Technology Adaptation of Apparel Industry in Sri Lanka: An Observational Survey

Abstract

Technology adaptation has emerged as an important determinant of competitiveness in recent global trade. Gaining competitiveness became a driving force for the apparel firms to adopt technology. The purpose of this paper is to examine the status of technology adoption of Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing firms and the organizational factors that affect the level of technology adoption. Three companies in apparel industry were examined. A qualitative research with an observational study and online interviews were conducted to collect the data. The level of a firm’s technology adoption was found to be significantly related to factors such as top management interest, Employee acceptance, capital allocation to technology, tendency toward innovation. While employee acceptance was moderately related to technology adaptation, the effects of top management interest, capital allocation, and innovation were significant. The firms which have adopted new technologies have gained their success than which are not. Our analysis provides a guide to future businesses to adopt new technologies to gain the competitive advantage and achieve the success of the firms while concerning discussed variables which impacts on the technology adaptation.