Techniques for technology transfer within the business firm

The first section of this paper presents a brief background, examples of successful commercial and military transfer, and definitions of four types of transfer, and points out that transfer is “upstream” as well as “downstream.” The techniques for transfer within the firm are presented in a framework of fourteen “dimensions,” as follows: management intent or objectives; normal information mobility; balance of the business functions; motivation to transfer; potential for transfer; form of technology; sophistication gap; scale of investment; measurability of success; duration of transfer; breadth of transfer; perception of implications; extent of boundaries between functions; degree of top-management interest. After each dimension is defined, examples of specific techniques used by successful companies are outlined.