An exploratory study of human resource aspects of international technology transfers to Sri Lankan private sector manufacturing firms

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore project-level human resource aspects of international technology transfers (ITTs) to private sector manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 35 ITT projects. A self-administered survey questionnaire was chosen as the main mode for data collection. In addition to descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression were used to analyse data. Findings – Firms have acquired product, process and management-system technologies from countries having different institutional environments, namely, the USA, Europe, China, Japan and India. It was found that the country from which technology was sourced and the type of technology predict several project-level human resource aspects explored in this paper. Originality/value – The acquisition of human resource capabilities provides the central underpinning in ITTs. There is a marked absence of research-led literature on technology transfers at the project-level that resulted in less developed countries in Asia.