Characterisation of technology roadmaps: purpose and format

Technology roadmapping is an approach that supports the integration of technological considerations into product and business planning. The method has been widely adopted by industry, although its implementation can represent a challenge to managers in terms of initiating the process, and then keeping it 'alive'. This paper describes a 'fast-start' technology roadmapping process that has been developed to address these industrial needs. Development and testing of the method in a wide range of situations, combined with a review of other published technology roadmaps, has enabled a classification system for roadmaps to be constructed, based on both their purpose and format.