Claudia Jiménez

El Valor de la Tecnología: Enfoques Novedosos para su Determinación

Traditionally, Technology valuation has been applied with the financial focus of Project management, focusing on the economical dimension. However, several authors have detected problems in this approach and propose the inclusion of qualitative aspects of technology. The aim of this paper is to identify alternative proposals for estimating the value of technology. A scientometric study was carried out and as a result, novel works were identified, like the use of roadmapping, econometrics and neural networks in technology valuation. We conclude that different approaches exist, but, in general, aspects as the knowledge embodied in technology are not taken into account, with a reductionist and linear view of the valuation process and the technology itself. We formulate some considerations on an approach of technology valuation from biology, as an alternative approximation from the organicistic view, in order to add attributes like dynamicity and adaptation.

Exploring the use of biological metaphor upon technology management research within the new paradigm of ongoing change

A new paradigm characterized by ongoing changes at all levels is currently emerging; adaptation is the key here, rather than contingency preparation. Technology Management is not foreign to such trends and thus its assimilation and rapid response ability must become potentialized to ensure its evolution and strengthening with adaptation-orientated tools and trends of thought. This paper deals with the concept of biological metaphor which has been present in Organizational Management for many decades; it is analyzed as a Technology Management development option, taking into account its high level of interaction with other disciplines. The results show that this impact is relevant, going beyond academic and theoretical fields since its application is seen in real contexts, especially regarding Manufacturing Management. This paper concludes that industrialized countries have made important advances in learning and using biological concepts in Technology Management; however, emerging economies (such as those in Latin-American countries) have also established an appropriate framework regarding topics such as complexity, evolutionary theory and intelligence for analyzing and implementing Technology Management and adopting technological strategies according to their own particular settings.

Context-Dependent Fuzzy Queries in SQLf

Fuzzy set theory has been used for extending the database language capabilities in order to admit vague queries. SQLf language is one of the most recognized efforts regarding this tendency, but it has limitations to interpret context-dependent vague terms. These terms are used as filtering criteria to retrieve database objects. This paper presents an improvement of SQLf language that adding inductive capabilities to the querying engine. This allows the discovering of the semantics of vague terms, in an autonomous and dynamic way. In the discovering of the meaning of vague terms, looking for more flexibility, our proposal considers different granularity levels in the fuzzy partitions required for the object categorization.

Tracking Technology Development Through Patent: The Case of Biotechnology

Taking into account the relevance of Biotechnology in the World industry and economic growth, this essay is focused on the analysis of the use of biotech patent information for determining technological trends and generating innovation indicators, because patents are an important technological information source, which is relatively up-to-date and available. For this purpose, the topic of intellectual property, especially patent systems, is reviewed, and its relationship and impact on Biotechnology. An example of the use of patent information for determining trends by means of Technology Surveillance is showed for a specific area. Finally, some considerations about patents as innovation indicator and base of technological development analysis are formulated.