Functions and failures: how to manage technological promises for societal challenges

Abstract

Technological promises are becoming part of the way in which scientific and technological communities try to attract the attention of stakeholders, aiming at legitimation, reputation, and funding. Not all promises, however, become reality. With the increase in the use of promises comes the risk of disillusion and cynicism, which may affect negatively policy-makers and the public opinion. The paper suggests that the introduction in the field of S&T and innovation policy of a tool commonly used in engineering fields aimed at identifying and measuring all possible failures of a proposed technology. Instead of focusing on the magnitude of promises, it suggests that a useful perspective can be gained by placing systematic attention to the negative side, i.e. all reasons why a given technology may fail to deliver the promises. The paper develops the methodology, presents a case study, and illustrates the benefits of using it in policy-making.

Keywords:

• technology foresight
• functional analysis
• FMECA

Notes on contributors

Riccardo Apreda is Research Associate at the University of Pisa. With a background in theoretical physics, his research interests concern the models for the abstract representation of technologies and artefacts.

Andrea Bonaccorsi is Professor of Economics and Management at the University of Pisa. His research interests include: the economic analysis of the dynamics of scientific knowledge, the functional theory of technology, and empirical analyses of higher education.

Gualtiero Fantoni is Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pisa. His main interests are in the fields of micromanipulation, microassembly, and design methods.

Donata Gabelloni is a Ph.D. student in Management Engineering at the University of Roma Tor Vergata. She also holds a research position at the University of Pisa. She is working on product and process design methodologies.