What determines intensity of technology orientation? A study of manufacturing organizations with firm-level data

Abstract

The present composition aims to comprehend factors which mark the difference in the intensity of technology deployment efforts of the manufacturing organizations in their respective units. The firm-level data were collected through a structured interview schedule from a sample of 160 manufacturing organizations operating in north-west states of India including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The application of discriminant analysis has brought forth organizations, which are less technology oriented (LTO), which have confined their operations to regional/national level, are operating at small-scale level. Besides, LTO units have come into existence before the second generation reforms i.e., before 2001 and devoted fewer efforts toward the adoption of improved technology at the workplace. The LTO organizations do not opt for pilot testing while initiating any technological change efforts at the workplace. Besides, evaluation of technological change proposals in case of LTO units is done on ad-hoc basis. The LTO units have dissatisfactory opinion about their organization’s performance and image of their products in the eyes of customers as compared to their competitors. Considering the findings of the study, governmental and sectoral institutions which meant to stimulate and substantiate the technological change efforts of the organization can learn, from the study, the aspects and type of variables that need to be concentrated for better technology deployment.