A systems engineering approach to technology assessment.
This paper presents a technology assessment process based on systems engineering methodologies used in the aerospace and defense industries. Systems engineering, defined in the U.S. military manual for engineering management, is a logical sequence of activities and decisions transforming an operational need into a description of system performance parameters and a preferred system configuration. Like systems engineering, technology assessment is driven by a single, clear need. The objective of systems engineering is to design a new system configuration; technology assessment assesses existing technologies to address this need. A six-step technology assessment model based on systems engineering principles is presented, including: (1) needs assessment; (2) clinical feasibility analysis; (3) systems assessment; (4) approval; (5) implementation; and (6) follow-up/CQI.
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA.
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D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D002140:California; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; D008284:Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D012107:Research Design; D013597:Systems Analysis; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration