Merging disciplines: An exploratory study

The challenge of most technology-based companies is to plan the next few years in terms of new systems, products and services to be delivered into the market and to decide which technologies to utilise to remain competitive. The basic make/buy question should also be addressed: whether a specific technology should be developed in-house or acquired. It comes down to meaningfully integrate the Marketing Strategy with the Technology Strategy of the enterprise. This sounds straight forward enough, also intellectually, but to successfully implement these strategies in real life proof to be extremely challenging. Disciplines such as Technology Management, Asset Management, System Engineering and Engineering Management try to expand their footprint and address more (all) of the above-mentioned challenges. This trend consequently creates bigger overlaps amongst the different disciplines. Each discipline typically has its own Professional Organisation(s), Body of Knowledge (BoK), and associated standards and practices. These developments pose new challenges to academic institutions. Universities should teach fundamentals (not “flavour of the month”) that can stand the test of time. Curricula and Programme Architectures should be integrated and not have too many overlaps and/or gaps and, most important, meaningfully prepare students for industry and business. These growing overlaps amongst disciplines cause considerable confusion as different definitions for the same/similar concepts are emerging.