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The Knowledge-Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation
Ikujiro Nonaka , and Hirotaka Takeuchi Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0195092694 |
Book Description
How have Japanese companies become world leaders in the automotive and electronics industries, among others? What is the secret of their success? Two leading Japanese business experts, Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi, are the first to tie the success of Japanese companies to their ability to create new knowledge and use it to produce successful products and technologies. In The Knowledge-Creating Company, Nonaka and Takeuchi provide an inside look at how Japanese companies go about creating this new knowledge organizationally. The authors point out that there are two types of knowledge: explicit knowledge, contained in manuals and procedures, and tacit knowledge, learned only by experience, and communicated only indirectly, through metaphor and analogy. U.S. managers focus on explicit knowledge. The Japanese, on the other hand, focus on tacit knowledge. And this, the authors argue, is the key to their success--the Japanese have learned how to transform tacit into explicit knowledge. To explain how this is done--and illuminate Japanese business practices as they do so--the authors range from Greek philosophy to Zen Buddhism, from classical economists to modern management gurus, illustrating the theory of organizational knowledge creation with case studies drawn from such firms as Honda, Canon, Matsushita, NEC, Nissan, 3M, GE, and even the U.S. Marines. For instance, using Matsushita's development of the Home Bakery (the world's first fully automated bread-baking machine for home use), they show how tacit knowledge can be converted to explicit knowledge: when the designers couldn't perfect the dough kneading mechanism, a software programmer apprenticed herself with the master baker at Osaka International Hotel, gained a tacit understanding of kneading, and then conveyed this information to the engineers. In addition, the authors show that, to create knowledge, the best management style is neither top-down nor bottom-up, but rather what they call "middle-up-down," in which the middle managers form a bridge between the ideals of top management and the chaotic realities of the frontline. As we make the turn into the 21st century, a new society is emerging. Peter Drucker calls it the "knowledge society," one that is drastically different from the "industrial society," and one in which acquiring and applying knowledge will become key competitive factors. Nonaka and Takeuchi go a step further, arguing that creating knowledge will become the key to sustaining a competitive advantage in the future. Because the competitive environment and customer preferences changes constantly, knowledge perishes quickly. With The Knowledge-Creating Company, managers have at their fingertips years of insight from Japanese firms that reveal how to create knowledge continuously, and how to exploit it to make successful new products, services, and systems.Download Description
Manufacturers around the world have learned much from Japanese manufacturing techniques. However, any company that wants to compete on knowledge must also learn from Japanese techniques of knowledge-creation. Managers at Japan's most successful companies recognize that creating knowledge is not simply a matter of processing objective information. Rather, it depends on tapping the tacit and often highly subjective insights, intuitions, and ideals of employees.Customer Reviews:
Not even worth one star.......2005-11-21
BEWARE! Digital version is only a 10 page summary!.......2004-03-16
From information-processing machine to knowledge-creating co.......2002-08-28
A look at knowledge creation.......2001-11-26
I believe the book needs a very careful read *outside* the business community. I would put this book down as the business version of Feynman's *The Character of Natural Law*.
An essential book on knowledge management.......2001-09-28
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The Selection Process for Capital Projects (Wiley Series in Engineering and Technology Management)
Hans J. Lang , and Donald N. Merino Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0471634255 |
Book Description
Reviews basic principles and presents techniques for evaluating and making decisions about investments and the acquisition of capital projects in industry and the private sector. Provides management and control techniques for construction of facilities or installation and operation of machinery and equipment. Covers sensitivity analysis and methods for ranking projects. Discusses the limitations of various methods. Explains how to carry out economic studies for the proper allocation of capital spending.Customer Reviews:
Excellent Concepts.......2004-05-04
Some of the more complex topics like multi-attribute analysis and risk management are presented well. After-tax analysis is not presented in as much depth as I would have liked, but after going through the examples the topic becomes clear.
Overall this book is excellent. It is a must read for those aspiring to go into management or get an MBA one day.
This book does not live up to its name!.......1998-06-21
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The IT Payoff: Measuring the Business Value of Information Technology Investments
Sarvanan Devaraj , and Rajiv Kohli Manufacturer: FT Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0130650749 |
Book Description
Does technology really add value? If so, when? What's the best way to quantify and maximize technology ROI? The IT Payoff gives you powerful new tools for answering critical technology investment questions. Discover where technology can add the greatest value; when to adopt new technologies; how to coordinate process and technology change, and more. Includes new metrics, hands-on templates, and a complete action plan for making smarter funding decisions!
One of the 5 Best Technology Books as cited by About.com
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Does technology really add value? If so, when? What's the best way to quantify and maximize technology ROI? The IT Payoff gives you powerful new tools for answering critical technology investment questions. Discover where technology can add the greatest vCustomer Reviews:
The IT Payoff Review.......2007-02-20
The IT Payoff: Measuring the Buiness Value of Information Technology Investments.......2006-11-10
The book is great however . . . . ........2005-05-07
Great articulation of issues, poor analysis of solutions.......2003-10-30
In summary the book is painfully academic with fleeting references to a small number of case studies. This is a book that brings nice introduction to the issues for a student, but is of no value to the practitioner. This is an important area and it deserves more.
Fantastic Work.......2003-07-23
I particularly like the practical applications and references to successful methods. This book provides well grounded and leading edge, yet practical, methods to improve IT returns.
Overall, this book gives a clear road to increasing the value of the IT investment. Each organization should weigh which aspects to apply in its practices.
The main method is the age-old concept of measure what you want to manage. The book builds extensively on this concept and provides clear direction.
Although the manage by facts and measure, measure, measure themes are common in business thought, the proper application to the issues in corporate IT are insightful.
The pedigree and background of the authors is impressive. Combined with their experience and demonstrated rigour, this gives the book a basis of actionable credibility.
I highly recommend this book to anyone responsible for IT outcomes and return on IT investment.
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The Production and Distribution of Knowledge in the United States
Fritz Machlup Manufacturer: Princeton University Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items: ASIN: 0691003564 |
Book Description
The Production and Distribution of Knowledge in the United States marked the beginning of the study of our postindustrial information society. Austrian-born economist Fritz Machlup had focused his research on the patent system, but he came to realize that patents were simply one part of a much bigger "knowledge economy." He then expanded the scope of his work to evaluate everything from stationery and typewriters to advertising to presidential addresses--anything that involved the activity of telling anyone anything. The Production and Distribution of Knowledge in the United States then revealed the new and startling shape of the U.S. economy.
Machlup's cool appraisal of the data showed that the knowledge industry accounted for nearly 29 percent of the U.S. gross national product, and that 43 percent of the civilian labor force consisted of knowledge transmitters or full-time knowledge receivers. Indeed, the proportion of the labor force involved in the knowledge economy increased from 11 to 32 percent between 1900 and 1959--a monumental shift.
Beyond documenting this revolution, Machlup founded the wholly new field of information economics. The transformation to a knowledge economy has resonated throughout the rest of the century, especially with the rise of the Internet. As two recent observers noted, "Information goods--from movies and music to software code and stock quotes--have supplanted industrial goods as the key drivers of world markets." Continued study of this change and its effects is testament to Fritz Machlup's pioneering work.
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Understanding the Markets (Securities Institute Global Capital Markets Series) (Securities Institute Operations Management)
David Loader Manufacturer: Butterworth-Heinemann ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0750654651 |
Book Description
An analysis of the major securities, derivatives and money markets from an operations point of view, 'Understanding the Markets' takes the reader through the major features and characteristics of the markets and the products. The relationship between the trading and dealing functions and the operations functions is examined and the issues discussed.
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Technology and Capital in the Age of Lean Production: A Marxian Critique of the "New Economy" (S U N Y Series in Radical Social and Political Theory)
Tony Smith Manufacturer: State University of New York Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 079144600X |
Customer Reviews:
Refuting the "new economy" utopians.......2007-02-24
Good critique of the "new economy".......2001-03-08
Rather poor idea of what socialism might be, but you can't expect everything.
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States & Capitals Workbook & Music CD
Twin Sisters Productions Manufacturer: Twin Sisters Productions ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1575838915 |
Product Description
Learning the 50 United States and their capitals is as easy as singing a familiar tune! Introduce each state with an interesting fact about the states history, geography or a famous attraction. Learn the states in alphabetical orderslow at first and then double-time for even more fun! Finally, learn each state and its capital in rhythm. The 96-page companion workbook features a profile of each state: Region, Abbreviation, Statehood, Nickname, Capital, Largest City, Size, Population, Industry, Bordering States, Presidents, Flower, Tree, Bird, and Flag. Create your own MapAdventure highlighting the states youve visited. The Pocket-sized Study Guide is great review anytime, anywhere. Play the What State Am I? question and answer game or sort, compare, and collect the states with The United States Trading Card Game. Use the Piano-Vocal Score, Instrumental Tracks, and Readers Theater lyrics for a great classroom production. Ages 7 12 Approximate Run Time: 40:00 Music CD with original songs that teach all 50 U.S. States & their Capitals 50 State Profiles including Region, Abbreviation, Statehood, Nickname, Capital, Largest City, Size, Population, Industry, Bordering States, Presidents, Flower, Tree, Bird and Flag Pocket-sized Study Guide to the 50 States & Capitals The United States Trading Card Game players sort, compare, and collect the states by region, population, size, or statehood Which State Am I? Card Game MapAdventurecreate your own US Map Puzzles, Games, and Activity Sheets Instrumental Performance Tracks and Readers' Theater Lyrics for classroom productions Piano-Vocal Score Included
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Deindustrialization of America: Plant Closings, Community Abandonment and the Dismantling of Basic Industry
Barry Bluestone , and Bennett Harrison Manufacturer: Basic Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0465015905 |
Customer Reviews:
Hollowing-out the USA.......2006-05-07
An Enduring Classic.......2001-02-24
Barry is something of a personal hero of mine so I do have a bias of sorts regarding this book and its follow-up, The Great U-Turn. Reviewing this book is like reviewing a classic music album: everything written in the last 20 years about Economic Policy and investment has been influenced by what Barry and Bennett wrote here and there is no more hated book by Reaganauts who would like you to believe THIS NEVER HAPPENED.
This book was the first book to talk about how industry in the United States was dismantled, in particular the Auto and Steel Industries of the midwest. The book traces decisions made by corporations in the 1970's and why these decisions were made, in light of perceived opportunities in Central America and the Far East. Could have the decision been made to do the reinvestment in the US (particularly in light of the modern day relative success of Saturn)? The answer is clearly not without the calculated weakening of powerful unions in auto and steel. If the unions were weakened, however, communities such as Flint, Michigan and Youngstown, Ohio were almost wiped out by disinvestment. There was considerable denial at the time about what was happening but Barry and Bennett's book makes clear that industry was dismantling and disinvesting and not coming back.
The awareness raised by this book probably saved a bad situation from becoming much worse. If the dinosaurs left the continent, though, maybe in retrospect we are better off for their having left. Car makers from Japan and Korea have been willing to make the autos that US carmakers have only made with the greatest of reluctance, and creating assembly plants here in the US as well. But it has taken a generation to recover from the wholesale deindustrialization and the cost was much greater than people should have been asked to bear.
Never again should American industry be allowed to tear out its roots and toss them aside. If you want to know why, this is the book to read. Please read the great final chapter on Reindustrialization with A Human Face for helpful guidance and insight on where to go from where we are at, insight that 20 years later still makes a great deal of sense.
Transition from manufacturing to service industry.......2000-12-01
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Econometrics, Vol. 1: Econometric Modeling of Producer Behavior
Dale W. Jorgenson Manufacturer: The MIT Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: 0262100827 |
Book Description
The objectives of econometric modeling of producer behavior are to determine the nature of substitution among inputs and outputs and of differences in technology, as well as the role of economies of scale in production. Recent advances in methodology, based on the dual formulation of the theory of production in terms of prices, have enabled econometricians to achieve these objectives more effectively. This volume summarizes the economic theory, the econometric methodology, and the empirical findings resulting from the new approach.
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Knowledge Capital and the New Economy: Firm Size, Performance and Network Production
Pontus Braunerhjelm Manufacturer: Springer ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: 0792378016 |
Book Description
According to its proponents, the `new economy' is associated with sustainable growth, increased demand for labor and zero inflation. On the micro-level, this bright avenue into the future is propelled by knowledge capital, flexibility and new ways of organizing production, such as clusters and networks. Progress in information technology, together with massive deregulation on the national and the international levels, have been credited with setting this development into motion. The concept of the `new economy' has been rapidly embraced by politicians, as it seems to offer a way out of the traditional trade-off between unemployment and wage inflation. However, empirical evidence regarding the microeconomic mechanisms of the `new economy' is scarce. Knowledge Capital and the `New Economy': Firm Size, Performance and Network Production intends to narrow this gap by empirically analyzing the composition of knowledge capital and how knowledge capital is distributed across firms of different size. Moreover, the impact of knowledge capital on firms' profitability and international competitiveness is also examined. Finally, we compare cluster dynamics and the institutional set-up in Europe and the U.S., with the purpose of identifying regulations that seem to hinder a conducive environment for expanding and dynamic European clusters. The results of this study emphasize the role of knowledge capital and flexibility. Thus, irrespective of how sustainable the `new economy' turns out to be, the policy implications in terms of providing institutions that facilitate knowledge-enhancing economic activities, flexible markets and transparent incentive structures are undeniable. Countries that fail in this respect may find themselves trailing in the international growth and welfare rankings.Books:
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