Description

This study sought to provide new insights on issues related to the technology roadmapping processes, design, and practice within electricity utilities. The study was designed to develop an improved theoretical contribution to current roadmapping methods and aims to enhance the practices and approaches of the earlier generation technology roadmaps. A mixed method abductive approach was applied to the research study and is based on a pragmatism paradigm. The study population and sample comprised experienced research and development participants from the global electricity sector. Qualitative focus group workshops and quantitative surveys were carried out with the participants regarding their responses to an ever-changing ecosystem where the rate of technological adaptation and changes outpace business processes.
A key finding from the analysis was that under COVID-19 conditions, technology resilience was seen as the most critical element in defining future technology applications and, thus, technology roadmapping methodologies. Other findings indicated the lack of a systemic perspective, ecosystem understanding, and a general perception that short-term technology requirements dominate current technology roadmapping thinking and practices.
The study developed a conceptual technology roadmap framework that would create significant value for the long-term technology sustainability of electricity utilities. This is especially critical with respect to the processes of technology applications, strategic technology planning, risks, and implementation. The unique characteristic is that the conceptual technology roadmapping framework is multi-functional both in the vertical and horizontal planes and interacts in a non-linear manner and where technology resilience is considered a critical building block in the decision-making process. Thus, the roadmapping framework could lay a solid foundation for organisations for an alternative, more robust, systemic, and resilient approach to technology roadmapping.