Technology assessment for portfolio managers

In 2008 the CFA Institute, a global association of investment professionals, added a new topic to its Professional Development Program How to judge the technological strength and potential of companies This offering reflects the growing importance of technological considerations in investment decisions. The offering is rooted in a comprehensive procedure for a technology due diligence exercise The procedure relies on the recent advances in the management of technology (MOT), and particularly on the functionality grid, a key construct in the theory of technology The procedure is summarized in a one-page Technology Assessment Template that allows portfolio managers to perform a quick individual assessment This article describes the Template and offers brief guidelines as to as use (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.