International Technology Transfer

The technology gap between the developed world and developing countries is getting more critical by the day. Developed countries are implementing new effective technologies across all spheres of economic progression, thus dictating global business. A developing country like Zimbabwe must therefore source for new technologies from developed countries in-order to close the gap. However, international technology transfer is a complex process that needs proper decision support. This book explores the critical decision factors governing the adoption and implementation of transferred technologies. Based on a survey of the sheet metal working industry in Zimbabwe a technology transfer decision support model is developed. The technology transfer problem is seen to occur in three domains namely necessity, feasibility and selection, and requires consideration of financial, technical, environmental and social factors. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is then used to implement the multi-criteria decision making for supplier and technology selection. The decision support model proposed in this book should be especially helpful to technology managers and practitioners at the taker's end.