Temporal Flow of Technology Transfer Capability: Beyond the Lifecycle

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the behavior of technology transfer capability over time in Brazilian public institutions of higher education. Method: the extended case method was adopted in two national institutions of reference in technology transfer management. Interviews, observations, and document analysis were the main techniques for data collection. The analysis was performed using also the techniques of the extended case method. Results: became evident that the behavior of a capacity, during its existence, may not obey a linear curve, but vary over different stages and undergo different mutations. Conclusions: it was concluded that the lifecycle of a capability would not be exactly equivalent or limited to the heuristic of a biological lifecycle with predictable entropy until the total collapse. Unlike this, considering the environment and the conjuncture, a capability can come back to exist as long as it is understood as opportune and feasible. The findings advance the understanding of the technology transfer process that now has the explanatory potential of dynamic capabilities.

摘要
研究目标：分析巴西公立高等教育机构的技术转移能力（Technology Transfer Capability）随时间推移的演变特征。
研究方法：选取两家在技术转移管理领域具有全国标杆地位的公立高等教育机构作为研究对象，采用拓展性案例研究法（Extended Case Method）开展研究；数据收集主要采用访谈、观察与文献分析三类技术手段，分析过程同样依托拓展性案例研究法的相关分析技术完成。
研究结果：结果显示，某项能力在其存续周期内的表现未必遵循线性轨迹，而是会在不同发展阶段呈现差异化特征，并经历多次演变与转型。
研究结论：本研究证实，某项能力的生命周期并非完全等同于或局限于以可预测熵增直至彻底崩溃为特征的生物生命周期启发式范式。与之不同的是，结合所处环境与具体时局，只要某项能力被认定为具备时效性与可行性，即可重新获得存续空间。本研究发现深化了学界对技术转移过程的认知，如今该过程可借助动态能力（Dynamic Capabilities）理论获得更充分的解释潜力。