Seven Pillars of Survivability: Appropriate Technology with a Human Face

European Journal of Sustainable Development 2(4), 1-18 (2013)

18 Pages Posted: 19 Jul 2013 Last revised: 8 Apr 2016

See all articles by Corinthias Sianipar

Corinthias Sianipar

Division of Environmental Science and Technology, Kyoto University

Kiyoshi Dowaki

Tokyo University of Science - Department of Industrial Administration

Gatot Yudoko

Bandung Institute of Technology - School of Business and Management

Akbar Adhiutama

Bandung Institute of Technology - School of Business and Management

Date Written: 2013

Abstract

There were evidence for the inappropriateness of just three pillars of sustainability when engineers have attempted to construct appropriate technology for underdeveloped communities. Engineers from developed countries have tended to conduct technological adaptations by treating communities as objects, rather than engaging them as subjects of development. As objects, communities could not decide what they wanted to be and were even forced into systematic development that was more likely to benefit the developed countries. However, as subjects, communities can determine their own sustainability and achieve survivability. In this study, seven pillars of survivability are outlined: technical, economic, environmental, social, cultural, judicial, and political. The first three are tangible aspects, and the last three are intangible. The social aspect is the intermediary, the bridge to emerging technological appropriateness. Tangible aspects can be measured numerically, whereas the intangible ones cannot. The tangible and intermediate aspects are what engineers must address, and both the intermediate and the intangible ones are what they must address specifically to diffuse appropriate technology into local daily routines. Tiers of technological appropriateness are also provided to understand the position of a designed appropriate technology in terms of survivability levels. A holistic approach that takes these pillars into account will empower communities to reach self-survivability beyond sustainability.

Keywords: Survivability, seven pillars, appropriate technology, underdeveloped communities, tangible aspects, intangible aspects, intermediate aspect

JEL Classification: A14, I32, O32, O33, Q16, Q20, Q40, R11, R58, Z10

Suggested Citation

Sianipar, Corinthias and Dowaki, Kiyoshi and Yudoko, Gatot and Adhiutama, Akbar, Seven Pillars of Survivability: Appropriate Technology with a Human Face (2013). European Journal of Sustainable Development 2(4), 1-18 (2013), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2295411

Corinthias Sianipar (Contact Author)

Division of Environmental Science and Technology, Kyoto University ( email )

Kyoto
Japan

HOME PAGE: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Kiyoshi Dowaki

Tokyo University of Science - Department of Industrial Administration ( email )

2641 Yamazaki
Noda-shi, Chiba-ken 278-8510
Japan

Gatot Yudoko

Bandung Institute of Technology - School of Business and Management ( email )

Jl. Ganesha 10
Gedung SBM-ITB
Bandung, West Java 40132
Indonesia

Akbar Adhiutama

Bandung Institute of Technology - School of Business and Management ( email )

Jl. Ganesha 10
Gedung SBM-ITB
Bandung, West Java 40132
Indonesia

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