A Research Study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the Master of Business Administration in Management of Technology, School of Management

Research Studies Project Report (M.B.A.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1991

The role of enhanced technological capabilities in achieving a competitive edge in the international markets and in attaining self -reliance has been well established. Unfortunately, a comprehensive framework for assessing technological capabilities has not yet been developed. Even though many firms realize the importance of assessing their technological capability, a methodology to cover all the necessary aspects has not yet been developed. This study attempts to meet this need through the development of a comprehensive framework for assessing technological capability at the firm level. This approach states that for a comprehensive assessment of technological capability, it will be necessary to examine six major elements namely acquisitive capability, operative capability, adaptive capability. innovative capability, marketing capability and supportive capability. The strength of each element would be influenced by several sub-elements. The framework identifies these sub-elements and attempts to assess their level in terms of the components of technology - physical facilities, human facilities, documented facts, and organizational frameworks. Such a comprehensive evaluation can not only assess the technological capabilities but also point out weaknesses where managerial action is indicated. The framework was tested in three companies in Belgium and has been found to be workable. The questionnaire that has been developed for this assessment can be used in other firms as well. The usefulness and limitations of the proposed framework are discussed and recommendations for future studies have been made with a view towards further refining the proposed framework and evaluation procedure.