coaching, mentoring, consulting roles in technical intelligence suzanne cristina, research analyst...
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Coaching, mentoring, consulting roles in technical intelligence
Suzanne Cristina, Research Analyst
Information Network @ Hamilton Sundstrand
United Technologies Corporation
Strategic Shift
‘the real value-added comes with the intervention of humans.’
Prof. Liam Fahey
Data - Information - Knowledge - Decisions
The Information Professional bridges the gaps.
Definition
“Technology Intelligence (TI) is defined as business-sensitive information about external scientific or technological developments that can affect a company’s competitive position.”
Research Technology Management9/10 2000 p. 23
Definitions
Consulting - listening, discussing, recommending solutionsCoaching - equipping and enabling people to find solutionsMentoring - guiding a novice through the process
Need for TI Consulting/Coaching/Mentoring
“Often, no one in these functions (R&D, market research, etc.) is trained to deal with the discovery and analysis of critical issues.”
Sy Friedman, CHEMTECH, 6/1999
“We don’t have time to think – we are busy putting out day to day fires. We need you to alert us to trends…help us.”
WR, Sr Engrg Mgr, UTC
2-D/3-D Analogy
Group Goal: ‘leap frog’ developments in technology
Current view of group: 2DNeed: TI coaching/mentoring/consulting to
show group the possibilities of 3-D - ‘what can be done’
Result: Customized tool (patent database - reuse potential)
Now: group reevaluates its current perspective
Skills Needed for TI
A balance of technical & business knowledgeAble to identify, evaluate & utilize reliable information sourcesPattern & trend recognitionHuman intelligence gatheringResolve disparate facts/findings (tools)Lateral thinking - to see beyond obvious to hidden opportunities
Skills continued..
Integrate external information with internal knowledge
‘promote connection to external sources of innovation - as a strategy for stimulating good ideas’
Dr. Mark Rice ‘Radical Innovation’ UTRC Presentation on innovation
Characteristics Needed for Consulting
Credibility - established via relationshipsView organization from outside perspective Risk Taker - willingness to drive to insight and affect organizationAssertive/persistent in selling ideas - ‘can do’ attitudeCommunicate visionary potential of new ideasLow ego need, good ideas not carried further
Consulting Process - Getting Started
Know your organizationEvaluate opportunitiesDevelop objectivesIdentify your championIdentify other champions of TI
Opportunities Abound
Each step generates dataReal value is in analysis and interpretation
Present state Desired stateData rich Managed dataIntelligence poor Intelligence rich
Finding TI Opportunities
Gaps in existing TI processesHuman intelligence not gatheredUnder-utilized information repositoriesProduct/process challenges External forces beyond competitors
regulations, contracts, technology trends
Example - Consulting Process
UTC Chief Technology Officer challengeGoal - achieve success at BU - new technology to add to top line growth of UTCConsult - present opportunity, establish timelines, management
Coach - revise timelines, establish CI Board
Mentor - person in charge of CI effort
Information Audit as a Tool
The information audit answers questions about organization-wide/department-wide information processes. It assists in evaluating current information needs, the effectiveness of existing information sources and information flows. It identifies information management objectives, information gaps and inconsistencies.
Information Audit Objectives
Managing RelationshipsIdentifying GapsOptimizing information flowsBuilding corporate memoryExtending knowledge transfer
Example - Engineering Group
Advanced Technology Team member-coaching in use of patents to catalyze innovations to existing product-mentoring/consulting for technical data to support design and development
Provided consulting in the development of a CI update in key program areas
Example - ViA Team
ViA - Virtual Access Initiative - web based Unigraphics/ IMAN software design/ manufacturing initiative at HSTeam memberConsulted by recommending use of UTC Best Practices Database for user groupsShared with all of United Technologies
Example - Green Technologies
Driven by UTC & HS EH&S and government environmental requirements/regulationsConsult - develop system to monitor product-specific uses of alternatives in 5 areas & applicable tech developmentsIntelligence Analysis - monitor to ensure strategic edge in our products
Intelligence Analysis Definition
‘A step in the production of intelligence in which intelligence information is subjected to systematic examination in order to identify relevant facts, determine significant findings and conclusions.’ Jan Herring
Example -Laminar Flow Device
Bypass valve design for PW6000 engineNew approachWould it work?Utilized existing sources - tech, searched patents for similar applicationsEngineering knowledge to analyze intelligenceConsulted by identifying similar applications
Example - Hydrogen Storage
Key technology area to UTCCross business unit applicationsFast moving = lots of researchExample incorporates consulting, coaching, mentoring and analysis
Hydrogen Storage Update
Customer coaching/consulting-weekly meeting to define project-check data/preliminary results-cost/time tradeoffs-output - utilization/reuse-value added elements
H2 Storage Update continued
Information Staff Mentoring-involve new staffers at beginning-observe interactions/attend meetings-train in optimal search techniques-increasing participation in the project
H2 Storage Update continued
Intelligence Analysis-utilizing tools - ProCite-highlight new technologies-synopsis of news articles-monitoring patents and assignees
Feedback quarterly Realign search and analysis strategies
Conclusions
Evolving role of information professionalInformation AuditsRelationship Management Risk Taking
Questions??
Suzanne Cristina, Research AnalystInformation Network Hamilton Sundstrand, A United
Technologies [email protected]