Building for joint venture clients in the People's Republic of China

Abstract

The paper describes how the technology transfer takes place and its contribution to improving the quality of buildings in the People's Republic of China. The interaction between foreign designers and contractors and the indigenous design and construction process is reviewed. In the construction industry technology transfer has taken place in two ways. Hard technology, based on Western companies' research and development, has been transferred, and soft technology, based on exposure to Western culture and management systems, has also been passed on. The application of the former to indigenous projects is dependent on the maintenance and continuous operation of the buildings and plant constructed and the continued existence of the organizations receiving the technology transferred.