Article: Strategic knowledge creation: the case of Hamamatsu Photonics Journal: International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM) 2005 Vol.30 No.3/4 pp.248 - 264 Abstract: Strategic management can be viewed as a mechanistic or an organic process. In the former, strategic formulation is based on environmental analysis. In the latter, managers are advised to frame strategies on the unique inimitable internal resources. While both heuristics are feasible, the ontological and epistemological foundations of strategic management can be elaborated. A knowledge-based view posits that both indigenous and exogenous factors need to be considered in strategy formulation because companies are in a dialectic environmental interaction. The integral components of the knowledge-based strategy are knowledge vision, driving objectives, dialogues, creative routines, and shared context of interaction (Ba). The space-time specific interaction of these components is illustrated in the example of Hamamatsu Photonics, Ltd., a Japanese company that has recently received attention for its production of the large photoelectron cell. Professor Koshiba was awarded the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics for his research aided by the photoelectron cell. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Strategic knowledge creation: the case of Hamamatsu Photonics

Authors: Ikujiro Nonaka, Vesa Peltokorpi, Hisao Tomae

Addresses: The Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy, Hitotsubashi University, Gakujutsu Sogo Center, 2–1–2 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101–8439, Japan. ' The Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy, Hitotsubashi University, Gakujutsu Sogo Center, 2–1–2 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101–8439, Japan. ' Faculty of Economics, Okayama University, 3–1–1 Tsushima-naka, Okayama City, 700–8530, Japan

Abstract: Strategic management can be viewed as a mechanistic or an organic process. In the former, strategic formulation is based on environmental analysis. In the latter, managers are advised to frame strategies on the unique inimitable internal resources. While both heuristics are feasible, the ontological and epistemological foundations of strategic management can be elaborated. A knowledge-based view posits that both indigenous and exogenous factors need to be considered in strategy formulation because companies are in a dialectic environmental interaction. The integral components of the knowledge-based strategy are knowledge vision, driving objectives, dialogues, creative routines, and shared context of interaction (Ba). The space-time specific interaction of these components is illustrated in the example of Hamamatsu Photonics, Ltd., a Japanese company that has recently received attention for its production of the large photoelectron cell. Professor Koshiba was awarded the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics for his research aided by the photoelectron cell.

Keywords: knowledge vision; driving objectives; dialogues; creative routines; Ba; strategic management; knowledge creation; knowledge-based strategy; Japan; Hamamatsu Photonics; photoelectron cells.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2005.006709

International Journal of Technology Management, 2005 Vol.30 No.3/4, pp.248 - 264

Published online: 04 Apr 2005 *

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Title: Strategic knowledge creation: the case of Hamamatsu Photonics

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