An analysis of the major issues for successful information technology transfer in Arab countries

Transfer of enabling technology such as Information Technology (IT) has become a vital component of successful countries looking for technological innovation and techno-economic development nowadays. However, in the history of technology transfer in Arab countries, it is probably true that there has been more failure and disappointment than satisfaction and success in achieving the expected results from the technology transfer agreements. Many complex issues are involved in the consideration of technology transfer in Arab countries. Some of those issues are not completely defined and studied, or cannot be precisely measured. The purpose of this study is to identify, analyse, and discuss the major issues for successful IT transfer in the Arab countries. Thus, a three-round, non-anonymous, Delphitype survey was designed to understand and explicate major issues from the perceptions of stakeholder groups in the Arabic countries. The coding approach and synthesis procedures resulted in a master set of 10 major issue categories. This paper serves to focus discussion and promote constructive interaction for the purpose of developing an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the nuances of IT transfer process in Arab countries.