Criteria for Selecting Appropriate Technologies under Different Cultural, Technical and Social Conditions

Criteria for Selecting Appropriate Technologies under Different Cultural, Technical and Social Conditions covers the Proceedings of the IFAC symposium held in Bari-Italy on May 21-23, 1979. The book starts by presenting general introductory survey papers, including topics on the problem of appropriate technology, the redirection of technology, industrialization in developing countries, and proper technology transfer, and technical papers on general criteria. The text also tackles papers about the application of the social cost-benefit analysis to the problem of choosing among alternative production processes; economic evaluation of alternative techniques; and some social consequences of technology development in Europe. Case studies on microelectronics and survey and technical papers on infrastructure planning are also described. The book further deals with papers on human, social and educational factors that impact technological transfer and innovation, as well as the dynamics of technology transfer under different cultural, technical, and social conditions. The text is invaluable to engineers.

Opening SessionGeneral Introductory Survey Papers The Problem of Appropriate Technology The Redirection of Technology Industrialization in Developing Countries Technology Transfer: What to Transfer Technical Papers on General Criteria Thinking about Appropriate Technology Technology Transfer in the Italian Mezzogiorno: A Multicriteria Evaluation Method for Priority Assessment The Dubiousness of Assessing Appropriateness: Empirical EvidenceSession 2. Economic Factors and Case Studies Survey Papers Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis to Choice of Technique Techo-Economic Consideration Concerning Appropriate Technologies Technical Papers Economic Evaluation of Alternative Techniques: An Illustrative Case Development Indices and Actual Benefits of World Models A Land Use Model for Evaluating Appropriate Production Technology in Ashanti, Ghana Main Problems to Transport Software Technologies to Developing Countries Some Social Consequences of the Technology Development in Europe Session 3. Microelectronics: Case Studies Appropriate Informatics Technology Experience in Making and Using Robots Microcomputers: The Key to an Easy and Peaceful Transition to 20th Century Expertise by the Third WorldSession 4. Infrastructures Survey Papers The Design of an Infrastructure for Technology Transfer in Southern Italy -Role of Regional Institutions Planning of Infrastructures for Developing Countries Technical Papers Proposal for Implementation of Technology Centers Organizational Systems for Technology Transfer The Partnership Spirit between Buyers and Sellers of Technology The Selection of Appropriate Technology for the Ghanaian Entrepreneur The Choice of Technology in the Chemical and Process Industries Technology Assessment and Decision-Aid Utility Analysis in Fossil Fuel-to-Fuel ConversionF Appropriate Technologies Selection and Development through Community PolytechnicsSession 5. Human, Social and Educational Factors Survey Papers A Confluence of Feedback Loops in Social and Educational Structure Expected Global Needs in the 21st Century for Qualified Engineers Both Technical Papers Appropriate Technologies and Development: The Role of Training within the Process of Technological Innovation Toward an Operational Definition of Appropriate Technology Some Considerations of Theory and Practice Cultural Discontinuities: Their Effect on Technology Transfer and Development Place of Automatic Control in a Model for Successful Technology Transfer A Normative Approach for Pragmatic Selection of Appropriate Technologies in Less Developed Countries Reality, Ideality and Morality: Criteria for Technology Adoption in Rural Communities The Systems Analysis Approach to the Educational Problem in Technological Transfer Education and Training Schemes for the Promotion of Appropriate Skills Closing Session Synthesis Papers The Dynamics of Technology Transfer under Different Cultural, Technical and Social ConditionsAuthor Index