Most progressive Governments in Asia have announced brave new policies
to adopt latest wave of technology development such as biotechnology.
Riding the wave of innovation undoubtedly requires the development of
competencies and skills that are necessary to cultivate over time. Management
of technology is culturally specific and it is hardly possible to imitate
the success of others, although learning from others experience is possible.
Without proper understanding of one's own innovation and technology management
strategies, management of technology and innovation will become an academic
exercise. Most managers today are aware of the urgent need to manage technology
and innovation for business competitiveness. Technological waves have
created new business in electronic commerce and biotechnology and the
business schools all over the world are rushing to get onto technology
management bandwagon. Admittedly there is a slow growth in technology
and innovation management learning and knowledge.
What can we do to teach technology management studies that truly integrate theory with practice? How can we tailor the management learning processes to suit the modern manager? Part of the solution lies in government support of teaching and research in innovation management and using e-learning technologies. The national innovation policies must also include technology and management education. However such policies must closely integrate with industry's research, science and technology management needs. Without such integration, management education will have to build on speculative theories. The effective harnessing of the national research effort require a sound technology management knowledge and skill base and such skills include management of intellectual property, managing new and emerging industry, technology capability building and auditing innovation capacity of a firm. Universities play a vital role in this educational process. Developing a management degree with appropriate technology management knowledge that serves busy industrialists is a challenging task to educationalists.
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