Technologyranging

Technologyranging is a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing technologies across a broad range of options to support strategic decision making. It combines elements of technology scouting, technology assessment, and technology management to map the potential of different technologies and assess their fit with current capabilities and future needs.

The term is relatively new and not yet standardized. In practice, technologyranging is used by corporations, research organizations, and public sector bodies to create a structured technology landscape. It emphasizes breadth of exploration, disciplined evaluation, and clear alignment with long-term goals.

Core activities include horizon or trend scanning to identify emerging developments, capability assessment to measure technical fit, requirement mapping to align with user needs, risk and governance analysis, and vendor or solution evaluation. Results are typically integrated into roadmaps and decision models, often using technology readiness levels and scoring frameworks.

Applications range from R&D portfolio planning and digital transformation to procurement and urban or industrial systems engineering. By exposing gaps, overlap, and dependency across technologies, technologyranging supports more informed investments and smoother integration.

Benefits include improved alignment with strategy, earlier risk mitigation, and faster adoption of beneficial technologies. Challenges involve information overload, rapid pace of change, data quality, interoperability, and the need for cross-functional governance.

See also

- technology scouting

- technology assessment

- technology management

- strategic foresight