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TECHNOLOGY AS A PROCESS Discuss about the concept, perspective

and also dimension in the process of technology transfer, as the technology itself consider as a process.

Criteria

Criteria that should be concerned: Identifying important factors Understand how it operate Ensure the implementation is effective and

sustained

The significant of the concern: Decision maker do not understand the above

perspective of technology Does not clearly mention in the policies

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Meanings And Perspective Of Technology Technology is the principal means

adopted by nations seeking developmental progress and higher standards of human life.

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Five important features of technology in modern economy (Kozmetsky, 1990) are:

i. Technology is a replenishable national resource.ii. Technology generates wealth which turn to power

(economic, social and political)iii. Technology is a prime factor in domestic productivity

and international government.iv. Technology requires new managerial philosophy and

practice.v. Technology as a body of knowledge encompasses

both ‘hard technology’ and ‘soft technology’. Hard technology in the form of plant, machinery

and equipment, etc Soft technology in the form of training, know-how

and more efficient in organizing existing factors of production (goods and services).

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Application Aspect of Technology Transfer In the application aspect of technology

transfer, it regards the integration aspect of: Resources Production methods Knowledge Embodied knowledge in various tools

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CLASSIFICATION OF TECHNOLOGY The classification of technology that will

be discussed in this topic is depends on:

Application Knowledge base (Week 7 and 9) Organization Others

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Besides that, classification of technology can be discussed under the following dimension: Level of technology – high and low Labor-intensive and capital intensive Modern or traditional International Patent Classification (IPC)

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Engineering Approach

Technology based on engineering approach are: Technology means a process of

transformation A way of combining inputs to obtain an output Tools for changing material – operations and

equipment required.

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Economic Approach

Technology based on economic approach are: Technology interconnects inputs and outputs

within the process. Efficiency of input for output Technique-particular method of combining

inputs to make output ‘Technology is the list of all known techniques,

and the production function is the list of all techniques that are technically efficient’

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The Black Box Of Technology In the engineering approach, technologies are

skills, knowledge, procedures and activities for transforming inputs into outputs; hence increase in technology (T) reduces inputs per output (Fransman, 1986).

Formerly, developing nations have lower output per workers than in developed nations because of low levels of capital per worker.

 Y = f ( L, K, N, E, T )

 WhereY is output, L is labour, K is capital, N is natural

resources, E is entrepreneur, T is technology

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Effect of Increase in Technology Output per worker in developing nation

is lower than developed nation Any advancement would lead to

Lower level of capital and labor corresponding to same level of output

Higher level of output corresponding to same level of capital and labor

Technology represent the Engineers and Black Box represent the Economist

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Arguments

There are arguments arise in the issues of technology as a process, where:

Technology is a technical success not commercial But, the output of technology is profitability (result

from the commercialization). The reasons are:

Insufficient training and education Inappropriate technology Adaptation Lack of understanding human-machine interaction Various socio-cultural problems Lack of equipment, machinery, know-how,

supportive infrastructure, and appropriate management.

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