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Stages 1 and 2 : Expression of the problem 
The first two stages look at what makes the 
situation a problem and the basic facts associated 
with this problem situation. Checkland (1981, 
p.264) suggests that a test for adequacy of work to 
this point is the ability to give convincing 
answers to the following questions: "What resources 
are deployed in what operational processes under 
what planning procedures with what structures, in 
what environments and wider systems, by whom", and 
"How is this resource deployment monitored and 
controlled"? 
Stage 1 is the development of the discussion of the 
background of the problem, which leads to, in this, 
case, the problem situation of the technology 
transfer of remote sensing in Australia. Stage 2 
expresses the problem situation in the form of the 
"Rich Picture" (Figure 2) which aims to show the 
elements of slow-to-change structure and elements 
of constantly-changing process within the situation 
being investigated. 
Stage 3 : Selection 
In this stage a choice is made of relevant systems 
that the analyst believes will produce insight into 
the problem situation. The chosen systems are 
expressed in statements as the Root Definitions, 
which incorporate the points of view that make the 
activities and performance of the systems 
meaningful. The initial Root Definition for this 
study of technology transfer has been formulated as 
follows: 
An industry driven system operating within 
research centres with the objective of 
transferring  untransferred technology by: 
knowing about  untransferred technology, 
knowing about targeted industries, selecting 
technology to be transferred, selecting means 
of transferring technology, applying those 
means to an industry, stimulating the ongoing 
transfer, and monitoring the success of such 
transfers; in order to benefit all involved 
parties, in an environment of research, 
industrial competitiveness, and national and 
international economic development. 
The formulation of "good" root definitions is 
decisive to the creation of the conceptual model in 
Stage 4. Therefore, the Root Definition should be 
tested against a set of elements, that if achieved, 
indicates that it is well formulated. However, this 
does not necessarily tell if it is a "good" Root 
Definition. This set of elements is known by the 
mnemonic CATWOE, that defines a check-list for 
Customer, Actors, Transformation process, 
Weltanschauung (worldview), Owner, and Environment. 
Invoking the CATWOE for this study results in: 
C Industry which can benefit from Technology 
Transfer. 
A Researcher who wishes to promote a 
technology. 
T Untransferred technology becomes transferred 
technology. 
W Transfer of technology is desirable. 
0 Industry (that has the power to accept or 
reject a transferred technology). 
E Research / Industrial Competitiveness  / 
National and International Economies. 
This breakdown appears to be satisfactory for the 
problems associated with technology transfer. Major 
Stakeholders are identified and the Transformation, 
Environment and Weltanschauung all reflect the 
essence of the problem. 
Stage 4 : Model Building - Conceptual Model 
This stage is where a logical expansion of the Root 
Definition is made into the minimum necessary set 
of activities to define what the system actually 
does at a particular resolution level. The 
Conceptual Model that results should have only a 
limited number of entities, Wilson (1984) 
recommends that: 
The first resolution level model from a root 
definition should not contain more than about 
12 activities, otherwise it becomes difficult 
to defend them as constituting a minimum 
necessary set. It is frequently stated that 
the mind is only capable of retaining between 
five and nine entities at any one time, and 
hence a single stage model expansion should 
only be of this order (p.72). 
The qualitative modelling process uses pictures and 
diagrams to define and communicate structure, 
logic, ideas and relationships. The Conceptual 
Model should be expressed by verbs. 
The logical expansion of the Root Definition for 
technology transfer results in a Primary Conceptual 
Model of four activities within a technology 
transfer system boundary. The linkages illustrate 
logical dependency and relationships between 
activities, the external environment, and wider 
systems. This Primary Conceptual Model is 
illustrated in Figure 3. 
EXPERTS, INDUSTRY, FUNDING BODIES 
RESEARCH 
Develop ry 
knowledge about 
technology transfer, 
industry and research 
       
    
  
  
  
  
Determine the appropriate 
criteria and techniques 
to be applied 
  
      
    
     
  
  
Monitor and control 
the technology 
transfer process 
   
Develop, maintain and 
apply the technology 
transfer process 
       
TRANSFERRED TECHNOLOGY 
Figure 3: Primary Conceptual Model - Technology 
Transfer Second Resolution Conceptual 
Models 
The second resolution model takes each activity 
from the Primary Conceptual Model and expands that 
activity into a more detailed model of activities 
within a new sub-system. 
Three systems, "knowledge", "criteria" and 
"application" have been modelled, with the activity 
"monitor and control" remaining at the first level 
of resolution (Figure 4). 
This detailed model represents a human activity 
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