Strategy Analytics
Agents: System analysts, business analysts, scientist, engineers, technology management consultants;
Strategic moves : Focus on emerging agricultural, animal husbandries, civil, construction, architecture and textile technologies.
Call deep analytics ‘7-S’ model; explore how to ensure a perfect fit among 7- S elements – scope, system, structure, security, strategy, staff-resources, skill- style-support;
Define a set of security goals and emerging technologies accordingly.
Do SWOT analysis: strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of existing technologies as compared to emerging technologies;
Fair and rational business model innovation
Do technology life-cycle analysis on ‘S’ curve : presently at growth phase of ‘S’ curve.
Explore technology innovation-adoption-diffusion strategy.
Explore innovation model and knowledge management system for creation, storage, sharing and application of knowledge.
Adopt ‘4E’ approach for the development of underdeveloped zone by building smart villages and optimal resource planning, allocation and distribution : envision, explore, exercise and extend.
Prof. Phillips and Dr, Waugh are exploring the strategies for the innovation, adoption and diffusion of emerging agriculture, nanohousing, textile and consumer goods technologies. The forums have explored a set of interesting strategic moves for the innovation, adoption and diffusion of emerging technologies in agriculture, animal husbandries, civil, construction, architecture and textile engineering. It is essential to innovate dominant design of intelligent machines and equipments at optimal cost. Most of the technologies are at emergence phase of S-curve (e.g. solar water pump, electrical and hybrid vehicles like tractors).
The digital technologies are at growth phase of S-curve. Commercial SCM, WMS and ERP systems are already available in COTS market. It is essential to customize these softwares as per the requirements of related sectors. It is a challenging task to develop web enabled information system to support collaborative planning, forecasting, production and distribution mechanism in agriculture. It is a hard challenge to protect the crops, food, beverage and perishable goods from natural disaster and malicious insects, viruses, bacterias and worms; these technologies are evolving with the advancement of chemical engineering, genetics and biotechnologies. Innovative strategies should be explored for conservation of water through artificial rainfall.
Dr. Waugh is exploring the strategy of organic farming, a sustainable agricultural practice based on natural ecological systems and biowastes. The other key areas are genetic engineering, biofertilization and smart sustainable agriculture. This practice avoids the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers; the basic objective is to sustain soil quality and health. Composting of organic residues and the use in agriculture bring back plant nutrients and organic matter to the soil; but there are risks of presence of heavy metals or organic pollutants. This strategy increases soil organic matter; enhances soil fauna and soil microbial biomass and stimulates enzyme activity leading to increased mineralization of organic matter, Na, K, P, C and improved resistance against pests and diseases.
Organic farming increases soil cation exchange capacity, improves soil structure, soil physical characteristics (e.g. aggregate stability, bulk density, porosity, available water capacity, and infiltration). But, Nitrogen mineralization takes place relatively slowly. Increased available water capacity may protect crops against drought stress. Global food crisis is coupled with the environmental impact of global warming and fuel shortages; transgenic methods may be required to enhance food production and quality. Widely used chemical insecticides (e.g. phosphine, methyl bromide) are losing their utilities due to insect resistance and environmental damage. Traditional plant breeding methods may be adopted for insect resistance. For example, transgenic Avidin, a protein naturally occurring in egg white is useful for the protection of rice, maize, potato and apple leaf from insect pests. Agriculture should be cost-effective and efficient. It is interesting to explore the scope of low cost moisture, temperature sensors for optimizing water usage and yield, and radar sensors for monitoring any invasion in the farm, smart water management and consistent monitoring for weather conditions.