Computer Assisted Technology Transfer (CATT)
A multidisciplinary team of faculty and graduate students are
engaged in research projects which focus on many of the communications
aspects of information technologies including computer assisted
technology transfer. Taking advantage of the explosion in off-the-shelf
technology tools, these researchers are concentrating their efforts
on understanding how these technologies are diffused and utilized
by various groups. They are also examining which types of communication
formats are most effective with different groups who have varying
levels of skills and different objectives for using the technologies.
The faculty and students are using the results to develop, test,
and deploy an electronic training tutorial directed to small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to assist them in acquiring government
contracts to manufacture parts for the Department of Defense.
They also have created a sophisticated web site which highlights
individual CATT projects and provides web links to business resources,
related information technology initiatives funded by the federal
government, and discussion forums. An Intranet for the CATT affiliates
is part of this initiative. The project includes creating a prototype
model for electronic collaboration using desktop video conferencing
equipment and developing guidelines for remote collaboration.
The Electronic Resource Guide called SCORE (Success in Contracting
Opportunities Realized Electronically) is available to SMEs on
a CD-ROM or through the internet. To be effective, the information
in the guide must be presented appropriately to various constituencies.
Therefore, ascertaining the current and expected information technology
proficiency levels of the SMEs in Oklahoma (the test site), understanding
the difficulties they have in conducting business with the government,
and understanding the government's procurement processes are critical
features of this research project.