Title: Japanese innovations in advanced technologies: an analysis of functional integration.

Authors: B. Bowonder, T. Miyake

Addresses: BEL Chair Professor of Technology Management, Administrative Staff College of India, Bella Vista, Hyderabad – 500 049, India ' Expert on Systems Analysis, United Nations, ESCAP, Bangkok – 10200, Thailand

Abstract: Japanese firms have made the transition from |imitator| to |innovator| during the 1980s. This has been achieved through the use of a variety of strategies and the integration of technologies with various managerial functions. The paper attempts to analyse this process of integration, taking the example of Japanese innovations in advanced technology. It examines the characteristics of the Japanese innovation system, and takes as examples Hitachi and Nippon Steel Corporation. A model of the Japanese innovation process is proposed and discussed.

Keywords: innovation; Japan; functional integration; technology diffusion; incremental innovation; technology competencies; Japanese logic; organisational learning; Hitachi; Nippon Steel Corporation; kaizen; advanced technology; technology management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1993.025765

International Journal of Technology Management, 1993 Vol.8 No.1/2, pp.135 - 156

Published online: 24 May 2009 *

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