Japan's Growing Technological Capability Implications for the U.S. Economy (1992) / Chapter Skim
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What Can We Learn from Technology Assessment?
What Can We Learn from Technology Assessment?
Pages 42-56
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From page 42... ...
In light of national security, the health of the nonmilitary industrial sector is also a matter of concern. Most of the important high technology from the nonmilitary sector is applicable in the defense sector, and the The term "technology assessment" is usually used to define the evaluation of the impacts, the influences, or the consequences of a particular technology on economic or industrial activities, on societies, on the environment, or on human health.
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From page 43... ...
Further, should such problems exist, governments may try to resolve them by taking measures such as reallocating R&D resources, improving the infrastructure, modifying regulatory settings or tax systems, and creating trade incentives. Technology assessment is, therefore, an important policy tool.
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From page 44... ...
Therefore, companies try to hedge the risk inherent in the development of new products through strategic partnerships with their competitors. When firms become deeply interdependent internationally in terms of technology, it is difficult to define "national technological capabilities." TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITEI TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT Usually technology assessment attempts to compare the performance of a product made by different countries (or firms)
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From page 45... ...
Secondly, there are many nontechnological factors that significantly influence both the performance and the productivity of the manufacturing process. For example, the motivation of workers is a very important factor even in a highly automated semiconductor factory equipped with the newest instruments and facilities.
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There is no magic that makes a difference, rather an effort of engineering-focused minds. Within technology assessment, there is a difficulty in measuring the importance of such aspects; indicators (i.e., quantitative measures that could show technological advantage)
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From page 47... ...
It should be counted if the conductor of the assessment is interested in finding out whether or not a nation as a geographical region provides favorable conditions for research and development. In conclusion, there is no a priori criterion for evaluating research and development potentials.
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Also there are so many factors which influence technological capability that it is hard to find a way to examine those factors and make a total evaluation. Therefore, the conductor of the technology assessment might conclude that it is better to leave the fundamental evaluation to experts in the field.
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From page 49... ...
NOTE: CCD = charge coupled device; CAD/CAM = computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing; D-PBX = digital private branch exchange; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging. SOURCE: Survey conducted by Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, 1988.
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Besides, as previously mentioned, it is often not certain which technological alternatives will survive into the future. Indeed, the uncertainty of future technological development adds to the difficulty of technology assessment.
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From page 51... ...
. NOTE: CCD = charge coupled device; CAD/CAM = computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing; D-PBX = digital private branch exchange; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging.
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From page 52... ...
In product performance and in price competitiveness, Japan had an advantage for some products but was at a disadvantage regarding others; the overall performance of Japan was equal to that of the United States in parts, finished goods, and systems. In materials, the United States had an advantage in price competitiveness in six out of eight areas of technology.
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From page 53... ...
Technology assessment can explain the reality of technology: that is, what technology is, and how it is generated and used. In other words, technology assessment can be used as a tool to identify how scientific and technological activities of different disciplines interact, how one industry is dependent on others in terms of technology, to what extent the globalization of scientific and tech
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From page 54... ...
nological activities prevails, how innovation takes place, and what the environmental factors that stimulate innovation and diffusion of technology are. Indeed, these are the objectives of the ongoing survey (on technology assessment)
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Foreign U.S. ~ Europe ~ Other pects: product performance, performance of the production processes, research and development potential, and the environment for R&D.
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From page 56... ...
Another important message that can be transmitted through technology assessment is the reality of deepening interdependence in industrial activities beyond natural boundaries. The question that should be raised is not to what extent should we depend on foreign sources for the supply of critical commodities and technologies, but rather how can we sustain stable relations between countries so that we can maximize the benefits of interdependence?
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