#HPRW10: Peter Kean and the benefits of technology roadmaps

Tim Kelly (AIS Performance Research Centre) introduced Peter Kean.
Peter’s talk outlined and discussed the process of technology roadmapping (TRM) as a tool for collaborative planning that might be of interest to high performance sport.

Peter suggested that a TRM is a document that:

  • Summarises a need.
  • Records information available about the identified need that has arisen from some key tends and drivers.
  • Identifies technologies
  • Provides some information for cost/benefit/time trade off discussions

Peter noted that TRMs can be developed for a ten-year time scale but acknowledged that high performance sport might have different rhythms:  2012, 2014 and 2016 as increments within a six-year plan. Sport plans could be front end loaded for 2012 whilst exploring other opportunities in the medium and longer-term.
Peter used an example of a TRM from a CSIRO and automotive industries group to share a visualisation of a TRM. (Note: Stamm, A., Thiel, D.V., Burkett, B., James, D.A., Roadmapping Performance Enhancement Measures and Technology in Swimming, The Impact of Technology on Sport III, F. Fuss, A. Subic, S. Ujihashi ed., Taylor and Francis, 2009 (in press)) For another example see Nu Angle’s Roadmapping publication.
Peter suggested that the benefits of a TRM include:

  • Identification of critical needs
  • Goals are made into steps
  • Key drivers and enablers identified
  • Resources and capabilities available noted
  • Strategy for delivery articulated
  • Outlines opportunities for competitive advantage

Peter considered next how to create a TRM. His steps include:

  • Define the scope of the boundaries
  • List drivers and needs
  • List delivery capabilities
  • Identify technology drivers and gaps
  • Identify and rank opportunities
  • Report back

He indicated that Day 2 of #HPRW10 would use this approach and brainstorm issues around twelve sports. The workshops would articulate:

  • Trends and drivers
  • Innovation needs
  • Capabilities in the national system

There are three steps to this workshop process.
Step 1: Identify Needs

  • What is the most important technology?
  • What are the bottlenecks?
  • What research is required to enable delivery?

A brainstorm matrix for this step will address: need, timeframe, obstacles, requirement and target, organisations.
Step 2: Delivery Capability
A brainstorm matrix for this step will address: requirement and target, technology/capability, target user, key sectors, technology drivers, organisation type.
Step 3: Meeting Need
A brainstorm matrix for this step will address: technology driver, potential, organisation, technology readiness level.

Peter concluded his talk with a discussion of the opportunities provided by a TRM process: strengths, what is missing? competitors’ response? He reemphasised that a TRM approach is a process. At #HPRW10 it is intended to summarise workshop discussions of roadmaps and distribute these in order to pursue opportunities systematically.
Photo Credits
Map Reading by Headlight
Captain Cook, Hyde Park

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