How has Japan become a major economic power, a world leader in the automotive and electronics industries? What is the secret of their success? The consensus has been that, though the Japanese are not particularly innovative, they are exceptionally skilful at imitation, at improving products that already exist. But now two leading Japanese business experts, Ikujiro Nonaka and Hiro Takeuchi, turn this conventional wisdom on its head: Japanese firms are successful, they contend, precisely because they are innovative, because they create new knowledge and use it to produce successful products and technologies. Examining case studies drawn from such firms as Honda, Canon, Matsushita, NEC, 3M, GE, and the U.S. Marines, this book reveals how Japanese companies translate tacit to explicit knowledge and use it to produce new processes, products, and services.

The knowledge-creating company : how Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation

Everybody knows that digital technology has revolutionized our economy and our lifestyles. But how many of us really understand the drivers behind the technology – the significance of going digital; the miniaturization of electronic devices; the role of venture capital in financing the revolution; the importance of research and development? How many of us understand what it takes to make money from innovative technologies? Should we worry about manufacturing going offshore? What is the role of India and China in the digital economy? Drawing on a lifetime’s experience in the industry, as an engineer, a senior manager, and as a partner in a global venture capital firm, Henry Kressel offers an expert personalized answer to all these questions. He explains how the technology works, why it matters, how it is financed, and what the key lessons are for public policy.

Competing for the Future

The Concept of Corporate Strategy. Por Kenneth R. Andrews. Homewood, III.: R. D. Irwin, 1980 Revised Ed. xi, 180 p.; 24 cm. Incluye referencias e indice. ISBN 0-256-02371-9.

The Concept of Corporate Strategy

Dorothy Leonard-Barton warns readers upfront that her new book, "Wellsprings of Knowledge: Building and Sustaining the Sources of Innovation," is not a quick read. Indeed it is not, though the author, a Harvard Business School professor, tries hard to soften a knot of strategy research with true-life examples from several technology companies. Unfortunately, business books tend to be like Arnold Schwarzenegger movies: the special effects and twists are a lot more important than the basic plot, which doesn't change much.

"Wellsprings of Knowledge: Building and Sustaining the Sources of Innovation"

Built to last: successful habits of visionary companies

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to help knowledge managers systematically grasp ‘‘knowledge about management knowledge’’ and get a ‘‘deep and full’’ understanding of the nature, scope and methodologies of knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach – Through presenting a variety of perspectives on knowledge, management, and knowledge management, the article explores the essence of knowledge management in organizations from a perspective of critical systems thinking. Findings – Knowledge management in business organizations has the task of managing the activities of knowledge workers or the transformation and interaction of organizational ‘‘static substance knowledge’’ and ‘‘dynamic process knowledge’’ for ‘‘products, services, and practical process innovation’’ and, at the same time, ‘‘creating new or justifying existing organizational systematic knowledge’’. Knowledge management is not simply about recording and manipulating explicit knowledge, but needs to address that which is implicit, and from which benefit can therefore be derived only through process rather than content. Originality/value – The comprehensive review and classification of various management theories will expand both knowledge managers’ and knowledge workers’ understanding of the subject and provide a foundation for building a knowledge management toolkit in practice.

Meng Li

Papers

Knowledge, management, and knowledge management in business operations