Technology transfer strategies and practices in Nigerian construction organisations

Odigie, H

Abstract

There is no doubt that Technology Transfer (TT) activity from the transferees' view
point is an important issue when it comes to economic development, especially in
developing countries. This present study is concerned with Technology Transfer
Strategies and Practices (TTS&P) within/between Nigerian construction
organisations, from the transferees' perspective where emphasis is placed more on the
indigenous construction organisations. The aim of this study is to develop a
framework of TTS&P for Nigerian indigenous construction organisations.
This study recognised the importance of collaboration in any Technology Transfer
(TT) activities, as Technology Transfer (TT) is a give and take process. Therefore, the
study investigated Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P) from both
indigenised foreign construction organisations and indigenous construction
organisations in Nigeria.
It investigated the current Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P)
employed, the effectiveness of Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices
(TTS&P), the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that influence the implementation of
Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P), the benefits and challenges
associated with Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P).
Evidence from literature revealed the need for TTS&P in Nigerian indigenous
construction organisations. It also revealed that there are very few studies on TT that
have been undertaken in developing countries, whilst no study has been done on
TTS&P, especially in Nigerian construction organisations.
The objectives of this empirical study were to explore TTS&P within Nigerian
construction organisations. The research adopted an interpretive stance and employs
multiple data collection methods. It employed a combination of both postal
questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. A total of 143 completed
questionnaires representing 108 questionnaires from indigenous construction
organisations and 35 questionnaires from indigenised foreign construction
organisations, formed the data base for the quantitative analysis. The qualitative data
were from 23 semi-structured interviews (9 interviews came from indigenised foreign
construction organisations and 14 interviews from indigenous construction
organisations).
The study concluded that organisational alliance through technology transfers are
growing and the potential benefits of such organisational arrangements are not being
realised because participating organisations are emphasising on short-term profit
sharing to the detriment of more long-term and ultimately, core value-added,
dimensions of knowledge creation and organisational learning. The study therefore
recommended a long-term collaboration that would embrace technology transfer
strategies and practices which would encourage construction organisations to move
away from their traditional client-contractors relationships to more contractorscontractors-
clients relationship for more knowledge, skills and techniques sharing
processes.
This study was limited to Nigerian construction organisations, especially the
indigenous construction organisations, but can be generalised and thus applied to
other organisations that exhibit similar characteristics.

Citation

Odigie, H. Technology transfer strategies and practices in Nigerian construction organisations. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2012