Roshartini bte Omar

1
Technology Transfer in the Malaysian Construction
Industry Tun Hussein Onn University College of
Technology, Johor, Malaysia.
 RECONCEPTUALIZING THE MANAGEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY
IN CONSTRUCTION A MALAYSIAN PERSPECTIVE
Introduction/Background
Researchers Profile


Roshartini bte Omar
Tutor Department of
Construction and Real

Estate Management,
Faculty of Technology
Management Master Sc
in Building
Technology
B.Sc (housing ,Building
and Plannning) Hons.USM

The importance of technology for development
in construction is widely recognized (Egan, 1998
Sexton and Barret, 2004 Rezgui et al., 2000,
Adriaanse, A. and Voordijk, H, 2005). The major
focus in construction currently however is
towards information technology (IT). This is
evident from the case of the UK having set up the
Construct IT Centre for Excellence at Salford
(http//www.construct-it.org.uk/) in order to
develop opportunities for the strategic use of IT
by construction organizations in the UK, and the
ongoing research at Loughborough University, the
CoBrITe project which is a LINK/IDAC UK funded
project (Rezgui, Y. et al., 2004) and has been
recognized for 'outstanding contribution to the
advancement of the practice of IT in the UK
construction industry'.   In the Malaysian
context, although there does not seem to be a
comparable high focus on IT in construction,
there is however an increasing focus on
international collaborative construction projects
involving Malaysian construction contractors.
This is being pursued with increasing intent and
is reflected by the policy expressed by the
Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB)
of Malaysia in terms of maintaining the
Malaysian Construction Sector as an open market
to encourage transfer of relevant construction
and materials technology (http//www.cidb.gov.my/
). It is evident from extant literature on
technology transfer, that there is not a great
amount of the research on Transfer of Technology
(ToT) that is based on the construction industry.
This initial literature survey has been
conducted by a KUiTTHO student, Mohamad Escandar
from the Construction Management programme
currently pursuing his final year project titled
Pemindahan teknologi dalam industri pembinaan
Kajian kes projek terowong SMART Kuala Lumpur
under the supervision of Dr Gomez.   There is
an increasing awareness that whilst the science
based knowledge is often regarded as critical for
competitiveness and prosperity, research-based
knowledge has, thus far, played only a minor role
in guiding management policy and practice
(Department of Trade and Industry, 2001). It is
noted by Tranfield, D. et al., (2004) that
within the knowledge economy, it is becoming
increasingly important to develop management
knowledge and learning from this wealth of
information science based knowledge, and use it
to inform, if not transform, management practice
(p. 376). However, it is evident that the
current dominant perspectives relating to the
issue of technology transfer is being limited by
a discipline-based monopoly by communities of
practice (CoP) over such phenomena. This can be
described as the dominance of particular forms of
rationality based on an objectifying posture (see
Chio, 2005) that is identified as modern
knowledge. It is noted by Choi (2005), that in
the field of international management, that
research on transfers, tend to focus on a
variety of technically-oriented issues relating
to the mechanics and form of transfer. For Kunda
(1992) it is clear that engineering managers
possess a technical background and it is apparent
that technical sophistication is indeed the sine
qua non of management in Engineering. This
scientific and expert views become crucial in
the decision making process in construction
companies that are very discipline oriented.
Within this context, an engineering culture
becomes prevalent that has the contextual norms
of engineering development in terms of having
value added, measurable deliverables, and a
clear schedule. However, it is suggested here,
that this prescriptive management style, that is
founded on positivist perspective of identifying
an objective reality is not consistent with
managing the complex ssue of technology transfer.
 
Dr Christy P. Gomez (Lead Researcher)
Lecturer
Department of Construction
and Property
Management
Faculty of Terchnology Management  
B Sc (Mathematics), (Univeristy of
Malaya) B.Eng
(Hons) Civil Eng. With Computing
(University of Surrey U.K.)
Ph.D (Civil Eng.)
Construction Mgmt.
(U of Birmingham UK)
Saiful Hadi Mastor
Lecturer Department of
Construction and Real
Estate Management,
Faculty of Technology Management
M Sc. ( Project
Management ) ( USM )
B. Sc Land Admin. Development
(Hons) ( UTM
) Dip. Land Surveying
( UTM )
Objectives

• The study aims to
• Investigate the current mechanisms of
  technology transfer within the Malaysian
• Construction Industry.
• Its primary aim is to establish generic
  principles for the effectiveness and
• appropriateness of technology transfer.
• 3. To identify the implications of the
  relationship between technology transfer and
• economic development levels in terms of
  value.
• 4. To provide a framework/enabling mechanism for
  technology transfer amongst key
• stakeholders within the construction industry
  based on the related quantitative data
• and case study qualitative data.
•  

Methodology
  A theoretical framework for the transfer of
technology in construction will be undertaken
based on literature review of the current state
of technology transfer. This will be
supplemented with a review of literature on
knowledge management and knowledge transfer in
order to provide a contextual understanding of
the phenomena of technology transfer.   Following
this a structured survey will be undertaken
amongst the major contractors (CIDB registered
Grade 7 contractors) to investigate the current
mechanisms for transfer of technology (ToT)
within the Malaysian Construction Industry
(objective i.).   A case study of technology
transfer will be provided. This will be
undertaken by employing a research assistant to
work closely with the host organization for a
period of two (2) months.   Hence, the
methodology will consist of undertaking both
quantitative and qualitative techniques for
purposes of achieving the stated objectives. Key
aspects will be the use of SPSS data analysis
package to analyse quantitative data for the
purposes of investigating relationships (ToT
mechanisms and economic development levels) and
the effectiveness of current mechanisms for ToT.
Whilst a grounded theory approach will be
employed to establish generic principles for
effectiveness and appropriateness of ToT based on
empirical data.
Schematic Representation of the Proposed
Technology Acquisition and Innovation Model
Expected Results/Benefits

• Theories regarding the principles of
  effectiveness and appropriateness of ToT based on
  
• empirical data.
• 2. Journal and conference papers regarding
  relevant knowledge of ToT within the construction
  industry.
• 3. Dissemination of knowledge regarding
  obstacles and frameworks for engaging in ToT
  for ongoing value benefits as an integral aspect
  of the construction process

Transfer of Technology in Progress via Conference
Presentation