Exploratory roadmapping for foresight. (23rd October 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beeton, David A.; Phaal, Robert; Probert, David R.
• Is Part Of: International journal of technology intelligence and planning. Volume 4:Number 4(2008)
• Page Start: 398
• Page End: 412
• Publication Date: 2008-10-23
• Subjects: roadmap -- technology roadmapping -- strategic planning -- knowledge exploration -- strategy front-end -- innovation management -- consumer packaging -- competitive intelligence -- foresight -- knowledge management; Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Research, Industrial -- Periodicals; Knowledge management -- Periodicals; 658.403805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-2832

Abstract

The importance of the exploratory front-end of strategy is well established in fields such as foresight and knowledge management. However, it has received little consideration by roadmapping practitioners and researchers. This is partly explained by the fact that roadmaps are traditionally a convergent, goal-oriented outline of a sequence of activities and actions. It can also be attributed to the fact that knowledge exploitation tends to dominate over knowledge exploration, as the former delivers clearer and more tangible returns. This paper investigates how roadmapping may be applied for knowledge exploration, considering the conceptual underpinnings and a practical example in which an exploratory roadmap was developed for foresight in the packaging sector.