Technology transfer models: an understandable but useless abstraction of reality?

Summary form only as given. In the first part of the paper, a brief overview of models and their use in technology management research is given. It is argued that models are useful tools to formalise problems and test hypothesis, and also to create common standards of communication or understanding. A simple taxonomy of models is proposed. It is suggested that models can be either dynamic or static, and either soft or hard. Dynamic models are generally predictive, whilst static models are generally descriptive. The rigour used in the model building process is described by the soft or hard nature of the model. Example of models falling under each category are given, and the type of models used in technology management research is examined. Most of those fall under the `soft´ models category. A number of technology transfer models are examined. As an example, the usefulness of a model of the technology transfer processes between university and small and medium sized enterprises is then considered, and it is suggested that an understanding of the processes involved can be achieved from various types of models, but that the frame of reference in which the model is built and read is an important factor to take into account when creating and using technology transfer models. Furthermore, the assumptions buried in different forms of representation may be a barrier to the usability between different sets of groups