Japanese technological innovation strategy: recent trends

Firstly, a review of models of the Japanese innovation process is presented and the dominant characteristics of each model are identijed. The latest innovation trends in Japan are analysed using recent examples, and a n integrative model is presented based on these. The major elements of the Japanese innovative process are as follows: (a) organizational intelligence; (b) fusion of technologies; (c) horizontal information flow structures; (d) core competence building i n generic technologies; (e) rapid horizontal duffusion of technologies; V) concurrent engineering; (g) rapid commercialization of new technologies into new businesses. National innovation policies have to be structured to enable quick response to the emerging global changes.     

Change in the transition of the fertility rate

This paper presents an investigation of the effects of child care service on the fertility rate. Results of our analyses show that the price of child care service plays important roles on the fertility and that a positive relation is not robust between fertility and income.     

Innovations and strategic management: a case study of Hitachi Ltd

Innovation has becomes the basis for creating and sustaining competitiveness. While planning strategy, it is necessary to have an excellant fit between globalization, alliances, diversification and innovation in a firm. Only such a process can help the firm to obtain synergy. The case study of Hitachi Ltd illustrates the strategic management process through which Hitachi Ltd has been able to generate and commercially exploit innovation.     

Precise computation of a competitive equilibrium of the discrete land market model

This paper provides a finite algorithm to compute a competitive equilibrium of the Alonso-type discrete land market model (known as bid-rent equilibrium) without assuming any condition on the spatial configuration such as monocentricity. The existence of the finite algorithm implies that the discrete land market model is sufficiently tractable for computer simulation analysis (sensitivity analysis) even if the spatial configuration is variable. Specifically, we can evaluate numerically the effects of new routes in a transportation network upon equilibrium rents and commuting mode.     

A model of corporate innovation management: some recent high tech innovations in Japan

The various models of Japanese corporate innovation management reported in literature are reviewed to identify the major elements of the innovation process. An integrated model is presented examining the recent examples. The Japanese corporate innovation process is highly interactive and involves comprehensive organizational intelligence, quick organizational learning, rapid technology diffusion, horizontal information flow systems, fusion of different technologies to obtain innovations quickly, concurrent engineering and quick utilization of core competence for new business development. The innovation system is quick to respond to competition and concentrates on developing core competence that is used for commercializing new products quickly.     

Business Approaches to Combating Bribery: A Study of Codes of Conduct

The question of what firms do internally in the fight against bribery is probably as important to the successful outcome of that fight as formal anti-bribery law and enforcement. This paper looks at corporate approaches to anti-bribery commitment and compliance management using an inventory of 246 codes of conduct. It suggests that, while bribery is often mentioned in the codes of conduct, there is considerable diversity in the language and concepts adopted in anti-bribery commitments. This diversity is a feature of the language used in describing parties to bribery and in defining which activities are prohibited (e.g. promising bribes versus actually giving them, gifts and entertainment, and solicitation. This diversity of language and concepts suggests that it might be useful to extend and deepen efforts in business associations and international organisations to build consensus on the meaning of bribery and corruption. In contrast, the bribery codes show evidence of an emerging consensus on managerial approaches to combating bribery. This involves the deployment of a distinctive mix of management tools, including financial record keeping, statements by executive officers, internal monitoring, whistle-blowing facilities, creation of compliance offices and threats of disciplinary action.     

The Structure of the Japanese Stock Market

The Japanese stock market is characterized by two prominent features. First, stock prices have been extremely volatile over the past ten years. Second, the market is dominated by cross-shareholdings and stagnant individual stock ownership. So, there are two purposes on this paper. The first is to assess the effects of stock cross-holdings on the stock market. The second is to look at recent stock price fluctuations, in the bubble period before 1990 and during the subsequent collapse. It will be recognized that these two features are interrelated.     

Continuous representation of Von Neumann–Morgenstern preferences

This paper considers a continuous representation of preference relations satisfying Grandmont's (1972) Expected Utility Hypothesis. We equip the preferences with the topology of closed convergence, then we show the existence of a jointly continuous expected utility function and consider its uniqueness. Furthermore, we construct an embedding map of the preferences into the set of expected utility functions.     

The Japanese institutional mechanisms for industrial growth: A systems perspective—Part I

The two-part article focuses on the unique institutional setting which has enabled Japan to become a leader in rapid technology-based industrial growth. The innovation systems of the United States and Japan are compared. Three cases—fuzzy logic, active matrix crystal displays, and virtual reality—are examined. The underlying systemic characteristics are then probed.