Strategic formulation of high technology projects using the support graph

The life cycle of technology projects comprises 10 phases: identification, conception, formulation, feasibility, evaluation, decision, realization, control, termination and post-evaluation. One of the most important phases is formulation, foar which an interdisciplinary tool, the 'support graph', was conceived and used for more than 200 high technology projects in such areas as chemicals, biotechnology, electronics, software (artificial intelligence), telecommuniocation, energy and aerospace. This paper descrones how to build an effective support graph. The general objective, the partial objectives, the tasks and the means are the principal components. The management of change during the implementation of high technology projects is largely facilitated by the use of the support graph. It also creates a common language between the technologists and the managers and gives information on when to alter the goals of a high technology project. Support graphs for an expert system and for a telecommunication project are used to illustrate the proposed approach.