The human factor in technology transfer

Abstract

Over the past thirty years developing countries have imported product and information technologies. Despite receiving billions of dollars in products and information, many third world countries are now poorer than 30 years ago. One possible explanation for the failure of technology to transfer effectively is the human dimension--the threat of that technology to the receiving organization's internal status structure. To increase the likelihood of successful technology transfer the following suggestions are offered: seek alternative problem definitions; allow decisionmaking latitude at the most problematic point using appropriate technology; restructure the system prior to introducing the technology.