Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：SAGE Publications  

This study focuses on the cognitive abilities of managers and examines the effect of entrepreneurial alertness (EA) of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) managers on the quality of strategic decision-making and firm performance under uncertain environmental conditions. This study also sheds light on the antecedents of EA that are crucial for SMEs by focusing on the nuances of socio-emotional wealth (SEW) arising from business succession. The results of structural equation modeling based on a questionnaire survey of SMEs in Japan, where the society is aging rapidly and the business succession situation is becoming more serious, show that EA is positively related to the quality of strategic decision-making and firm performance. However, managers’ intrafamilial business succession attributes affect EA negatively and are positively moderated when social capital is formed within families. These findings contribute to the theoretical development of EA by extending the scope of study. Additionally, the findings provide a practical perspective by clarifying the nuances of business succession, which can be problematic for many firms.

DOI： 10.1177/21582440241295807

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Other Link： https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1177/21582440241295807

Authorship：Last author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Public Library of Science (PLoS)  

As a response to the damage caused by the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government has implemented severe quarantine measures that have greatly affected the operational patterns of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper explores the critical role of dynamic capabilities (DCs) in helping Chinese SMEs manage crises, adjust their business strategies, and mitigate the uncertainty caused by the epidemic. Although the importance of DCs in promoting organizational resilience is well recognized, academic research on their specific contributions to business model innovation (BMI) and SME performance improvement during crises remains scarce. Our study fills this gap by pioneering the development and empirical testing of a microintegrated mediation model linking DCs, BMI and organizational performance. By surveying 257 Chinese SMEs severely affected by a pandemic, we verify our hypotheses using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Our results strongly show a positive relationship between DCs and BMI and SME performance. In addition, we found that BMI plays a partial mediating role in the interrelationship between DCs and SME performance. Our findings clarify the critical role of BMI as a channel through which SMEs’ DCs can be transformed into higher performance in the face of sudden crises. Thus, our results not only contribute to the broader discussion of strategic management and organizational theory but also provide theoretical and practical insights into the mechanisms by which SMEs can increase their flexibility and resilience in a crisis. Thus, our results not only contribute to the broader discussion of strategic management and organizational theory but also provide theoretical and practical insights into the mechanisms by which SMEs can increase their flexibility and resilience in a crisis. Importantly, this study suggests policy and market strategies that can support SMEs in leveraging DCs and BMI for sustained performance, thereby contributing valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders aiming to fortify economic stability and growth in the face of global health emergencies.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0304471

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

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Authorship：Last author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd  

As the major business environment changes, there is a growing need for management innovation to strengthen the organisation. Large enterprises such as GE, which promoted Six Sigma, and Toyota, which installed innovative production systems using the Kanban method, have rooted management innovation in their corporate cultures. However, although there are precedent cases limited to some high-tech ventures, the actual state of management innovation in low-tech small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is not well understood. Therefore, we investigated the SMEs in Japan’s relatively low-tech industrial areas using structural equation modelling. This study found that collaboration with customers is an important antecedent factor for management innovation. Moreover, management innovation mediates the relationship between the collaboration with customers and technological innovation activities and between the former and firm performance. The explanatory power of management innovation on firm performance is weak. This paper provides deep insights into the role of management innovation in SMEs.

DOI： 10.1142/s1363919623500408

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Global Business Research Center  

DOI： 10.7880/abas.0230616a

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Authorship：Last author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd  

The environment surrounding small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has changed dramatically due to rapid technological advances and the global and domestic impacts of pandemics and regional conflicts. This study identifies the relationship between customer collaboration and innovation activity under this environment. Our hypothetical model is based on relational view and analyses the relationship between customer collaboration, technological and business uncertainty, and innovation activity, which is divided into incremental/radical goods and services. We conduct a survey of Japanese SMEs (suppliers) in industrial markets. The results of our analysis using structural equation modelling highlight that customer collaboration is overall positively associated with SME innovation activity. Further, different types of uncertainty may affect customer collaboration and innovation activities differently. In sum, this study interprets the relationship between customer collaboration and innovation activities using the theoretical framework of relational view and provides insights into the possible impact of environmental uncertainties on this relationship.

DOI： 10.1142/s1363919623500093

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Authorship：Last author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

DOI： 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17895

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Authorship：Last author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd  

This study investigates whether small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under family influence (FI) can achieve business model innovation (BMI) through dynamic capabilities (DCs) as promoted by prior research. Overall, 259 small and medium-sized family firms in Southeastern China were examined and analysed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method. The findings showed a direct negative link between FI-DCs (sensing, seizing, and transforming capabilities), sensing capabilities—value capture, transforming capabilities—value proposition/value creation, and a positive link between seizing capabilities—value creation. Additionally, the negative moderation effect of environment dynamism was found between sensing capabilities—value capture, seizing capabilities—value creation, and transforming capabilities—value proposition. This research provides various new insights for practitioners and researchers in small and medium-sized family firms to achieve BMI through DCs. It develops an empirical, multi-dimensional hypothetical model from a micro perspective that includes the moderating role of the influencing relationship.

DOI： 10.1142/s1363919622500402

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Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Global Business Research Center  

DOI： 10.7880/abas.0220125a

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Authorship：Lead author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.11207/soshikikagaku.20220415-4

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

DOI： 10.1016/j.chbr.2022.100168

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Global Business Research Center  

DOI： 10.7880/abas.0210930a

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Global Business Research Center  

DOI： 10.7880/abas.0191018a

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Emerald  

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the driving factors of user innovation behaviors using the case of smartphone applications to estimate the indirect and direct effects of consumers’ attitudes toward user-generated content (UGC).

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes a structural model to examine the relationship between user innovation behaviors toward UGC and three attitude factors: involvement, consumer knowledge and customer orientation. The empirical analysis is based on a consumer survey that examines the commonalities and differences between Japan and China. In each country, two social media services are chosen as representative cases of the UGC business model to measure user innovation behaviors toward the quality and quantity aspects.

Findings

Customer orientation is the most significant driving factor of user innovation behaviors toward UGC. It positively affects both the number of followers and the frequency of information transmissions. In particular, for the quality dimension of user innovation, customer orientation has a more significant effect on the number of followers than does familiarity.

Originality/value

This study emphasizes the quality aspect of user innovation. Previous research has focused on the quantity of user innovation behaviors by measuring the amount of information. However, this research measures both the quality and the quantity aspects with the number of followers and the frequency of uploading content. The findings of this study suggest that companies should maintain relationships with highly customer-oriented users to manage content quality.

DOI： 10.1108/apjml-03-2018-0118

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Other Link： https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/APJML-03-2018-0118/full/html

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

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Authorship：Lead author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ARC Publications Pvt Ltd.  

DOI： 10.20431/2349-0349.0511002

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.11430/jsicr.35.2_33

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Global Business Research Center  

<p> Predictions of a coming age of digital convergence bring to mind a convergence of the information devices used by consumers. In actuality, information devices are becoming more diversified. This study surveys and analyzes smartphone users (<i>N</i> = 1000) of the video-sharing service YouTube, with results showing that (1) users of a variety of information devices tend to more actively post and view videos than those that do not and (2) users are divided into two camps—those who have a variety of information devices and therefore tend to post videos and those who only use a smartphone intensively. In other words, we show that users with multiple information devices make more active use of these devices.</p>

DOI： 10.7880/abas.0170329a

CiNii Research

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (international conference proceedings)  

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (international conference proceedings)  

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.9762/digraj.9.1_33

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

CiNii Research

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Other Link： http://id.nii.ac.jp/1060/00008398/

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Global Business Research Center  

Amateur creations are one source of Japan's competitiveness in the content industry. This study summarizes prior research on amateur manga (comic), called doujinshi, in terms of its history and current status, overseas trends, gender aspects, and copyrights. This study then develops a research model with three hypotheses on the relationship between creation and monetization across multiple content categories. To test these hypotheses, an online survey of 2,593 individuals was conducted on the creation and monetization of manga and music. The survey's findings were as follows: (1) Consumers who create works in one content category tend to do so in other categories. (2) Consumers who monetize their own work in one content category tend to do so in other categories. (3) Consumers who create works in multiple content categories tend to monetize their own works. This study also shows the current status of creation and monetization in Japanese manga and music.

DOI： 10.7880/abas.0151214a

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.9762/digraj.8.1-2_1

CiNii Research

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Academic Association for Organizational Science  

<p>This study focuses on the interrelationship between four aspects of consumer activities: consumption, transmission, creation and support. To conduct an online survey, a video-sharing website and comic business were selected as examples of the survey. The analysis results reveal factors that influence these four consumer activities. Accordingly, the study proposes a model to depict the interrelationship between these consumer activities and discusses appropriate strategies for the content industry and related firms.</p>

DOI： 10.11207/soshikikagaku.49.3_33

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Academic Association for Organizational Science  

<p>This study focuses on the management of developing hybrid products by combining 3D computer graphics and hand-drawing in the Japanese animation industry. The paper explores functions of product development during a coexisting period of new technology and similar current technology. It is clear that a manager of new technology department mainly contributes to the construction of architecture of a hybrid technology. In addition, so-called "adaptive" engineers mainly contribute to the reconciliation between engineers of the new technology and those of current technology.</p>

DOI： 10.11207/soshikikagaku.49.3_72

CiNii Research

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Doctoral thesis  

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Global Business Research Center  

Porter (1998) noted that with continuing global homogenization in companies condition to obtain resources and gain access to markets, there is an increasing need to create a local, competitive advantage in industrial clusters. He called the importance of location in this age of globalization a "location paradox." Similarly, when industry-wide platforms appear and global development technologies are standardized, companies need to accumulate unique technical capabilities to differentiate themselves. In this paper, this phenomenon is known as the "platform paradox," and is verified by a case of videogame industry. The utilization of development platforms (game engines and middleware) standard within this industry during the 2000s, causing global homogenization in development technology. Videogame development companies industrial cluster located in Japans city of Fukuoka cooperated in technological matters in an effort to differentiate themselves with their technological sophistication in using platforms. By aggressively sharing knowledge to optimally utilize hardware and development tools, these companies have created a store of unique technologies.

DOI： 10.7880/abas.13.91

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Global Business Research Center  

The relationship between innovation and consumption among internet users is not uniform. This research shows different relationships between innovation and consumption in terms of the level of involvement in music from an internet survey of 1,000 music users. We measure the level of involvement in music using the two levels of components of involvement suggested by Lastovicka and Gardner (1979). For the analysis, we divide the samples into the "high involvement" and "low involvement" groups and examine each group for their relationship between innovation, indicated by "making ones own music and posting ones songs or performances on the internet," and consumption, indicated by "average amount of money spent on music downloads per year." The results show that there are heterogeneous characteristics among high and low levels of involvement groups in the aspects of consumption and innovation behavior. In the low involvement group, users actively innovating are also actively consuming. However, in the high involvement group, there is no clear relationship between innovation and consumption. To put it concretely, the consumption per innovating user is approximately four times more than that of non-innovating users in the low involvement group, but it is about the same in the high involvement group. In addition, the consumption per innovating user in the low involvement group is approximately two times more than that of innovating users in the high involvement group.

DOI： 10.7880/abas.13.17

CiNii Research

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Academic Association for Organizational Science  

This paper focuses on the digital "sakuga" (drawing) in the Japanese animation industry and examines what kind of personality allows oneself to adopt new technologies. While digital "sakuga" is currently not as capable as existing technologies, it has a potential to show new expressive skills with the aid of computers. The results of a questionnaire survey indicates that innovativeness of thinking process or creative thinking, grades in science and humanities courses, and computer literacy have positive effects on technology adoption, whereas leading edge status (LES), grades in arts course, job satisfaction and income have negative effects on the adoption.

DOI： 10.11207/soshikikagaku.47.1_53

CiNii Research

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Other Link： https://jlc.jst.go.jp/DN/JALC/10028429691?from=CiNii

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Global Business Research Center  

How does the introduction of information technology (IT) influence production systems? This paper reveals two important changes by introducing information technology (IT) into a production system in the case of the Japanese anime industry. In particular, it focuses on the production system and the relationship between outsourcing and in-house production. Given this objective, this research explores each process and technology of the production system. The processes that are focused in this research are the art production process, painting process and the process that follows. In addition, it examines three-dimensional computer graphics and digital <i>sakuga</i> (drawing) in the technology. The results of the paper elucidate the following. First, companies in Japan cannot attain successful introduction of IT until IT achieve low cost or/and high quality. Second, the process of choosing in-house production or outsourcing depends upon the following factors. Realizing the integration of multiple processes or enhancing the flexibility of the production process leads to the transition from outsourcing to in-house production. On the other hand, realizing lower cost by the delivery of digitalized data through storage media or the Internet results in the transition from in-house production to outsourcing.

DOI： 10.7880/abas.12.181

CiNii Research

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.14955/amr.110601

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：特定非営利活動法人 グローバルビジネスリサーチセンター  

<p>本稿は日本のアニメ産業を事例に、芸術的な感性を問われる製品制作（開発）における情報技術導入の意義を分析する。まず、開発における工程ごとに詳細に検討することによって、「彩色」「撮影」では業界全体で情報技術が普及しているが、「作画」では一部に3DCG が組み込まれているがデジタル作画はあまり行われていないことを明らかにする。さらにこうした工程ごとの細かい分析により、情報技術の登場初期には情報技術投資と生産性の間には関係性が見られないという生産性のパラドックスが生じる理由、並びにそのことで、手描きと3DCG のハイブリッドが生まれたメカニズムも明らかになる。</p>

DOI： 10.14955/amr.110601

CiNii Research

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.11194/acs.17.1_57

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Master’s thesis  

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media)  

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Language：English   Publishing type：Book review, literature introduction, etc.   Publisher：The Academic Association for Organizational Science  

This paper focuses on the "digital sakuga (drawing)" in the Japanese animation industry and explores the personality attributes that allow an individual to adopt new technology. Although "digital sakuga" is inferior to the existing technology, it has a possibility of implementing new expressions with computers. The results of the questionnaire survey indicate that innovativeness to paradigm (creative thinking), grades in science and humanities subjects, and computer literacy have a positive effect on technology adoption, but leading edge status (LES), score of art−based subjects, job satisfaction, and income have a negative effect.

DOI： 10.11207/soshikikagaku.48.5_33

CiNii Research

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Language：English   Publisher：Faculty of Economics, Nagasaki University  

CiNii Research

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Language：Japanese  

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Language：Japanese  

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Language：Japanese  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Symposium, workshop panel (nominated)  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Language：English   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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