Management of technoplogical change: an annoted bibliography

The accelerating pace of technological development provides a potential for massive social and economic benefits on the one hand and for industrial chaos on the other. The developments themselves are exciting if not awe inspiring; their effect on our practical world depends on how they are applied. The management of technological change may well be more than the change in technology itself.

At their 1982 and 1983 meetings, Commonwealth Employment/Labour Ministers discussed how the diverse societies of Commonwealth countries might best realise the benefits of, and accommodate the changes from, applying new technologies, as well as learning from each other's experience in this field. management of They identified the technological change as being of critical importance. in a context where rapid innovations in technology coincide with generally sluggish economic growth, so that technology seemed to threaten existing employment although offering the potential, at least, for economic revitalization. They recommended to Commonwealth Heads of Government, the establishment of a working group to examine member countries' experience in managing techno logical change to assist these countries in their planning, training and adjustment strategies.

The working group prepared and published a report, "Technological Change - enhancing the benefits", and consequently a number of project activities have emerged, aimed at sharing experiences in this field.

This bibliography has been jointly prepared by the Intermediate Technology Development Group and the Commonwealth Secretariat, as a direct contribution to the sharing of knowledge and understanding in the Management of Technological Change.