Integration of principles from the study of the diffusion of innovations into the Systems Engineering Approach

Abstract

To address the challenges of disproportional wealth, health and productive capacity between developed and developing nations, it is important to instigate a process of active technology transfer to bridge the growing technological divide. Renewable Energy technologies represent a key candidate for technology transfer, used to build the economies of developing nations on a foundation of sustainable and equitable energy supplies. To assist in this process of technology transfer, an expanded systems engineering approach is proposed, inclusive of a “Design for Diffusion” approach, built on an understanding of the dynamics of the diffusion of innovations and the diffusion experiences of earlier technologies. This refined approach is applied to the specific case of the Kathmandu Alternative Power and Energy Group, for which a set of recommendations for potential project improvements has been provided.