In Track I (Entry-level TTP), Topic 14: Managing Your Time: The Art of Tech Portfolio Management (Part 1) and Track II (Mid-level TTP), Topic 16: Managing Your Time: More Tech Portfolio Management (Part 2), we discussed the importance of time management for the TTP.
As a TTP advances in their career, they become much more efficient in managing more cases. However, this efficiency brings with it a growing portfolio. For some experienced TTPs, portfolios have reached several hundred cases (of course with help from administrative staff). TTPs should decide how many cases they can realistically manage. The strategy for managing 10 cases will be different than managing 100, for example. As caseload increases, so does the need to develop management techniques that will keep the TTP advancing all technologies appropriately without leaving any behind. Such management techniques frequently include digital databases. However, clever TTPs will develop other techniques as well, such as training and empowering their support staff in enhanced assistance roles to be even more helpful. TTPs can also “deputize” particularly helpful staff in other, technical departments to assist with certain tasks.
A few key pointers: maintain good personal notes and records of conversations and actions; consider employing student assistants; do not create problems—only solve them; keep things simple whenever possible; always look for ways to achieve multiple objectives in one action; schedule periodic reviews of the entire technology portfolio; use “triggering events” (e.g., patent office actions) to prompt action in a timely manner.
More detail on TTP portfolio management in this presentation.