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What is Technology Planning ?

Technology planning engages stakeholders to capture technology needs across Defence Lines of Development (DLoDs) and identify technology needs and opportunities through life.

Delivery team and project technology plans are the principle mechanism for delivering technology to current and future systems.

Director Operating Centre technology plans draw on team and project technology plans to identify dependencies, risks and cross-cutting technology opportunities between projects and programmes within the Operating Centre.

What is Technology ?

Technology is a key enabler, offering many advantages to acquisition and support projects.

The management of technology depends on effective cooperation to realise the benefits technology brings, and to identify and manage the risks and resources.

Why do Technology Planning ?

Team and project technology plans provide a means of identifying and managing technology risk and form part of a project’s Through Life Management Plan (TLMP). They provide evidence to support the approvals process and finally they communicate technology priorities beyond the Project by informing Director Operating Centre technology planning and the DE&S Technology Overview.

Director Operating Centre technology plans can improve the visibility of projects within Operating Centres and allow them to realise efficiencies across projects. They identify cross Project opportunities, priorities, risks and dependencies and provide an opportunity to influence MOD Research Goals and allocation of research funding.

Joint, capability led planning of research will ensure maximum benefit is derived from the available resource.

How do I do Technology Planning ?

The DE&S Technology Management Strategy establishes 5 principles of technology management and provides a simple action plan for Director Operating Centres, project and delivery team staff in order to implement these principles throughout MOD.

Guidance on technology management tools such as Technology Readiness Levels, System Readiness Levels and Technology Roadmaps is available.

Types of Technology Plan

There are two types of technology plan:

Team and project technology plans which form part of the TLMP.
Director Operating Centre technology plans which improve the visibility of projects within Operating Centres and allow them to realise efficiencies across projects.

Delivery Team and Project Technology Plans

Team and project technology plans form part of the TLMP providing a means of identifying and managing technology risk whilst providing evidence to support the approvals process.

They communicate technology priorities beyond the Project by informing cross-Centre technology planning and the DE&S Technology Overview.

The plan should include:

A description of the project strategy for managing technology dependences and opportunities through life.
A summary of associated technology risks, which will be managed as part of the overall project risk plan.
A technology roadmap which visualises the technological opportunities to capability needs and research plans.

The plan is used to:

Manage the project, as part of the project TLMP, providing material for the TLMP Executive Summary.
Provide the basis for Director Operating Centre and cross-Centre technology planning.
Jointly plan, with other Top Level Budgets (TLBs) and Industry, the research requirements to maintain and support the equipment through life.

The Project Manager is responsible for the technology plan; drawing in expertise as required from specialist technical staff in their team, the Director Operating Centre and PTG, and to engage with the wider Science and Technology community through the Dstl Science Gateways.

Director Operating Centre Technology Plans

Director Operating Centre technology plans improve the visibility of projects within Operating Centres and allow them to realise efficiencies across projects. They identify cross Project opportunities, priorities, risks and dependencies and provide an opportunity to influence MOD Research Goals and allocation of research funding.

The plan should include:

A description of dependencies, risks and cross-cutting technology opportunities between projects and programmes within the Operating Centre.
Prioritised research investment requirements within the Operating Centre.

The plan is used to:

Inform cross-Operating Centre technology planning and the DE&S Technology Overview.
Support Technology Working Group planning, Research and Development Objectives and bid prioritisation.
Demonstrate alignment with the Defence Industrial Strategy.
Communicate our plans to industry, to ensure these plans are realistic and deliverable.

The Operating Centre Science Technology and Integration lead is responsible for the Operating Centre technology plan. Their key responsibilities are to:

Pull together the team and project technology plans to deliver a coherent Operating Centre view, which identifies synergies and opportunities across project boundaries.
Work with project staff to manage cross project dependencies, risks and opportunities.
Work with Industry to ensure plans are coherent and realistic.
Work with PTG to plan research requirements.

The lead is assisted in this role by the Op Centre Science Gateway. This individual ensures projects are aware of the technologies coming out of the MOD research programme and industry. They provide the linkage between the project and science communities.

Technology Working Groups

Technology Working Groups (TWGs) are non-executive groups that have been established across the AIR, LAND, NAVY, C4ISTAR, WEAPONS and HUMAN domains to:

Facilitate through life research and technology management.
Encourage communication across organisational boundaries.
Develop a shared understanding of current and planned research and development.
Identify and agree research priorities.
Facilitate exploitation links and ensure pull through of research in programmes and projects.

Useful Contacts

The Programmes and Technology Group (PTG) can provide practical help and advice for projects and Operating Centre on technology planning and the technology management tools and techniques that support it.

PTG also provide half day Technology Management Workshops, which can be tailored to meet project needs.

Change History

1 September 2010: Minor amendments made.
1 July 2010: Minor amendment to reflect organisational change.
1 December 2009: Changes made to reflect formation of Programmes and Technology Group (PTG).