ویراستاران: آری ریپ، توماس جی. میسا، یوهان و. شوت

ناشر: انتشارات پینتر، لندن و نیویورک — سال انتشار: ۱۹۹۵

کلیدواژه‌ها: ارزیابی سازنده فناوری (CTA)، آینده‌نگاری فناوری، سیاست نوآوری، مطالعات علم، فناوری و جامعه (STS)، نوآوری مسئولانه

شیوهٔ ارجاع 

ریپ، آری؛ میسا، توماس جی.؛ شوت، یوهان و. (ویراستاران). (۱۹۹۵). مدیریت فناوری در جامعه: رویکرد ارزیابی سازنده فناوری. لندن و نیویورک: انتشارات پینتر.

Managing Technology in Society: The Approach of Constructive Technology Assessment (1995)

Abstract / News-style Overview 

The edited volume Managing Technology in Society: The Approach of Constructive Technology Assessment, published in 1995 by Pinter Publishers in London and New York, stands as a landmark in the interdisciplinary fields of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) studies and technology foresight. It introduced the concept of Constructive Technology Assessment (CTA) as both an analytical framework and a practical governance tool, aimed at embedding social, ethical, and political dimensions into the earliest stages of technological development.

Significance

During the 1980s and 1990s, societies were confronted with waves of emerging technologies—biotechnology, information technology, and advanced materials—that carried profound yet uncertain societal impacts. Conventional approaches to technology assessment (TA) largely operated in a reactive mode, evaluating risks and implications after technologies were already diffused. By contrast, Rip, Misa, and Schot offered a proactive vision: technologies could be steered toward socially desirable pathways if societal actors were engaged early on.

Conceptual Framework of CTA

CTA is distinctive in that it emphasizes early-stage intervention in research and innovation. Its core instruments include:

• Stakeholder workshops, designed to elicit diverse perspectives and values.

• Scenario building, to anticipate possible futures and alternative trajectories.

• In-context prototyping, to surface unintended consequences before widespread adoption.

This participatory model has influenced subsequent approaches such as Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and integrated foresight methodologies.

Case Studies

The book compiles a variety of empirical case studies, covering fields such as energy policy, biotechnology, and information systems. Each study demonstrates that early, structured interaction between developers, users, regulators, and civil society actors can redirect or refine technological trajectories, often mitigating risks or unlocking unforeseen opportunities.

Scholarly Impact

With over 1,000 citations recorded in Google Scholar, the volume remains one of the most influential references in the literature on technology governance and innovation policy. Its framework has been incorporated into policy experiments in the Netherlands, the UK, and beyond, and continues to be cited in discussions on anticipatory governance and sustainability transitions.

Conclusion

Managing Technology in Society marked a turning point in how technology is conceptualized: not as a neutral or purely technical force, but as a social process shaped by human choices and institutional arrangements. By embedding participation and anticipation into innovation, CTA provides a durable strategy for aligning technological progress with societal values. The work remains a cornerstone for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in STS, foresight, and responsible innovation.