developing countries, Impact Assessment Bulletin 10:3:57–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linstone, H.A., 1999, Decision Making for Technology Executives: Using Multiple Perspectives to Improve Performance, Artech House Inc., Norwood, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, A.L., Carlisle, J.P., and Watts, R.J., 1998-2000, Mining Bibliographic Information on Emerging Technologies, U.S. National Science Foundation, Management of Technological Innovation project (DMI-9872482).

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, A.L., Coates, V.T., Farooque, M., Klavans, R., Lapid, K., Linstone, H.A., and Pistorius, C., 2000, The future of technology foresight, presented at the International Symposium on Forecasting, Lisbon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rycroft, R.W., and Kash, D.E., 1999, The Complexity Challenge: Technological Innovation for the 21st Century, Pinter, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts, R.J., and Porter, A.L., 1997, Innovation forecasting, Technological Forecasting and Social Change 56:25–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Porter, A.L. (2001). Making Technology Foresight (and Systems Studies?) Useful. In: Ragsdell, G., Wilby, J. (eds) Understanding Complexity. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1313-1_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1313-1_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5492-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1313-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics