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Unique Ph.D. Topics in Technology and Innovation Management Studies: An

Innovative Approach

Dr. Nancy Agens, Head,

Technical Operations, Phdassistance

info@phdassistance.com

In-brief

To address the complexities in the

phenomena of TIM, Qualitative case

studies are utilized by the scholars to

develop both variance and process

explanations. To construct a model for

technology and innovation management,

the things that are taken into consideration

are the external factors that influence this

field of management and the internal

determinants as well as their connections.

The need for customized approaches is also

highlighted by the specific Developments of

action Research streams in different

disciplines.

Keywords: technology and innovation

management, dissertation topics,

innovation management tools, innovation

capabilities, technological innovation

I. OVERVIEW

The survival and prosperity of firms and the

Economic Development of the countries are

greatly influenced by technology and

innovation Management (TIM), which

makes it increasingly important to trace the

trajectory of this research field. However, so

far, the evolution of the Technology and

Innovation Management studies has been

analyzed by few studies quantitatively. The

main goal of this paper is to gain an overall

understanding of the research in the field of

TIM. This study is used to extract all

publications in the top 13 journals based on

TIM and also the references of those top

journals that are placed in the Web of

Science. Next, the crucial intellectual

structure of the TIM field is recognized by

the cocitation analysis, cocategory analysis,

coauthor analysis, and keyword analysis,

and the evolution and distribution of the hot

spots of the TIM field are provided. The

emerging trends, overall structure, and the

key points of this field are presented, which

contributes to the understanding and future

studies of TIM.

II. INTRODUCTION

Science and Technology have undergone

extraordinary growth over the last two

centuries. In return, the needs generated by

industrial and societal changes are reflected

by the growth of technology and innovation

management (TIM). Economics, sociology,

and management are the disciplines

involved in the interdisciplinary field of

knowledge in TIM, which also develops

rapidly. Researchers are conducting studies

in TIM from multiple perspectives including

marketing, strategy, operations management,

human resource management, finance, and

accounting, as technology and knowledge

are increasingly important for firms to

survive and also to gain competitive

advantage. In the meantime, researchers are

also conducting studies on TIM from a

policy perspective, with the aim to develop a

more favorable environment to support

innovation in countries. Consequently, the

views from the research in the field of TIM

are blowing up. With the aim to produce a

comprehensive review of the research in this

field, the top 13 influential journals in the

field of TIM has been identified. 1

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III. QUALITATIVE CASE STUDIES IN

TIM: AN ORGANIZING FRAMEWORK

The approach of qualitative case studies in

TIM is well-established. Researchers offer

the most valuable contributions to

understand the phenomena of TIM through

the use of qualitative case studies as they

have the ability to provide rich

contextualized explanations. To address the

complexities in the phenomena of TIM,

qualitative case studies are utilized.

Qualitative case studies are utilized by

scholars to develop both variance and

process explanations. Variance approaches

are used to categorize antecedents and

consequences of certain phenomena,

whereas process approaches are used to

develop explanations of why and how events

disclose over time. Many case study

approaches are more reliable with variance-

based approaches, while others are geared

towards a process-based approach.

Temporal complexities are best addressed

by process approaches, for example, while

cultural complexities are addressed using

variance approaches through cross-case

comparisons. 3

IV. MODEL FOR TECHNOLOGY AND

INNOVATION MANAGEMENT

To construct a model for Technology and

Innovation Management, the things that

are taken into consideration are the external

factors that influence this field of

management and the internal determinants

as well as their connections. According to

the Figure, the external circle represents the

contexts or basic conditions that are

necessary for the successful Management

of Technology and innovation. Some of

them are external to the organization like

globalization, and some are internal like

system thinking, while others are both

internal and external. The inner-circle

encloses the specific tools and competencies

for technology and innovation management.

Regardless of the circular and interrelated

nature of the main competencies and tools

within this model, it is observed that the

tools for technology and management and

instrumental knowledge competencies are

considered as a foundation for the strategic

management of technology and innovation.

Fig 1. Technology & Innovation

Management

The final point is an operative competence

needed for problem-solving, in the

anticlockwise direction. In the middle of

both the circle includes other competencies

and tools like research and development

(R&D) management, product development,

technology transfer, and more. These

competencies identify the interdisciplinary

nature of technology and innovation

management and the contribution of many

practitioners, from general to specialized

experts, with an inter-professional and

interdisciplinary approach to learning and

practice. These competencies and

frameworks have significance for several

functions or processes, different

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stakeholders, and priorities for the different

learning processes. 2

V. BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES IN

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

MANAGEMENT BASED ON ACTION

RESEARCH

Based on the bibliometric analysis, it is

evident that the action research approaches

are spread throughout many disciplines,

from which a model based on TIM is yet to

emerge. The need for customized

approaches is also highlighted by the

specific developments of action research

streams in different disciplines.

The central elements of TIM that are related

to the respective benefits and challenges of

action research include:

● Socio-technical behavior of innovation

problems and systems.

● Comprehensive character of innovations

and innovators.

● Variety of innovation management

stakeholders.

● High levels of ambiguity around

innovations.

These discussions serve as a foundation for

developing a modified action research

approach in TIM based on the views and

studies from a variety of other disciplines. 5

VI. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

The interdisciplinary field of knowledge,

Technology innovation management brings

together different areas of expertise needed

for the management of an organizational

change. As a new field of knowledge, the

TIM field has not combined disciplinary

elements, such as academic curriculum and

basic textbooks. However, this

interdisciplinary field of technology

innovation management turns to be a more

powerful tool for applied Research on public

and private organizations’ problems. 4 In

general, it is believed that for a better

understanding of the process and practices

of conducting case research in TIM will the

field to progress further. 3

REFERENCES

1. Yanyi Huang, Xiu-Hao Ding, Ruihong Liu, Yuanqiong

He, and Suming Wu, 2019, Reviewing the Domain of

Technology and Innovation Management: A Visualizing

Bibliometric Analysis.

2. Antonio Adrián Arciénaga Morales, Janni Nielsen,

Hernán Alberto Bacarini, Silvia Irene Martinelli, Sergio

Takeo Kofuji, Juan Francisco García Díaz, 2019,

Technology and Innovation Management in Higher

Education—Cases from Latin America and Europe.

3. Ziad Elsahn, Lisa Callaghe , Kenneth Husted, Stefan

Korber, Frank Siedlok, 2020, Are rigor and transparency

enough? Review and future directions for case studies in

technology and innovation Management.

4. Adalberto Mantovani M. de Azevedo, Marcela de

Oliveira Mazzoni, Marco Antonio Silveira, 2018, Journal

of Technology Management & Innovation, Academic

Research In Technology Innovation Management and

Related Thematic Areas in Brazil.

5. Matthias Guertler, Nathalie Sick, and Anton Kriz, 2019,

Technology Innovation Management Review, A

Discipline-Spanning Overview of Action Research and Its

Implications for Technology and Innovation Management