The adoption of new technology in West Virginia: implications for manufacturing modernization policies (Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 1996, 14, pp. 431-450) by Philip Shapira and Terrance Rephann.
Abstract: This paper explores the determinants of new technology adoption using data obtained from a 1993 survey of 299 manufacturing establishments in the state of West Virginia. It examines the use of 20 hardware-based and organizational new manufacturing technologies, aggregate technology use, and plans for future technology use. Multivariate regression analyses indicate that larger, export-oriented, branch plants that manufacture products in long production runs and plants that are located in counties with a sizeable manufacturing sector adopt more new technologies than other types of plants. The results also suggest that there is a role for further government policy in encouraging plant modernization. Although participation in a state technology assistance program is not yet associated with higher levels of aggregate new technology use, it is found to associated with adoption of specific technologies and receptivity to new technology investment. The study’s results also confirm the value of training and suggest that a strategy of targeting smaller and medium-sized plants with services focused on multiple clustered locations may be effective in stimulating new technology use among these manufacturers [December 27, 1996].
An Overview of Technology Diffusion Policies and Programs to Enhance the Technological Absorptive Capabilities of Small and Medium Enterprises is now available on this site [select here to read]. Written by Philip Shapira, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA and Stuart Rosenfeld, Regional Technology Strategies, Chapel Hill, NC, this August 1996 paper was prepared as a background paper for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Directorate for Science, Technology, and Industry. Examples of technology diffusion policies in Europe, the United States, and Japan are discussed. [October 29, 1996].
Workshop on Manufacturing Modernization: Learning from Evaluation Practices and Results
A workshop Manufacturing Modernization: Learning from Evaluation Practices and Results was held September 11-12, 1996, at Aberdeen Woods, Atlanta, GA. Participants at the workshop reviewed and discussed findings from current evaluation studies of industrial modernization and technology deployment and considered the implications and insights for policy and program justification and implementation. A variety of papers were presented - for details, see the workshop agenda. Printed proceedings from the workshop will be available towards the end 1996. Contact us to reserve a copy. [September 14, 1996].
Coordinating Industrial Modernization Services
Coordinating Industrial Modernization Services: Impacts and Insights from the U.S. Manufacturing Partnership. This report, by Philip Shapira and Jan Youtie with Gordon Kingsley and Marc Cummings, examines the development, operation, and effects of efforts to promote local service coordination by manufacturing extension centers. In addition to an aggregate overview of partnership development, case studies of six centers are discussed (Chicago, Cleveland, Georgia, Pittsburgh, Minessota, and Oklahoma). The report identifies best practices in service coordination. Published July 1996. An overview of the report is available on line [Select here to read <29K>]. Limited copies of the full report are available - contact us to obtain a copy. Our paper Manufacturing Partnerships: Evaluation in the Context of Government Reform (see below) draws on this study. [September 14, 1996].
Manufacturing Partnerships: Evaluation in the Context of Government Reform
Examines the complexities of evaluating new approaches to service delivery, using the example of the U.S. Manufacturing Extension Partnership. By Philip Shapira, Gordon Kingsley, and Jan Youtie, Georgia Institute of Technology. Pre-Print, July 1996. Select here to read. [July 17, 1996 <51K>]
Research Policy Special Issue - Evaluation of Industrial Modernization
The long awaited theme issue of the journal Research Policy devoted to the evaluation of industrial modernization has been published. It contains articles on (1) current practices in the evaluation of US industrial modernization programs (Philip Shapira, David Roessner and Jan Youtie, Georgia Tech); (2) an evaluation of the Industrial Technology Extension Service in New York (Eric Oldsman, Nexus Associates); (3) performance benchmarking and measuring program impacts on customers (Dan Luria and Edie Wiarda, Industrial Technology Institute); (4) impacts of inter-firm collaboration (Stuart Rosenfeld, RTS Inc.); (5) the role of institution-building industrial modernization (Maryellen Kelley, MIT, and Ashish Arora, Carnegie Mellon); (6) federalism and assessing manufacturing technology centers (Charles Sabel, Columbia University); and (7) issues and perspectives on evaluating manufacturing modernization (Irwin Feller, Amy Glasmeier, and Melvin Mark, Penn State).
Philip Shapira and David Roessner are the guest editors. Full reference: Research Policy, Volume 25, No. 2, March 1996. Research Policy is published by North-Holland, an imprint of Elsevier Science [order information]. [June 21, 1996].
Technological Infrastructure Policy: An International Perspective
This new edited collected contains contributions on: (1) technology transfer to small and medium enterprises in Germany and France (Patrick Cohendet, BETA, France); (2) public technology infrastructures for modernizing small manufacturers in the United States and Japan (Philip Shapira, Georgia Tech); and (3) consultancy and advisory services for modernizing manufacturing (Graham Vickery, OECD). Full reference: Technological Infrastructure Policy: An International Perspective, edited by Morris Teubal, Dominque Faray, Moshe Justman and Ehud Zuscovitch, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordecht and Boston, 1996 [order information]. [June 21, 1996].
Georgia Tech - Industrial Modernization Publications Listing
A listing of publications and papers related to industrial modernization policy and evaluation is now available on the Web [click here]. Included is a listing of papers prepared as part of the evaluation of the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Alliance. [June 20, 1996].