Introduction
Most successful companies integrate research in their projects. This is done through utilization of new technological tools and concepts. Management is a key component of design in manufacturing industries. It ensures efficacy in performing of tasks, which increase quality of products.
Acquisition of modern technologies is also important in establishing a trend of technology driven enterprises. Moreover, research on organizational structures, innovations, project evaluation, management processes, and environmental quality is also crucial to the output of technology driven organizations.
Contemporary organizations with experience in innovative technologies are usually on the look for new methods of production. This paper will provide a study guide to Professor Hans Thamhain’s book on management technology. It will also seek to explore its concepts, technologies, and tools that apply in modern organizations (Thamhain, 2005).
Synopsis
This book is authored by Professor Hans Thamhain who is the director of technology at Bentley College. In addition, he heads project management programs at the college. He boasts of 20 years of experience in industries with multinational companies like Verizon, ITT, General Electric, and Westinghouse, among others.
His vast experience in managerial positions at the named companies has also enabled him to author experience based books on management methods and its relation to technology. His book on management technology presents various assessments methods for management processes and organizations. These methods are aimed at actualizing the technological objectives of the organizations.
The book also provides special techniques and tools that can be utilized in organizing as well as managing product oriented challenges. In addition, it provides techniques that can be used in organizing new products. These techniques are also usable in managing as well as organizing research and development. In addition, the book provides numerous case studies that affirm and demonstrate use of these technologies in real-world situations (Thamhain, 2005).
The book is subdivided into fourteen chapters that are targeted at various significant concepts and tools of technology. These are coordinated in a strategic manner to allow for complete understanding of the concepts. It starts by exploring the challenges facing management of high technology organizations.
It then moves to online business world that has utilized highly complex and extensive technologies. It then goes through the steps of organizing high technology enterprises. Product development is also researched with best practices being the point of emphasis. The book goes on to look into organizational management, which includes man-management strategies. Proper investigations along with use of real world examples are utilized to demonstrate ways of managing technology oriented projects.
Further research is done on project evaluation, measurement, research, and development, innovation, selection of projects, work control, and management of quality of environment. Moreover, it looks into the risks of management in high technology industries as well as way of managing those risks. It goes on to provide information on technology teams and new businesses. It closes by providing an insight into consulting as done in technology management (Thamhain, 2005).
Content
The book begins by listing and describing challenges in managing high-tech organizations. In this regard, it defines the terms and concepts utilized in management as well as the role of engineering management in such organizations. It tackles the global dimensions of technology as well as the importance of e-commerce in influencing technology.
The relationship between technologies and society is described in this chapter with vivid description of future trends. It looks at the changing business environment with globalization seen as a factor in influencing this change. It also gives insight into the unique manner of treating technology-oriented businesses.
A detailed history of managing technology is also provided with in-depth descriptions of key milestones and forces that drive technology-based industries. It gives a case study of Amazon; how it was reprogrammed to achieve its current overwhelming potentials. It also gives the methods of measuring content and intensity of technology. This is important because numerous companies have found it difficult to measure technology (Thamhain, 2005).
The book describes ways of organizing high technology industries. It mentions the fact that current technologies should have the capability of providing speed, efficiency, and flexibility for quality results to be achieved. It then plans the structure and designs required in technology-oriented enterprises.
Organizational choices are also discussed with a view on real-world hybrids. The book also emphasizes necessity of operational management processes by describing its benefit to concurrent engineering, which the author describes as a unique concept of project management.
It describes the structures for success in organizational management. The author looks into the changing roles in leadership management as well as the relation between employee motivation and technology performance. He therefore recommends motivation as a way of increasing effectiveness. The book emphasizes the fact that management of technology is project based. Moreover, it adds that project management is highly evolving thereby posing the need for constant evaluation and research (Thamhain, 2005).
The author also emphasizes need for time and resource management in high technology organizations. The books divulges deeply on effective controls and measurements of work. In this regard, it recommends effective use of and management of controls.
Project selection and evaluation is also divulged with focus on both qualitative and quantitative approaches to selection and evaluation. The book also describes technology teams. It looks into characteristics of teams that are technology-oriented. It also looks at the challenges that face most technical teams.
Moreover, it provides information on team building methods as well as the need for virtual and self-driven teams. Measurement of team performance is also essential in this section as it ensures achievement of targets. In essence, the book provides ways of achieving effective team management. Research and development is another crucial part of this book. The author mentions its need in innovative businesses. He also looks at its challenges and dynamics in a constantly changing business environment (Thamhain, 2005).
The book talks about characteristics of technical innovations with focus on the need to quantify innovative performance. It also gives a description of innovative work places as well as recommends ways of management with a view to achieving innovative performance. The author alludes to the fact that management of research and development is essential to achieving innovative performance.
In chapter eleven, the book talks about management of quality of environment. This includes focus on new policies and standards on environmental quality. Moreover, it talks about the essence of cost accounting in achieving environmental quality. The book also talks about creating of cost accounting system for environmental quality. These are aimed at reaping the benefits of cost accounting in quality management of technology-oriented firms.
In addition, the boo looks into the challenges and benefits of new approaches in management of environmental quality. The author also talks about high stakes involved in technology. Moreover, he looks at ways of managing such risks for the good of the company. In essence, managers should be well equipped with mechanisms of dealing with risks for effective management of technological firms (Thamhain, 2005).
In chapter thirteen, the book explores importance of developing new businesses. In fact, it goes through the process of business development. These include solicitation of proposals as well as their formats and types. It also explores new business ventures as well as contract opportunities.
In addition, it helps managers to write business proposals. Moreover, the book helps managers on how to negotiate and close contracts. Finally, the book talks about consulting as a task to managers in technological firms. It emphasizes the necessity for effective technology management experts. It gives the criteria for providing consulting services. It also provides recommendations to consulting professionals. This is essential for achieving high models of performance in technology management (Thamhain, 2005).
Conclusion
The book covers an extensive part of leadership for technology and engineering managers. It also provides knowledge on modern concepts of technology management as well as on fundamentals of operational job performance. It provides a vivid description of modern and innovative concepts for management of contemporary technological firms. To achieve this, it describes the methods of assessing performance and effectiveness in organizations.
It also gives insight into the effectiveness of current work processes. These include integrated product development, phase gate processes, design-build, and concurrent engineering. It also looks into the tools for research and development in effective technological firms. This is linked to real world experiences and best practices aimed at developing managers with technical prowess in leadership (Cram101 Textbook Reviews, 2012).
References
Cram101 Textbook Reviews (2012). e-Study Guide for: Management of Technology: Managing Effectively in Technology-Intensive Organizations by Hans J. Thamhain. Ventura, CA: Cram101
Thamhain, J. (2005). Management of Technology: Managing Effectively in Technology-Intensive Organizations. New York: John Wiley & Sons