Title: Strategic management of telecommunications R&D in Brazil

Authors: Helio M.M. Graciosa, Luiz Del Fiorentino, Robert Stuart Goodrich

Addresses: Head of the Dept. of Planning and Coordination, CPqD/Telebras, Caixa Postal 1579, 13.085 – Campinas – SP, Brazil. ' Coordinator of the Technological Planning Areas, CPqD/Telebras, Caixa Postal 1579, 13.085 – Campinas – SP, Brazil. ' Chairman of the Dept. of Organization, Aeronautical Institute of Technology, CTA, 12.225 – Sao Jose dos Campos – SP, Brazil

Abstract: This paper describes the concentrated effort underway at the R&D Center (CPqD) of the Brazilian national telecommunications enterprise TELEBRAS to integrate the diverse technological planning and program evaluation activities into a strategic management process. CPqD|s approach to technological planning is described in detail, with emphasis on the methodological and operational aspects of the environmental analysis, the formal technological monitoring and forecasting functions and the use of alternative scenarios in the development of strategic telecommunications objectives. These technical objectives, in the form of new and improved telecommunications systems, are then prioritized, translated into scientific-technological knowledge areas CPqD must dominate and use to formulate specific R&D strategies. The paper also describes CPqD|s effort to design and implement a strategic control process which integrates R&D evaluations across all levels of the organization. Specific examples illustrate results obtained or work-in-progress in principal elements of the strategic management process.

Keywords: Brazil; telecommunications R&D; environmental analysis; R&D evaluation; strategic management; R&D management; technological monitoring; technological forecasting; technological planning; technology management; research and development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1992.025745

International Journal of Technology Management, 1992 Vol.7 No.6/7/8, pp.521 - 535

Published online: 24 May 2009 *

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