| This dissertation presents the technology evaluation and acquisition process in the U.S. electronics manufacturing industry. The dissertation explores this process from a systems perspective by identifying the elements of the system and the relationships among those elements.;A survey questionnaire was sent to electronics manufacturing companies in U.S. to collect data about the relationships among the system elements. Multivariate statistical methods and an expert panel were used to quantify and clarify the relationships.;The companies in the U.S. electronics manufacturing industry are using eleven major groups of evaluation attributes: Flexibility and Efficiency, Strategic Attributes, Manufacturing Floor Requirements, Product Development, Tactical Costs, Strategic Costs, Competitiveness, Operational Social Concerns, Strategic Social Concerns, Uniqueness, and Industry Trends. They utilize three major groups of evaluation methodologies: Analytic Tools, Financial Tools, and Modeling Tools. Three major technology acquisition strategies and two major impacts resulting from the acquisitions have been identified in this study. The acquisition strategies are: Research and Education, Networking, and In House Development/Vendors. The resulting impacts are: Organizational and Operational Competitiveness, Market and New Product Development Competitiveness.;This study is filling an important gap that has been a challenge for many decision makers who have implemented technology evaluation and acquisition strategies in their organizations. The missing link has been the determination of which evaluation and acquisition strategies to use to achieve the goals of the organization.;This dissertation is presenting the key relationships between a company's background, goals, and technology evaluation/acquisition strategies. |
