Emerging Technology Adoption: Questions to Consider

Q U E S T I O N S TO CONSIDER EMERGING TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION:

In December 2019, GAO published a report that outlines key factors to consider when assessing the potential impact of new technology. The “Technology Assessment Design Handbook” is geared primarily to GAO’s own staff, which conducts assessments on behalf of Congress. However, they believe those practices might have value for other agencies and organizations looking to bring more rigor to their technology assessments. Here are key questions that such assessments might consider.

DESCRIBING STATUS AND CHALLENGES TO DEVELOPMENT OF A TECHNOLOGY

• What is the current state of the technology? • What are alternative applications of the technology? • Does the status of technology vary across different applications or sectors where technology is being developed? • What are technical challenges to the development of the technology? • What technologies are available or under development that could address a specific problem or issue? • What challenges do these technologies face?

ASSESSING OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES THAT MAY RESULT FROM USE OF A TECHNOLOGY

• What are the expected or realized benefits of the technology? • What unintended consequences may arise from using the technology? • Do uses or outcomes of the technology differ across geographic, economic, or other social groups or sectors?

ASSESSING COST - EFFECTIVENESS AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO USE OF A TECHNOLOGY

• What are the economic and effectiveness impacts of implementing specified technologies? • What are policy implications resulting from advances in the technology? • What policy options could address challenges to the use of a technology to achieve a specified outcome?