Title: Development of a research methodology for assessing a firm's business process-related technologies

Authors: Bernard Chapelet, George Tovstiga

Addresses: TIME Center, Grenoble Graduate Business School, F Grenoble, France. TSM Business School, University of Twente, NL Enschede, The Netherlands

Abstract: This paper presents an outline of the approach currently being applied toward developing a research methodology by which firms can identify and assess the strategic impact of the business process-related technologies within their organisation. These business process-related technologies, in turn, are invariably related to existing and emerging information and communication technologies. The function of the self-diagnostic methodology is to guide the SME technology manager through an analysis of the competitive impact of the firm|s technological capabilities relating to business processes. The methodology ultimately leads the manager to the point where he or she can formulate strategic recommendations and develop a strategic plan for building a competitive business process-related technological platform. The work discussed here is part of an ongoing development effort within the framework of the European Commission-sponsored TBPTIME project. As such, the work reported here represents work-in-progress. The paper concludes with a discussion of experiences made with the methodology in validation sessions with client companies to date.

Keywords: business processes; competitive analysis diagnostic; process-related technology; research methodology; technology platform.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1998.002596

International Journal of Technology Management, 1998 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.10-30

Published online: 29 Jul 2003 *

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