The Technological Upgrading of Service Institutions

Tue Kell Nielsen

doi:10.3362/9781780446202

The Technological Upgrading of Service Institutions

Lessons from Asia

The Technological Upgrading of Service Institutions describes the processes involved when technology is introduced into a developing country from a donor country. It discusses the techniques and problems of setting up a technological service institute in the host country and in particular the importance of ensuring that the service organization becomes independent and self-sufficient as soon as possible. The roles of other parties involved in the transfer are also discussed, NGOs, financial institutions, equipment suppliers, consultants, advisers, as well as the economic and political implications. Detailed case studies from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, India and the Philippines provide fascinating insight into the processes of technology transfer.

Published: 1998
Pages: 256

eBook: 9781780446202

Paperback: 9781853394355


INTRODUCTION 1
1 Terms and concepts 5
Technology and infrastructure 5
Technological development 12
Economic structural development factors 15
The technology transfer process 18
Technology transfer models 22
. . . and the reason why 25
2 The participants and their roles 27
Modes of participation 27
The national system 31
The international level 36
The consultant 42
The technology carrier 44
Gaps and linkages in the development process 47
3 Within the project framework - and beyond 52
Goal formulation and development 52
Project organization and execution 57
The significance of the project framework 62
The project in the development process 65
Gauges of results and effects 68
Resource allocation 71
Goal compliance between actors 72
4 Sri Lanka - mobilizing for coastal defence 75
Institutional context 76
LHI: History, concept and operation 77
Technology acquisition and implementation 81
Participants and linkages 84
Problems met and lessons learned 90
5 Thailand - mapping a turbulent development 94
Institutional context 96
Thailand Development Research Institute 98
TDRI as a technology carrier 106
Foundation and operation of TDRI 109
Problems met and lessons learned 113
6 Bangladesh - river management and flood control 116
Institutional context 117
The River Research Institute 119
The Surface Water Modelling Centre 121
Technology acquisition and implementation 124
Participants and linkages 126
Problems met and lessons learned 129
7 India - a new approach to an old challenge 136
Institutional context 137
The Central Water Commission 137
Technology acquisition and implementation 139
Participants and linkages 144
Problems met and lessons learned 150
8 The Philippines - environmental upgrading with social
constraints 154
Institutional context 155
The Pasig River programme 158
Technology acquisition and implementation 164
Participants and linkages 167
Problems met and lessons learned 171
9 Feasibility of technological upgrading projects 175
Participants and linkages 175
Development determinants 179
Resource allocation 189
Goals and goal compliance 190
10 Process design implications 193
The technological development project 193
Institutional performance upgrading 197
Development increment and implementation platform 200
The demand condition 204
The technology and the transfer process 206
11 Policy implications 211
Guided development outside the project framework 211
National development policy 216
Technological infrastructure 219
Orientation of development approach 222
The role of the donor organization 223
The social effect of technological development 228
Appendix: Draft guidelines on technological upgrading projects 230
References and further reading 239