In order to differentiate between technology and industrialisation, you need to look at four important factors that help you separate the two. These are:
- Purpose
- Process
- Output
- Impact on Society
Remember, technology is not the same as industrialisation.
Technology is the application of scientific knowledge to solve problems or create useful tools, while industrialisation is the large-scale process of shifting from manual work to machine-driven production, especially in factories.
On this page, we will explore these differences in more detail based on the four factors listed above.
4 Factors Used to Differentiate Between Technology and Industrialisation
Below are the factors that show the real differences between technology and industrialisation:
1. Purpose
- Technology is created to make life easier, improve tools, and solve practical problems.
- Industrialisation is aimed at increasing economic production, growing industries, and making goods at scale.
2. Process
- Technology involves research, invention, and design of tools or systems.
- Industrialisation is a systematic process of setting up factories, using machines, and hiring labour to mass-produce goods.
3. Output
- Technology results in inventions or innovations like smartphones, solar panels, or software.
- Industrialisation results in manufactured goods, like clothing, steel, vehicles, and processed food.
4. Impact on Society
- Technology can transform how people live and communicate, for example, by improving healthcare or education.
- Industrialisation changes how economies grow and how people work, leading to urbanisation and job creation but also pollution and inequality.
This type of question is part of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) or Social Sciences in South African schools. This guide is just to help you while you figure out the answer using your textbook and class notes.

