cranfield university rashid ali al-saadi effectiveness of technology transfer in the search for ...

386 Pages·2010·6.42 MB·English

CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY

RASHID ALI AL-SAADI

EFFECTIVENESS OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN THE SEARCH FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF QATAR

DEFENCE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

PhD THESIS
CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY

DEFENCE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY ANALYSIS
PhD DISSERTATION
Academic Year 2006-2007
RASHID ALI MOHD AL-SAADI

Effectiveness of Technology Transfer in the Search for Sustainable Development:
the Case of Qatar
Supervisor: Professor Ronald Matthews
January 2010

Word Count: 83,674

© Cranfield University 2010. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced without the written permission of the copyright owner.
ABSTRACT
The Emir of Qatar firmly believes that security without development is not sustainable
in the long run. Endorsed by Qatar’s top leadership, this conviction has spread
contagiously to all corners of the public and private spheres, leading, in turn, to
numerous initiatives and massive investments directed at the development of the
country. Sustainable development investments in Qatar are promising, but the process is
very slow amidst dynamic globalization. Technology capability is a key factor in
accelerating the growth of economic, social and environmental development. Hence, the
aim of this dissertation is to assess the effectiveness of technology transfer in Qatar's
search for sustainable development. The scope of the dissertation is confined to an
analysis of certain government agencies involved in technology transfer; the
government, the industry and R&D centres. The study developed a framework of
measures to assess Qatari technology transfer and sustainable development, categorized
into nine themes, including sustainable development, governance and internal
environment, external technology resources, internal technology resource measures,
absorptive capacity, value chain, value network, research and development and
competitiveness. Through exploratory, descriptive and predictive research using
qualitative and quantitative field surveys, along with secondary research, the study
developed a framework of measures, and used it to assess the effectiveness of
sustainability and technology transfer in Qatar. The study concluded that the technology
transfer environment and practices in Qatar are ineffective in advancing the search for
sustainable development. The study recommends the need to establish policies and
priorities to facilitate sustainable development, focusing especially on technology,
science and innovation. Future research should focus on in-depth case studies of
specific industrial clusters as well as deepening the understanding of thematic measures
of sustainability.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This dissertation has given me the greatest satisfaction I have had in my career. Finally,
what I have proactively pursued for years is achieved. It has allowed me to pay back
some of the nurturing debt I owe to my dearest country –Qatar. It has also added a great
deal of breadth and depth to my awareness.

Without the efforts of many, this work would not have been accomplished. I owe my
gratitude to all participants, most of whom became close associates, from Carnegie
Mellon University, General Secretariat for Development Planning, ictQatar, Industries
Qatar, Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Interior,
Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, Qatar Fertilizing Company, Qatar
Petrochemical Company, QChem, Qatar Electricity & Water Co, Qatar Fuel Additive
Company, Qatar Gas, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Science and Technology Park, Qatar Steel
Company, Qatar University, Qatar Vinyl Company Ltd, RasGas Company Limited,
Supreme Education Council, and lastly Texas A&M University. Special thanks are
forwarded to the General Secretariat for Development Planning staff who supported
with advice, information and statistics. Thanks are due to all Cranfield University staff
for providing excellent services.

I wish to record and express my exceptional gratitude to the guidance, inspiration and
support of my supervisor, Professor Ron Matthews whom I respect for his professional
knowledge, experience and values. These combined with his thoughtful advice,
compelled me to pursue the highest possible standards.

May God Bless All, Amen.

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CONTENTS Page
CHAPTER ONE: Beyond Technology Transfer: Making the Case for a Study of Qatari
Technological Development
1.1 Obstacle to Sustainable Development in Qatar 1.1
1.2 The Importance of Technology 1.3
1.3 Three Eras of Economic Development 1.5
1.4 Analysis of the Three Eras 1.9
1.5 Aim 1.14
1.6 Objectives 1.15
1.7 Value of Study 1.15
1.8 Study Methodology 1.16
1.9 Research Methodology 1.20
1.9.1 Purpose of the Research 1.26
1.9.2 Reliability and Validity in Quantitative Research 1.28
1.9.3 Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research 1.29
1.9.4 Research Validity 1.30
1.10 Research Approach 1.33
1.10.1 Research Access 1.35
1.10.2 Ethical Concerns 1.36
1.10.3 Selecting Samples 1.37
1.10.4 Using Secondary Data 1.37
1.10.5 Primary Data 1.38
1.11 Structure of the Dissertation 1.40
References and Notes 1.42

CHAPTER TWO: Gauging the Effectiveness of Technology Transfer

2.1 Introduction 2.1
2.2 The Concept of Sustainable Development 2.1
2.2.1 Measuring Sustainable Development and Technology
Transfer 2.2
2.2.2 Selection Criteria for Indicators 2.3
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2.2.3 Environmental Indicators of Sustainability 2.4
2.2.4 Economic Measures of Sustainability 2.5
2.2.5 Socio-Political Measures of Sustainability 2.7
2.3 Technology Transfer 2.8
2.3.1 Innovation and Technology Transfer Process 2.10
2.3.2 Common Barriers to Technology Transfer 2.11
2.3.3 Technology Transfer Effectiveness 2.12
2.3.4 Purpose of Measures 2.12
2.4 Analysis: Building a Technology Transfer Effectiveness
Framework 2.15
2.4.1 External Environment and Government Policies 2.16
2.4.2 External Technology and Resources 2.21
2.4.3 Research and Development 2.26
2.4.4 Competition’s Impact on Technology Transfer 2.32
2.4.5 Absorptive Capacity 2.35
2.4.6 Value Chain and Technology Transfer 2.39
2.4.7 Value Network and Technology Transfer 2.41
2.5 Summary: Technology Transfer Measures 2.44
References and Notes 2.46

CHAPTER THREE: Technology Transfer in Qatar
3.1 Introduction 3.1
3.2 The Urgent Need to Develop a Technology Transfer Strategy 3.2
3.3 Sustainable Development in Qatar 3.4
3.3.1 Analysis of Qatar’s Sustainable Development Indicators 3.7
3.3.2 Social Indicators 3.7
3.3.3 Economic Indicators 3.9
3.3.4 Environmental Indicators 3.11
3.4 Government Policies 3.13
3.4.1 Industrial Policy 3.15
3.5 Qatar Internal Environment 3.16
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3.5.1 Political Environmnet: Peace and Security 3.16
3.5.2 Economic Environment 3.17
3.5.3 Social Environment 3.22
3.5.4 Technological Environment 3.32
3.5.5 Legal Environment 3.34
3.6 Absorptive Capacity, Value Chain, and Value Networks in Qatar 3.36
3.6.1 Qatar Innovation System 3.37
3.6.2 Industry and Energy Sector 3.40
3.7 University-Level Research & Development 3.46
3.8 Qatar Competitiveness 3.48
3.8 Overall Assessment 3.50
References and Notes 3.52

CHAPTER FOUR: Measuring Technology Transfer in Qatar: Fieldwork and Findings
4.1 Introduction 4.1
4.2 Data Collection 4.2
4.2.1 Assessment of Appropriate Indicators 4.5
4.2.2 Research Reliability and Validity 4.7
4.2.3 Interviews 4.10
4.3 Data Analysis 4.13
4.4 General Survey Results 4.13
4.4.1 Organizations Surveyed 4.14
4.4.2 General Survey Results 4.14
4.5 Focused Results Aligned with Technology Transfer Effectiveness
Model 4.15
4.5.1 External Technology and Resources 4.15
4.5.2 Enterprise Internal Technology Transfer Measures 4.16
4.5.3 Absorptive Capacity 4.21
4.5.4 Value Chain 4.30
4.5.5 Value Network 4.38
4.5.6 Research and Development 4.42
4.5.7 Competitiveness 4.47
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4.6 Chapter Four Summary 4.51
References and Notes 4.53

CHAPTER FIVE: QATAR: Challenges to Securing an Effective Technology Transfer
System
5.1 Introduction 5.1
5.2 The Challenges to Sustainable Development in Qatar 5.2
5.3 In Search of Sustainable Development Indicators 5.4
5.3.1 Effectiveness of Qatar’s Social Sustainability Initiatives 5.7
5.3.2 Effectiveness of Qatar’s Environment Sustainability
Initiatives 5.12
5.3.3 Effectiveness of Qatar’s Economic Sustainability
Initiatives 5.17
5.4 Good Governance and Internal Environment Influence 5.20
5.4.1 Corporate Governance 5.25
5.5 Technology Transfer Indicators 5.27
5.5.1 External Technology and Resources 5.28
5.5.2 Internal Technology Transfer Measures 5.30
5.5.3 Absorptive Capacity 5.32
5.5.4 Value Chain 5.41
5.5.5 Value Networks 5.45
5.5.6 Research and Development 5.49
5.5.7 Competitiveness 5.50
5.6 Building the Final Picture 5.52
References and Notes 5.55

CHAPTER SIX: Conclusions and Policy Recommendations
6.1 Introduction 6.1
6.2 Main Aim and Subsidiary Objectives of the Dissertation 6.1
6.3 Research Summary 6.1
6.3.1 Sustainable Development: Summary of Secondary
Research 6.3
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6.3.2 Technology Transfer: Summary of Secondary Research 6.5
6.3.3 Insight from the Field Survey 6.6
6.4 Conclusions and Policy Recommendations 6.8
6.4.1 Sustainable Development: Conclusions and Policy
Recommendations 6.10
6.4.2 Governance and the Internal Environment: Conclusions 6.11
6.4.3 External Technology Resource: Conclusions 6.12
6.4.4 Internal Technology Resource: Conclusions 6.13
6.4.5 Absorptive Capacity: Conclusions and Policy
Recommendations 6.14
6.4.6 Value Chain: Conclusions and Policy Recommendation 6.16
6.4.7 Value Networks: Conclusions and Policy
Recommendations 6.17
6.4.8 Competitiveness in Qatar: Conclusions and
Recommendations 6.18
6.4.9 Research and Development: Conclusions and Policy
Recommendations 6.18
6.5 Final Conclusions 6.19
6.6 Limitations and Future Research 6.20
BIBLIOGRAPHY X-1
APPENDIX A: Questionnaire 1: Technology Transfer Effectiveness in Qatar A-1
APPENDIX B: Questionnaire 2: Technology Transfer Effectiveness in Qatar B-1
APPENDIX C: Screenshots of the Questionnaire C-1
APPENDIX D: Interview Questions on Technology Transfer D-1
APPENDIX E: Calculating Perceived Value Chain of Major Qatar Industries E-1
APPENDIX F: Summary and Risks to Sustainable Development and Technology
Transfer Indicators in Qatar F-1
APPENDIX G: Calculations for Appendix F G-1
APPENDIX H: Respodents and Codes H-1

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List of Tables
Table 1.1 - Initial Formation of Qatar’s Modern State 1.5
Table 1.2 - Era of Economic Stability 1.6
Table 1.3 - Economic Boom Era 1.8
Table 1.4 - Research Methodology for Present Study 1.21
Table 2.1 - The Effectiveness of Methods of Learning about Competitors’
Innovations in Large US Firms 2.33
Table 2.2 - A Summary of Approaches for Measuring Value Gain from
Technology transfer 2.41
Table 2.3 - An Emerging Perspective of Wealth and Value 2.43
Table 3.1 – Sustainable Development Laws 3.5
Table 3.2 – Planning Council Projects 3.6
Table 3.3 – Qatar Social Indicators 3.9
Table 3.4 – Qatar Economic Indicators 3.10
Table 3.5 – Qatar Environmental Indicators 3.11
Table 3.6 – Scheme of Sustainable Development Initiatives in Qatar 3.12
Table 3.7 - Strengths and Weaknesses of Education System in Qatar 3.29
Table 3.8 - Industrial Establishments by Size & Capital Investment 3.35
Table 3.9 - Qatar Petroleum Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures 3.42
Table 3.10 - Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company Group Companies 3.43
Table 3.11 – Foreign Direct Investment in Qatar (1999-2003) 3.43
Table 3.12 - Typical Investment Shares in the Petrochemical Industry 3.44
Table 3.12 - Industrial Establishments by Size & Capital Investment 3.45
Table 3.14 - Comparing R&D in Selected Countries 3.46
Table 3.15 - Qatar Technology Transfer Competitiveness Balance Sheet 3.49
Table 4.1 – Number of Participants Selected for Field Survey 4.3
Table 4.2 –Participants Surveyed by Sector 4.4
Table 4.3 - Operationalizing and Addressing Research Questions 4.9
Table 4.4 - External Sources of Technology Transfer 4.16
Table 4.5 - Barriers of Technology Transfer in Qatar 4.20
Table 4.6 - Technology Transfer Related Measures for Qatar 4.20
Table 4.7 - Marketing Strategies of Qatar's Major Industries 4.22
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