Evaluating Appropriate Technology for Development

Abstract

Developing countries today face serious dilemmas regarding introduction of new technologies for development. Their need for a wide variety of technologies is increasing rapidly. Lacking expertise and experience, they find it hard to determine the appropriateness of technological alternatives in terms of cost, quality, scale, degree of sophistication, risk of failure, and environmental risks. Having made certain choices may sometimes compound problems rather than solve them, particularly if the chosen technology happens to be an advanced technology (to be) acquired from abroad, involving high costs and high risks. Criteria and mechanisms for evaluating appropriateness of the needed or chosen technologies before and after their intro duction have not been fully developed in most developing countries. This article discusses these issues in light of the contemporary experience of Third World societies and suggests some measures to help incorporate technology assessment in the policy and planning apparatus at various levels.