Improving Technology-Transformation In Construction Industry By Understanding Culture's Influences

Due to a worldwide development of construction-activities there is a need for improving the technologies used in construction-industry. Not only in the 'modern' developed world, but also in the underdeveloped and emerging regions. But simply implementing 'western' technology into these emerging regions as a way of 'transferring technology' seems to bejust a hit-and-run-approach, and therefore only one part of the process: There has to be a structurized path of development, searching (and acting!) for the best ways of improving local activities, as a way of 'trans rmlng technology'. But then there have to be passed-over several barriers, related to e.g.: (l) Technology, (2) Organization and (3) Culture. This paper focusses on aspects, especially related to the 'culture'- issue: It describes several approaches in which this issue is being looked at in construction industry nowadays. Two case-study are presented, dealing with improvement of local activities in construction, out of which lessons can be derived for a better understanding of 'culture'. It becomes clear that during a certain period a 'protected' suppportive local environment is needed, created by e.g. specific procurement systems, together with training schedules, for getting people locally suitable for a more developed construction industry. These issues may assist in helping to overcome existing barriers of technology-transfer.