Webbased horizon scanning - recent developments with application to health technology assessment
Webbased horizon scanning - recent developments with application to health technology assessment
Author(s): Geoff McBride, Richard Owen, Marco Palomino, Tim TaylorSubject(s): Economy
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wrocławiu
Keywords: horizon scanning; Web data mining; strategic planning; information management; knowledge management
Summary/Abstract: Horizon scanning is an increasingly important part of management decision-making. It involves the systematic search for incipient trends, opportunities and constraints that might affect the probability of achieving management goals and objectives. It requires the continuous acquisition of up-to-date information to anticipate issues and thus inform decisions. As an example of the application of horizon scanning in the public sector, the UK National Horizon Scanning Center provides policy-makers with forewarning about emerging and new health technologies. In this paper, we describe the implementation of a horizon scanning system centered on the use of keyword-based, Web search engines. By leveraging the existing infrastructure of proven search engines, our system aims to automate the human-intensive process of seeking information and emerging trends. A prototype implementation has been developed, and we discuss its potential in the context of a case study on proton beam therapy commissioned by the UK Department of Health.
Journal: Informatyka Ekonomiczna
- Issue Year: 2012
- Issue No: 25
- Page Range: 139-159
- Page Count: 21
- Language: English