International technology transfer human resource issues for the technology recipient

Although Multinational Corporations (MNCs) have made significant investments in promoting technology transfer across their international business operations, the MNC subsidiaries often face a number of challenges, especially relating to human resource issues, which impact on their ability to fully absorb and utilise the technology that has been transferred. Our paper will present some of the main human resource barriers to technology transfer by analysing this phenomenon in 16 MNC subsidiaries based in Thailand. Our study focuses on Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Integrated Circuits (IC) manufacturing firms. We contribute to academic literature on the need to equip staff at the Thai subsidiary units with the basic skill set and techniques to help them absorb more complex knowledge whilst participating in technology transfer projects. The paper concludes with some management implications and some policy implications for developing/ emerging economies.