Stefan Thomke

Stefan Thomke is an internationally acclaimed management expert who has spent decades studying and writing about innovative processes and practices across many industries. A professor at Harvard Business School, Dr. Thomke has written six books and more than 50 articles on the topics of technology management, innovation management, and knowledge management. His works have had a great impact on both the professional and non-professional world.

Born in Germany in 1958, Dr. Thomke was no stranger to the world of technology and, throughout his childhood, showed an aptitude for math and science. This, combined with his experience growing up in a technologically advanced country, set him on a path towards a future in academia. In 1979, Thomke obtained a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe. He followed this up with a master's degree in Applied Mathematics/Computer Sciences from Heidelberg University in 1983.

As his academic career advanced, Dr. Thomke entered the realm of management. His interest in how organizations and corporations could use technology to their advantage led him to pursue a doctorate degree from Harvard Business School in 1989. This combined his knowledge of technology and its potential applications with managerial processes, setting the stage for his future research and publications.

Following his doctorate, Dr. Thomke’s focus moved to the management of technology and innovation. His PhD thesis was entitled “Innovation Management: Strategies for Successful Development.” In this work, he outlines how traditional methods of management must be adapted in order to create new opportunities and capitalize on emergent technologies.

Several of Dr. Thomke’s works have received critical acclaim, including the book “Experimentation Matters: Unleashing the Potential of New Technologies For Innovation.” In this publication, he explains how experimentation can increase success rates in product development, process improvement, and system redesign. Additionally, he outlines a set of experimentation principles that organizations can use to successfully implement new ideas, products, or processes.

Dr. Thomke’s publications often focus on software development and technology management, further evidence of his knowledge and interest in the field. He has published two books on the subject- “Managing Software Development Projects” and “Managing Technology Projects.” In these books, he provides guidance on how to allocate resources, make decisions, and better manage software development projects.

The key take away from all of Dr. Thomke's works is that organizational management must be aware of changing technologies and consider them when making strategic decisions. By doing this, organizations can maximize the potential of emergent technologies and increase innovation to stay one step ahead of the competition.

Throughout his career, Dr. Thomke has lent his expertise to a variety of academic conferences, workshops and advisory boards. In 2019, he was appointed to the board of directors at the Institute of International Education. He is also the co-founder of SigOpt, a company that takes a machine learning approach to optimizing the design of experiments.

Dr. Stefan Thomke’s passion for technology and managerial practices has made him one of the most respected and well-known experts in his field. His books have been used in classrooms across many universities and his articles are often cited in the management and technology press. Those wanting to gain knowledge or insight into the field of technology, innovation and knowledge management should definitely consider diving into the works of Stefan Thomke.