Various technology transfer methods have been applied to enhance and stimulate technical growth in developing countries since political independence was achieved in these countries. These efforts were in response to the awareness in most developing nations of the gap which existed between them and the world's leading industrial powers. Early transfers were carried out by some of the industrial powers which had once ruled these countries, but they then had little understanding of the culture and customs of the people from which they were socially and culturally detached during colonial rule. Thus, most of the transfer methods employed and their applications under certain conditions were indiscriminate, completely exogenous and inappropriate, giving rise in many cases to social and cultural conflicts. The paper examines a number of conflict situations in the transfer process in recent time, as well as certain ethical and cultural issues associated with technical change in developing countries. It further analyses some transfer concepts suggested by Sachs(1) and uses his notion of complementarity between Software (Operating System), Hardware (Equipment) and Manpower (Skills)(1) to assess the effectiveness of some current transfer practices in Africa, particularly highlighting the way in which one such process resulted in building up technical capacity in a local construction company, now a major player in the construction scene in West Africa. Using the result of this analysis, the paper develops new strategies for future successful technology transfers in relation to the authors own development models(2). (A)
Abstract