Creating a Structured Technology Scouting Approach for Operations Development - A Case Study Within a Multifaceted Global Industrial Company
(2025) INTM01 20251Innovation Engineering
- Abstract
- The current fast paced technological innovation demands major attention from businesses across the globe. AI dominates discussions one day, and the next it is all about quantum computing. To remain competitive companies must constantly be on the watch for trend shifts and technological advancements. In order to stay ahead of the curve companies can utilize technology scouting to monitor the technological horizons.
Alfa Laval has recently begun developing their technology scouting efforts within their manufacturing department, to leverage technological advancements to their advantage. The aim of this thesis is to identify barriers within Alfa Laval’s technology scouting function and deliver insights regarding potential improvements. The... (More) - The current fast paced technological innovation demands major attention from businesses across the globe. AI dominates discussions one day, and the next it is all about quantum computing. To remain competitive companies must constantly be on the watch for trend shifts and technological advancements. In order to stay ahead of the curve companies can utilize technology scouting to monitor the technological horizons.
Alfa Laval has recently begun developing their technology scouting efforts within their manufacturing department, to leverage technological advancements to their advantage. The aim of this thesis is to identify barriers within Alfa Laval’s technology scouting function and deliver insights regarding potential improvements. The thesis is made in context of Alfa Laval’s manufacturing department but aims to be generally applicable to all forms of technology scouting within the organization.
By conducting a literature review, several insights on best practices and theoretical optimal scouting organizations were found. To complement this information, a series of interviews were conducted with employees at Alfa Laval which gave insight into the current situation at Alfa Laval. Lastly interviews were conducted with employees at other global industrial companies which resulted in a broader knowledge of what practices are currently in use.
The information received during interviews was then clustered and analyzed together with academic theory, which resulted in a plan of action in the form of a roadmap. The recommendations from this roadmap were to educate employees and formalize the technology scout role. This is closely followed by the implementation of standard documents, and internal databases. By implementing these steps, it will increase transparency within the organization, increase the amount of external scouting and improve the ability to align scouting efforts with business strategy. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9202887
- author
- Becker, Wilhelm LU and Sundin, Knut
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- INTM01 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Technology scouting, Technology foresight, Knowledge management, Open innovation, Case study, Technology strategy
- language
- English
- id
- 9202887
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-19 12:37:31
- date last changed
- 2025-06-19 12:37:31
@misc{9202887,
abstract = {{The current fast paced technological innovation demands major attention from businesses across the globe. AI dominates discussions one day, and the next it is all about quantum computing. To remain competitive companies must constantly be on the watch for trend shifts and technological advancements. In order to stay ahead of the curve companies can utilize technology scouting to monitor the technological horizons.
Alfa Laval has recently begun developing their technology scouting efforts within their manufacturing department, to leverage technological advancements to their advantage. The aim of this thesis is to identify barriers within Alfa Laval’s technology scouting function and deliver insights regarding potential improvements. The thesis is made in context of Alfa Laval’s manufacturing department but aims to be generally applicable to all forms of technology scouting within the organization.
By conducting a literature review, several insights on best practices and theoretical optimal scouting organizations were found. To complement this information, a series of interviews were conducted with employees at Alfa Laval which gave insight into the current situation at Alfa Laval. Lastly interviews were conducted with employees at other global industrial companies which resulted in a broader knowledge of what practices are currently in use.
The information received during interviews was then clustered and analyzed together with academic theory, which resulted in a plan of action in the form of a roadmap. The recommendations from this roadmap were to educate employees and formalize the technology scout role. This is closely followed by the implementation of standard documents, and internal databases. By implementing these steps, it will increase transparency within the organization, increase the amount of external scouting and improve the ability to align scouting efforts with business strategy.}},
author = {{Becker, Wilhelm and Sundin, Knut}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Creating a Structured Technology Scouting Approach for Operations Development - A Case Study Within a Multifaceted Global Industrial Company}},
year = {{2025}},
}