Technology Radar

Systematically evaluate technologies and track them on a radar (Adopt, Trial, Assess, Hold) to manage technology portfolio.

Context

You are evaluating technologies. Establish a technology radar as organizational consensus on what to use, experiment with, evaluate, or avoid.

Domain Context

Based on Thoughtworks Technology Radar and tech governance:

• Adopt: Use for new projects; well-proven, low risk
• Trial: Experiment in bounded contexts; promising but unproven at scale
• Assess: Evaluate before committing; interesting but uncertain
• Hold: Don't use; superceded or risky

Instructions

1. Assess Technology: Maturity, support, community, performance, cost, learning curve
2. Plot on Radar: Where does it belong?
3. Define Transition: How to move from Trial to Adopt (or obsolete)?
4. Communicate: Publish radar; align team on tech direction

Anti-Patterns

• Adopting Too Quickly: Use new shiny tech before proven. Result: regret. Guard: New tech starts in Assess/Trial.
• Radar Never Updates: Published once, ignored after. Guard: Review quarterly.

Further Reading

• Thoughtworks Technology Radar — published tri-annually
• Technology Strategy Books by various authors