TECHNOLOGY AS A DRIVER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

• Main Authors: Nicholas Piquito, Leon Pretorius
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stellenbosch University 2012-01-01
• Series: South African Journal of Industrial Engineering
• Online Access: http://sajie.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/365

<p>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: For some time now it has been suggested that technology, in its many forms, is to a large extent responsible for enhancing and driving the process of economic development. The question therefore arises as to whether it is possible to establish a correlation between the level oftechnological expertise ofa nation and its economic development. On the strength of the research results contained in this article, there does appear to be a definite correlation between technology and economic development. Having established the validity of this relationship, the question of whether South Africa is positioned to take advantage of such knowledge is investigated . It is found that economic success in South Africa is to a large degree dependent on the ability of the government and other relevant bodies to establish and sustain a comprehensive, coherent and practical program of technologically driven economic development./P></p><p>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit word reeds 'n geruime tyd voorgestel dat tegnologie in sy verskeie vorms grootliks verantwoordelik is vir die uitbou en dryfkrag in die ekonomiese ontwikkelingsproses . 'n Vraag wat dus ontstaan is of dit moontlik is om 'n korrelasie te vind tussen die tegnologiese kundigheid van 'n nasie en sy ekonomiese ontwikkeling. Die navorsingsresultate vervat in hierdie artikel toon 'n besliste korrelasie tussen tegnologie en ekonomiese ontwikkeling. Met die bestaan van so 'n verwantskap bevestig is die vraag of Suid-Afrika geposisioneer is om voordeel te trek uit sodanige kennis. Dit word bevind dat die ekonomiese sukses, in SuidAfrika grootliks afhanklik is van die verrnoe van die regering en ander relevante instansies om 'n omvattende, koherente en praktiese program van tegnologies gedrewe ekonomiese ontwikke~ing daar te stel en te onderhou.</p>