Assessing Technology Risk–A Case Study

Abstract

OVERVIEW:Development of technologically complex products requires systematic monitoring of technical risk and of the pace and quality of technology maturation as product development proceeds (1–5). This article presents lessons from a case study of technology development for two products during the second half of the 1980s at Xerox. It describes a method of analysis that was devised for monitoring the pace and quality of technology delivery. It also examines the root causes of departures from the planned schedule, and extracts generalized countermeasures useful to future product development teams. These suggestions are codified in a checklist for certain technology mileposts, especially those early in the product development schedule. Suggestions are made for a method to assess technology risk.