Requirements for a methodology for the analysis and assessment of technological capability in research and technology organizations

The advancing globalization and simultaneous liberalization of the markets not only have a tremendous influence on companies in the manufacturing industry but also lead to new challenges for the research sector. Especially Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs) as bridges of basic research and the industry favor technological change on the one hand and increase the competitiveness of the industry through innovative solutions on the other. (Arnold, Clark, Jávorka 2010, pp. 9-10; Breznik 2015, pp. 24-25). The resulting high need for technological innovation pushes RTOs to intensify competition for technology leadership to sustain market competitiveness. In this regard, RTOs must be able to develop technological solutions that translate results from research and development activities into state-of-the-art products and services. This can only be achieved when technological resources and competences are efficiently and effectively used to build up competitive advantages. (Kröll 2007, p. 11; Figueiredo 2014, p. 83; Zehnder 1997, p. 20) Therefore, the technological capability of RTOs needs to be defined and analyzed. In this context, the paper aims to contribute to the development of a suitable methodology for systematically analyzing and evaluating the technological capability of RTOs using a standardized approach. Hence, a profound understanding of technological capability of RTOs is to be developed, which will enable the derivation of requirements to be met by an analysis and evaluation methodology which needs to be developed based on the identified requirements of this paper in the future. Subsequently, various methods and approaches for assessing the technological capability will be discussed and evaluated with respect to the specific requirements of RTOs. The outlook is to outline the further procedure for the development of a suitable methodology for the analysis and evaluation of technological performance.