Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 157-177 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Policy Sciences |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 30 Jul 2010 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2011 |
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Technology assessment in Australia : the case for a formal agency to improve advice to policy makers. / Russell, Wendy; Vanclay, Frank; Salisbury, Janet; Aslin, Heather.
In: Policy Sciences, Vol. 44, No. 2, 06.2011, p. 157-177.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Technology assessment in Australia
T2 - the case for a formal agency to improve advice to policy makers
AU - Russell, Wendy
AU - Vanclay, Frank
AU - Salisbury, Janet
AU - Aslin, Heather
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - The pace and reach of technological change has led to calls for better technology policy and governance to improve social outcomes. Technology assessment can provide information and processes to improve technology policy. Having conducted a review of international best practice, we established a set of quality criteria for TA. In effect, good technology assessments are systematic, broad, inclusive and well resourced and are conducted by organisations that are trustworthy and influential. Although not having a formal TA agency, Australia does have a number of recent examples of TA-like activities in the form of ad hoc processes (such as reviews and inquiries) and within other organisations. Drawing on reports, commentaries, discussions and our observations as participants, we have assessed these activities and processes against our quality criteria. Our findings indicate that TA capacity in Australia is fragmented, uncoordinated and variable in quality and impact. We conclude that a formal TA agency could improve Australian technology policy and capacity for technology governance that would be more in line with other nations, notably in Europe. � The Author(s).2010.
AB - The pace and reach of technological change has led to calls for better technology policy and governance to improve social outcomes. Technology assessment can provide information and processes to improve technology policy. Having conducted a review of international best practice, we established a set of quality criteria for TA. In effect, good technology assessments are systematic, broad, inclusive and well resourced and are conducted by organisations that are trustworthy and influential. Although not having a formal TA agency, Australia does have a number of recent examples of TA-like activities in the form of ad hoc processes (such as reviews and inquiries) and within other organisations. Drawing on reports, commentaries, discussions and our observations as participants, we have assessed these activities and processes against our quality criteria. Our findings indicate that TA capacity in Australia is fragmented, uncoordinated and variable in quality and impact. We conclude that a formal TA agency could improve Australian technology policy and capacity for technology governance that would be more in line with other nations, notably in Europe. � The Author(s).2010.
KW - policy making
KW - technological change
KW - technology policy
KW - Australia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79956111454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11077-010-9120-4
DO - 10.1007/s11077-010-9120-4
M3 - Article
VL - 44
SP - 157
EP - 177
JO - Policy Sciences
JF - Policy Sciences
SN - 0032-2687
IS - 2
ER -