Framework for Technological Decision Making: an Investigation into the Adoption Shelving and Rejection of New Technologies in Industrial Organizations

Abstract

The focus of this study was to identify and evaluate the decision-process factors which predominantly impact the organizational decision response to proposed new technologies.To accomplish this, a survey was conducted to the top management of 215 medium-to large industrial organizations across the United States who were directly involved in technological decision making processes. Information obtained from the literature search was used to develop a theoretical framework for this empirical research. This framework then became the basis for the development of the study's stated hypotheses. Data collected showed a total of 104 proposed new technologies which had been adopted, shelved or rejected in the sample organizations across the United States. This wide range of new technologies was identified into six general categories: manufacturing technologies, information technologies, product technologies, process technologies,operations technologies, and energy cost reduction technologies, respectively. Data was evaluated, and statistical analysis was conducted to provide the descriptive results as well as to test the stated hypotheses for this study.Survey and statistical results are presented in table forms, as well as statistical results, for the testing of the individual hypotheses. A summary of all the hypotheses tested, along with results, are presented in the body of this document.