Citation
Egbu, C. (2006), "Technology and Knowledge Transfer in China", Journal of Technology Management in China, Vol. 1 No. 3, pp. 322-323. https://doi.org/10.1108/17468770610704976
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
The Chinese economy is currently the fastest growing economy in the world and has witnessed dramatic change in recent years. The steady yet unstoppable change from a centrally‐planned economy towards a market‐driven one, has technology transfer as an important driver. In this regard, this book is very timely.
This book adopts a logical and systematic approach to its coverage of the important issues of technology and knowledge transfer in China. It is written in a clear and easy to follow style, which allows the reader to follow the lines of thought of the writer. In the earlier chapters, the book successfully addressed some of the key controversies and issues surrounding our understanding of technological transfer. Indeed, it attempted to demystify some of the held beliefs associated with effective implementation of technology transfer. The key strengths of the book would have to be the meticulous and impeccable review of extant literature on technology and knowledge transfer, the richness of the case studies provided and the level of thoroughness in establishing:
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the link between knowledge transfer and economic developments;
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the identification of the relationship between explicit knowledge transfer and tacit knowledge transfer; and
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the thought provoking in establishing the blockage of tacit knowledge transfer and the attempt to establish a systematic approach towards tacit knowledge transfer so as to improve the delivery of tacit knowledge transfer.
In addition to the broader aspects of technology and knowledge transfer, a fair amount of the book takes a construction industry context to explore mechanisms of technology and knowledge transfer between foreign and local managers in international joint venture projects. The reader of this book would also not fail to notice the emphasis placed on the importance of knowledge management from both a socio‐behavioural and psychological perspectives. Communication, skills and competencies, human behaviour and interactions are seen to play an important role in achieving successful technology transfer.
Yes, this book provides useful insights into how successful technology transfer has been achieved in the Chinese context, but it does one more important thing; and that is it provides an invaluable rich source of material for practitioners and academics interested in technology transfer in joint ventures in the construction industry in China – an area where there is little or no information documented and available.
The coverage of the book and the way it is cleverly written means that government policy makers, international funding agencies and business executives would equally find the book very informative and useful. I would strongly recommend it as a reading text for academics, practitioners and policy makers with an interest in understanding how to achieve successful technology transfer.
(You can read separate review of this book by Professor Jeffrey Barlow from Pacific University, USA, as well at: http://bcis.pacific.edu/journal/2005/06/lihua.php)