'TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER' IS DEFINED AS THE EXCHANGE OF AN IDEA, AN EXPERIENCE, A TECHNIQUE, OR A CONCEPT BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH A COMMON INTEREST IN IMPROVING THEIR PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH. APPLYING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO THE AUTOMATION OF AN OPERATION INVOLVES 12 STEPS: (1) THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHICH DETERMINES IF THE OPERATION SHOULD BE AUTOMATED; (2) A REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS, WHICH INVOLVES THE CHARTING OF PROCEDURES AND PAPER FLOW, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO BOTTLENECKS, REDUNDANCY, AND INEFFICIENCY; (3) THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONCEPTUAL MODEL AND FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE NEW SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDES SPECIFICATIONS FOR BOTH SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE; (4) CANDIDATE SYSTEM MATCHING, WHICH INVOLVES THE COMPARISON OF THE CONCEPTUAL MODEL WITH POTENTIAL DONORS WHO HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED A SYSTEM LIKE THE ONE BEING PROPOSED; (5) REVIEW OF THE DOCUMENTATION DESCRIBING THE CANDIDATE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE IF THE CANDIDATE IS A GOOD MATCH; (6) AN ONSITE DEMONSTRATION AND CANDIDATE SYSTEM EVALUATION; (7) THE TRANSFER PLAN DEVELOPMENT; (8) HARDWARE ACQUISITION; (9) SOFTWARE MODIFICATION; (10) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRANSFER PROCESS; (11) TRAINING OF THE OPERATORS AND USER PERSONNEL; AND (12) PROJECT EVALUATION, WHICH INVOLVES DETERMINING IF TIME AND MONEY HAVE BEEN SAVED. THE OVERALL KEY TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IS FINDING A GOOD MATCH AND PLANNING. OTHER ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER ARE A PROGRESSIVE MANAGER WHO IS WILLING TO TEST TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, A DONOR AGENCY THAT WILL INTERPRET DOCUMENTATION AND ASSIST IN THE TRAINING TASKS, AND DOCUMENTATION THAT IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE. (RCB)