Transfer of Technology across national boundaries has been the subject of increasing theorizing and case studies but little empirical researches have been made.
This study is aimed at analysing the mode of technoloby transfer and the assimilation process of imported technology in Korea.
In this thesis, five hypotheses which relate to the mode of technology transfer are tested. These includes the analysis of (1) interrelationship among the nature of technology transfer, (2) imported technology elements in line with the channels of technology transfer and (3) relationship between technology package and firm size.
To operationalize, the nature of technology was divided into sophisticated, middle and simple technology, and the technology package into packaged, intemediately packaged and unpackaged technology.
Joint ventures and local firms are the two channels of technology transfer.
The results show that the proportion of unpackaged technology is greater in the simple technology field than in the sophisticated one. The nature of imported technology and technology package are greatly affected by the channels of technology transfer, and the technology package is also affected by the firm size in local firms.
Several other important findings are added to the understanding of the mode of imported technology elements, the relationsip between the contract period of licensing and technology package, the nature of technology according to the technological development in Korea and etc.
An assimilation process model is suggested which may help future field studies. A case study of technology transfer serves as a pilot study of this model as well as being of interest and providing empirical data in its own.
This Study also presents several hypotheses and implications for future research.
