SCHOOL
Asia Pacific Business Review
Vol. 14, No. 3, 285–291, July 2008
Innovation in Japan: An Introduction
KEITH JACKSON* & PHILIPPE DEBROUX**
*Centre for Financial & Management Studies (CeFiMS), School of Oriental & African Studies
(SOAS), University of London, London, **Faculty of Business Administration, Soka University,
Tokyo, Japan
ABSTRACT Because of the depth and scope of its innovation system, Japan is a reference country in terms of developments in the management of innovation. Japan remains an ambitious country, and, according to recent Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) statistics, maintains its position at the top of rankings for research and development (R&D) expenditure. By international comparisons, the Japanese ‘national innovation system’ (NIS) is distinctive, both in terms of its historical development, and of its likely future shape. This introductory discussion outlines some of the distinctive features of Japanese-style innovation, connecting with the contributions that make up this timely and wide-ranging collection.
KEY WORDS : innovation, Japan, national innovation system (NIS), research and development (R&D)
Introduction
Because of the depth and scope of its innovation system, Japan continues to set standards that other countries seek to match in their efforts to manage innovation.
Since the 1980s this has been true in the field of manufacturing generally and of product and process innovation in particular. Reference to the traditions of innovation in Japan invokes benchmark concepts such as the Toyota Production
System (TPS) together with quality circles, Just In Time (JIT) inventory management, industrial robotics combined with a zero defect approach to quality control, a restless philosophy of continuous improvement (kaizen) combined
(more recently) with a distinctive ‘middle-up-down’ management approach towards knowledge management in organizations (cf. Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995;
Bird, 2002;
Vol. 14, No. 3, 285–291, July 2008
Innovation in Japan: An Introduction
KEITH JACKSON* & PHILIPPE DEBROUX**
*Centre for Financial & Management Studies (CeFiMS), School of Oriental & African Studies
(SOAS), University of London, London, **Faculty of Business Administration, Soka University,
Tokyo, Japan
ABSTRACT Because of the depth and scope of its innovation system, Japan is a reference country in terms of developments in the management of innovation. Japan remains an ambitious country, and, according to recent Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) statistics, maintains its position at the top of rankings for research and development (R&D) expenditure. By international comparisons, the Japanese ‘national innovation system’ (NIS) is distinctive, both in terms of its historical development, and of its likely future shape. This introductory discussion outlines some of the distinctive features of Japanese-style innovation, connecting with the contributions that make up this timely and wide-ranging collection.
KEY WORDS : innovation, Japan, national innovation system (NIS), research and development (R&D)
Introduction
Because of the depth and scope of its innovation system, Japan continues to set standards that other countries seek to match in their efforts to manage innovation.
Since the 1980s this has been true in the field of manufacturing generally and of product and process innovation in particular. Reference to the traditions of innovation in Japan invokes benchmark concepts such as the Toyota Production
System (TPS) together with quality circles, Just In Time (JIT) inventory management, industrial robotics combined with a zero defect approach to quality control, a restless philosophy of continuous improvement (kaizen) combined
(more recently) with a distinctive ‘middle-up-down’ management approach towards knowledge management in organizations (cf. Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995;
Bird, 2002;
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