Technology roadmapping and 4IR in defence: Case of command and control systems

Abstract

It is said that 4IR requires new ways of conducting business, including planning for technological capabilities. Although technology roadmaps have been widely used for strategic technology planning, constructing and customising one for a specific domain is challenging. This study explored technology management processes and support tools for 4IR technologies for the SANDF that can be customised to construct technology roadmaps in C2 systems. Qualitative based interviews were conducted, as a primary data source, with the technology management personnel from the Acquisition agency of the SANDF (Armscor), and official documents from the SANDF, as a secondary data source, were analysed. Content analysis of the interview responses and documents show that various processes, including identification, selection, development, exploitation, protection, and learning, are used to manage C2 technologies. However, due to users' low understanding of the C2 environment, there is not much technology roadmapping-taking place in C2, especially in Defence. Moreover, 4IR is viewed differently from technology management (human capability), therefore falling outside the scope of technology management, resulting in few technology projects on 4IR. This study contributes to the understanding of a universal toolkit for generic technology management activities by providing confirmation results in a Defence environment.