A review on the effects of inter-firm technology transfer characteristics and degree of technology transfer

The inter-firm technology transfer (TT) through joint ventures (JVs) shaped between
foreign multinational corporations (MNCs) and local companies have increasingly emerged
as an efficient formal mechanism to internalize foreign technologies, knowledge and
competencies. Although the TT processes are complex and difficult, collaborative JVs are
seen as the appropriate strategy to extract tacit and explicit knowledge in enhancing the
local companies’ competitiveness, indigenous technical capability, technological
development, and potentials for local innovation. Since JVs are frequently perceived as
instable organizations and technologies are the main source of competitive advantage of the
MNCs, transferring technology thus involves various facilitators, actors and complicated
relationship between partners which could directly affect the degree of technologies
transferred to local companies. Building on the integrated knowledge-based view and
organizational learning perspective, and previous TT models this article advances a holistic
TT model in conceptualizing the relative relationships and effects of technology transfer
characteristics (TTCHARS) and its dimensions on degree of technology transfer (TTDEG).