Com panies are looking for Technology Foresight (TF) models to focus strategy and innovation management. This paper establishes an "implementation" gap in TF practices based on empirical research in multinational companies in Europe and Japan. The "implementation" gap refers to the neglected use of TF results in strategy and innovation management. Thus the paper suggests a TF model focusing on guiding ideas for a structured approach to eliminate this "implementation" gap. Concepts of "backcasting", "functionalities" and "bottleneck technologies" are introduced to set priorities in the foresight process.

The paper discusses how organizations can benefit from applying an enhanced Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in innovation context. The combined approach is illustrated with an intervention in the innovation department of a multinational company. The aim of the company has been to increase its competitiveness by fostering innovation and questioning the innovation system of the company as well as the innovation project portfolio. Embedded in the SSM, the concept of Enterprise Science has been a useful vehicle to structure the problem situation and to channel the search for possible solutions. Innovation challenges could be pointed out, analysed and resolved in a systemic way. Lessons from practice are presented as well as recommendations for decision makers regarding the application of the approach and an outlook to further studies.

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