Conclusion 113

CONCLUSION

Semiconductor and magnetic densities, as measured by the number of bits stored per unit area, are likely to increase at their current exponential rates on into the twenty-first century. These increases will provide opportunities for new hardware systems, which, in turn, will permit the development of new software products (as will be discussed in Chapter 8).

Technology involves the ability to design and build high-tech products. Many developments provide an opportunity for technological progress, including components such as semiconductors, standards, customer applications needs, and genuine inventions. Technological advancements come from having trained resources and concentrating those resources on discovery. A significant portion of the world's research and development capabilities are available to entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in various forms, ranging from papers, demonstrations, and consortia to trained people. Technology transfer is best accomplished by transferring people, as occurs when people leave a laboratory where they have developed an idea and form a separate group or a new company to commercialize the idea by creating a product.

Technological know-how is a necessary prerequisite for a new venture, but it is by no means sufficient. The start-up must also have a mastery of engineering that will enable it to successfully convert its technology into products in a predictable and timely fashion.

Chapter 6 presents the technology balance sheet, which can be used to break a company's technology and engineering abilities down into twelve separate aspects, or dimensions, that are analyzed to determine the status of these two critical areas.