Managing Technology and Innovation

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On the management and leadership side of technology innovations, managers must use specific principles of change to adapt and succeed. Change management must include thoughtful planning and very specific implementation, and above all, consultation with, and involvement of, the customers and clients who will be affected. Forcing change on people will usually cause problems to arise. These types of changes must be realistic, achievable and measurable. These aspects are especially relevant to managing personal change. Before starting organizational change, ask yourself: What do we want to achieve with this change, why, and how will we know that the change has been achieved? Who is affected by this change, and how will they react to it? How much of this change can we achieve ourselves, and what parts of the change do we need help with?

Assessing technology needs and finding ways to manage the technology to stay competitive is another major aspect of management. Technology leadership has many first-mover advantages but also poses significant disadvantages. With that being said, technology that helps improve efficiency will support a low-cost strategy, whereas technologies that help make products more distinctive or unique will support a differentiation strategy. According to (Bateman & Snell, 2015), “Determining an appropriate technology strategy depends on the degree to which the technology supports the organization’s competitive requirements and, if a technology leadership strategy is chosen, the company’s ability, in terms of skills, resources, and commitment, to deal with the risks and uncertainties of leadership.” Assessing the technology needs of a company begins by benchmarking and comparing an organization’s practices and technologies with those of other competitors and noncompetitors to ensure of any advantages or disadvantages. This type of strategy should be done on a global basis to assess and implement successful practices.

All-in-all, technology innovations over the years have had a tremendous impact and change on every aspect of life in this world. From implanting artificial organs to save a person’s life to managing a world class organization, managers are having to find ways to adapt in order to find success and compete within their own industries.

References:

Bateman, T. S., & Snell, S. (2015). Management leading & collaborating in a competitive world. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

Deaconess Awards and Recognition. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2016, from https://www.deaconess.com/About-Us/Awards.aspx

Hilferty, D. J. (2016). 'Human-centered' healthcare innovation. 26(3). Retrieved October 10, 2016, from Health Business FullText.

Muchmore, S. (2016). Premier conference focuses on healthcare innovation.Premier Conference Focuses on Healthcare Innovation., 46(25). Retrieved October 10, 2016, from Health Business FullText.