The Current Conditions and Problems in Technology Transfer and Human Resources

A Case Study of Japan-China Technical Cooperation in the Automobile Industry

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to clarify the current conditions and problems of technology transfer and human resources in the automobile industry. The study was carried out through the field research for four years from 1995 to 1998, conducted by observation and interviews at the factory sites of two companies: Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. in Kyoto, Japan, and Tianjin Motor Co. Ltd. in Tianjin, China. These two companies have kept the technical cooperation since 1984. The research outcome shows that the technology transfer is strongly affected by human resources at three levels of the both, transferring side and transferred side: the first level is top management; the second is specified group of staff who directly have responsibility to carry out technology transfer; and the third is general group or company as a whole. Especially important factors for the both sides are: individual capability and company management strategy at the top management level; concrete method and quality of communication at the responsible group level which are directly affected by their language ability; and general atmosphere and communication of the companies which are directly affected by mutual understandings of different culture.