Strategic Transformation in Japan’s SMEs, 1990–2008: Flexible Specialization, Industrial Restructuring, and Technological Change

IF 0.7 2区 历史学 Q4 BUSINESS
R. Fitzgerald, R. Dyerson, Tatsuya Mishimagi
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The bursting of the “bubble economy” in 1989–1990 brought decades of challenge for Japanese Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), which had assumed the role of subcontractor within production networks dominated by large companies. This article explores the impact of a rapidly altered business environment, due to economic crisis, the decline of relational subcontracting, and technological change, on the management and organization of firms. It provides a needed historical account of Japanese SMEs striving to avoid “hollowing out,” and detailed case studies explain what gaining greater independence as a flexible specialist meant in practice. A focus on the immediate advantages of computerized tools could not bring about the intended strategic objectives, whereas the systemizing of new and existing resources in skills and equipment enabled sustainable competitive differentiation in production and products. The case studies map out the internal competence transformations of SMEs over time, and indicate the value of historical approaches to exploring strategic and organizational change.
1990-2008年日本中小企业的战略转型:灵活专业化、产业结构调整与技术变革
1989年至1990年“泡沫经济”的破灭给日本中小企业(SME)带来了数十年的挑战,中小企业在大公司主导的生产网络中扮演着分包商的角色。本文探讨了由于经济危机、关系分包的衰落和技术变革而迅速改变的商业环境对企业管理和组织的影响。它提供了日本中小企业努力避免“空心化”的必要历史记录,并详细的案例研究解释了作为一名灵活的专家,获得更大的独立性在实践中意味着什么。注重计算机化工具的直接优势并不能实现预期的战略目标,而将技能和设备方面的新资源和现有资源系统化则能够在生产和产品方面实现可持续的竞争差异。案例研究描绘了中小企业内部能力随时间的转变,并表明了探索战略和组织变革的历史方法的价值。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
1.20
自引率
30.00%
发文量
37
期刊介绍: Enterprise & Society offers a forum for research on the historical relations between businesses and their larger political, cultural, institutional, social, and economic contexts. The journal aims to be truly international in scope. Studies focused on individual firms and industries and grounded in a broad historical framework are welcome, as are innovative applications of economic or management theories to business and its context.
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