Editorial trends in technology management

AS mentioned in the August issue, this is the last issue I will edit for the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT. This provides an opportunity to look ahead, rather than back, at the field of R&D/Innovation, R&D/-Engineering, or whatever we want to call the general focus of this TRANSACTIONS. During the twenty-five years of my tenure as editor, a number of changes have occurred in the management of such technical functions as: R&D, Engineering, Technology, and Innovation. However, compared to other functional areas in the firm such as marketing, finance, production, and strategic planning, “our” techniques have not advanced as much and many improvements need to be made. Some of this lag may be due to the slow advances in management theory to support technology-based activities. Some may be due to the reluctance of practitioners in these activities to adopt, adapt, and experiment with proposed new theories and techniques. Some may be due to the march of events and the increasing demands on technology to help the organization survive, grow, and prosper.