Sustainable development and technology management

The purpose of this chapter is to establish a conceptual framework for the technology management field of knowledge and identify the departure point for further research to incorporate the concept of sustainable development into the field. From a review of the literature it is concluded that sustainability aspects are not addressed adequately in technology management theories and practices. Emerging technology management practices related to sustainable development do emphasize the focus on technology strategy, selection and transfer, especially between developed and emerging economies. At the core of these issues lies technology assessment that also forms part of other technology frameworks and methodologies. It is recommended that future research to concentrate on the development of technology assessment methods, based on the modification of the Technology Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Space Map analytical techniques, that incorporate the dynamic interactions between nature and society that is researched in the newly established field of sustainability science.