Winter
1999, Vol. 20, No. 1
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Chaos, Knowledge
and Innovation for the 21st Century
Chaos—organized chaos, that is—could
be a key quality that will determine which companies and organizations
will thrive in the global economy of the 21st century. In dynamic
organizations, chaotic situations are often encouraged in order
to create new knowledge, which in turn can lead to innovative ideas,
products and services. But in order for this kind of organized chaos
to exist in an organization, there must be a corporate mindset that
encompasses three qualities: autonomy of individuals (versus a strong
hierarchy, bureaucracy or governmental control); freedom to experiment
(versus too many regulations); and diversity (versus uniformity).
These and other key concepts of knowledge creation
were explored at a JAIMS business symposium entitled "Global
Management Paradigm for the 21st Century" last September in
Honolulu. JAIMS President Glenn Miyataki introduced the four experts
on knowledge creation from Japan who spoke before an audience of
over 120 individuals from the Honolulu business, educational and
government communities. Moderating the panel was Ikujiro Nonaka,
with the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and
also the Xerox Distinguished Professor of Knowledge at the UC Berkeley
Haas School of Business. Joining him were three of his colleagues
from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo: Hirotaka Takeuchi, Iwao Nakatani
and Seiichiro Yonekura.
Knowledge creation is the science of how knowledge
is developed and shared within organizations. Those companies that
are capable of creating and sharing knowledge among their employees
tend to be the most dynamic, successful and able to adapt to change
(think Silicon Valley). They place a priority on developing systems
that will encourage or give birth to new ideas. On the other hand,
those organizations that are rigid in their thinking tend to falter
once their original product or purpose is no longer needed (single-product
manufacturers and governmental agencies, for example). They often
have no systems in place to work with or encourage change.
The speakers explored knowledge creation by
citing examples of global corporations in Japan, the United States
and Europe and by detailing how critical it has been for those corporations
to translate vision into innovation. They also addressed the need
for Hawaii to seek breakthroughs in an entrenched economy by moving
beyond traditional thinking and encouraging entrepreneurship and
innovation.
The symposium inspired a lengthy question and
answer period. Lucien Wong, president of the commercial division
of Castle & Cooke, said he saw the symposium as an opportunity
to identify more ideas for improving the economy of Hawaii. "Hawaii
does not have a history of trade," Wong said. "For us
to become more diverse, we need to look toward venture capital,
infrastructure, a research institute, a first-class university."
Kathy Jaycox, vice chancellor for student and community
affairs for the University of Hawaii Community Colleges, was impressed
with the speakers’ concepts and examples. "The university
is realizing its role in helping the economic development of Hawaii
through research and the use of the educational system for entrepreneurial
purposes," Jaycox said. "Our university is integral to
what is happening if Hawaii is going to move ahead."
Internship,
Entrepreneurism and Global Vision Give Rise to Software
Startup TriWorks
In 1994 two JAIMS Intercultural Management Program
students learning about Western business, Takeshi Ikeda from Japan
and Gang Liang from China, both found themselves as interns at The
Digital Village, a newly formed organization located in the northern
Bay Area of California. The Digital Village was established by a
consortium of community schools, businesses and government agencies
to nurture partnerships that would stimulate the North Bay multimedia
industry by supporting the growth of emerging business, preparing
students for jobs and enhancing resources for those in multimedia.
Such an entrepreneurial climate was stimulating
to Ikeda and Liang, and they soon found that their own business
aspirations were influenced by the Digital Village ethic. Together
with their internship supervisor and mentor, Don Means, they formed
TriWorks, a global multimedia software company. The tri in
TriWorks refers to the three partners’ home countries—China,
Japan and the United States. Liang is president of TriWorks Shanghai,
with 20 employees, Ikeda is president of TriWorks Corp. in Japan
with nine employees, and Means consults from the United States.
A company that spans three countries calls for
special skills, particularly in communications. According to Ikeda,
who recently spoke to a group of students at JAIMS, "The first
two years we had big differences in our thinking. Now, instead of
focusing on a ‘Chinese way’ or a ‘Japanese way’
of doing business, we have a ‘global way.’ Now we see
the same goal."
Both Liang and Ikeda were Fujitsu Ltd. employees
when they attended JAIMS. Liang had attended college in Japan and
later worked as a telecommunications engineer for Fujitsu. Ikeda’s
background was multimedia software research. After they had completed
the Intercultural Management Program, Fujitsu was instrumental in
supporting the startup of TriWorks and now has a 40 percent stake
in the company, while Liang, Ikeda and Means own 20 percent per
partner.
Initially, TriWorks published stand-alone software,
such as a CD-ROM series of landscape photographs and indigenous
music from China. For the past two years, the company has focused
on picture management software. The latest product, Gazo, a picture
management system for digital cameras, debuted at the 1998 Comdex
meeting in Las Vegas, where it was enthusiastically received. Given
the involved nature and expense of international sales and distribution
networks, TriWorks is marketing Gazo via the Internet. TriWorks
is also partnering with Mitsumi, Sony, IBM and Fuji Film in developing
its picture management systems.
The three partners meet together about three
times each year, but communicate constantly by e-mail. In addition,
Ikeda travels to China frequently. "Gang has taught me a lot
about communication," Ikeda said. "He can express his
feelings directly, which is important. In China, I cannot speak
the language, but I always feel others can understand me, and I
assume I will always be able to understand others. Partly it is
just the assumption that communication will happen."
First China-focused
MBA Class Graduates in Tokyo with Japan-focused MBAs
The inaugural class of the China-focused MBA
(CHEMBA), a program offered by JAIMS and the University of Hawaii
at Manoa College of Business Administration, recently graduated
after completing three-month business internships in China. The
three CHEMBAs graduated on November 20 at a ceremony in Tokyo together
with the 17 members of their cohort program, the Japan-focused MBA
(JEMBA).
After their twelve-month course work in Honolulu,
the CHEMBAs left in August for a two-week orientation in Beijing.
The first week encompassed a lecture series at Peking University,
while the second was spent visiting various companies and government
agencies, including the China Council for the Promotion of International
Trade; State Development Planning Commission; Beijing Economic and
Technological Development Area; State Economic and Trade Commission;
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation; United States
Embassy; and the United States-China Business Council.
The remainder of the students’ time in
China was spent at their internship companies in Shanghai. Katie
Ka Yee Lau, a native of Hong Kong, interned at Citibank China; Cynthia
Lai, from Hong Kong and California, interned at the Portman Ritz-Carlton;
and Juan Everington, of Ohio, interned at TriWorks Computer &
Telecommunications Technology.
"These last three months were a real challenge
for all of us," said Lau, who gave the CHEMBA address at the
commencement ceremony. "By learning to adapt to a new environment
and by working with people from different nationalities, we were
offered excellent training to equip ourselves for the dynamic international
business environment. As China is becoming a focus of the world,
both economically and politically, CHEMBA provides a good training
ground to educate people who can understand China and have the ability
to work in the Chinese environment."
The students had strong Mandarin language skills
prior to entering the program. Even so, they spent hours each week
studying business Mandarin in addition to the core MBA and advanced
courses on Chinese and Asian business. The 1998-99 CHEMBA class
has doubled in size and includes students from Australia, Hong Kong,
Japan, Thailand and the United States.
JEMBA graduates and their internship companies
include: Chee Meng Chan, SAP Japan; Theresa Cherry, McCann-Erickson;
Anna Maria del Castillo, Japan External Trade Organization; Marie
Antoinette Go, Proudfoot Japan; Gregg Hirohata-Goto, Gallup/JMAR;
Seth Huber, Franklin Covey Japan; Eko Indarto, Fuji Electric; Vajira
Jayasinghe, Fujitsu; Dawn Kawasaki, Mallinckrodt Japan; Jae Keun
Kim, Citibank, N.A.; Vladimir Lopez, Dun & Bradstreet Japan;
Suzanne Nakano, Fidelity Investments Japan; Sanjay Pareek, Fujitsu;
Parameswaran Thangavelu, Fujitsu; Kian Tjoi Tjong, Oracion; Curtis
Washington, Price Waterhouse Consultants; and Raymond Wai Pong Wong,
BT Japan.
JAIMS Website Gets
New Look
While some organizations were posting websites
for the first time in 1998, the staff at JAIMS found itself rethinking
a site that had first gone online in 1995. The new JAIMS website
went live in November 1998, sporting a completely different image
and more accessible information. The address, however, remains the
same: www.jaims.org.
"Early on we recognized our site as an
essential marketing tool," said Jenny Sadama, corporate communications
manager at JAIMS. "With the new design, we hope to accomplish
our goal of increasing awareness and understanding of JAIMS’
unique programs. We also enjoyed our collaboration with site designer
StarrTech and are grateful for their enthusiasm and dedication to
the project. In addition, staff and alumni gave insightful feedback.
It was a great learning experience for us, and we’re pleased
with the results."
StarrTech Interactive, a division of the award-winning
Honolulu marketing firm Starr Seigle Communications, designed and
engineered the site under the direction of managing director Mary
Fastenau. "JAIMS’ global markets required StarrTech to
remember the world in ‘WorldWideWeb,’" Fastenau
said. "We also learned about the challenges facing an educational,
nonprofit organization in a competitive environment and take our
hats off to JAIMS for all they have done. It was a very interesting
and mutually beneficial project."
Reims, France Study
Option Added to ICMP
Beginning in the fall of 1999, the Intercultural
Management Program (ICMP) will offer participants a chance to study
Western business not only in Honolulu but also in Reims, the heart
of the French champagne region. The partnership between JAIMS and
Reims School of Management is a two-month study option that follows
the ICMP coursework in Honolulu. The goal of the Reims International
Management Programme is to expose students to a European perspective
on the global economy and expand their awareness of the impact of
cultural differences on management techniques and practices.
"The exchange of students from Asia (ICMP)
and Europe (Reims) takes JAIMS a step closer to developing leaders
with a strong cultural understanding who will be a dynamic part
of the global workplace," said JAIMS President Glenn Miyataki.
"It’s a tremendous experience for those who want to take
advantage of the opportunity."
A key part of the Reims/JAIMS partnership is
that Reims will be sending French students to Honolulu for ICMP.
Reims is one of the top business schools in France and has approximately
1,500 undergraduates and 500 MBA-level students. Courses in the
Reims Programme are taught in English by instructors drawn from
educational institutes throughout the world.
Studying in France allows for other opportunities
as well. An internship and field trips to French businesses and
cultural sites—including art, architecture and, yes, gastronomie—are
a part of the program.
news@ JAIMS
Margaret Rose Canobis (Intercultural Management
Program, 1998-spring) of the Philippines was presented with the
first Funika Scholarship, a $1,500 award, after returning from her
internship at the American National Bank in Chicago. The scholarship
was established in 1998 by JAIMS alumnus Nuri Sozkesen, chairman
of Funika Holding Co. in Denizli, Turkey, and is awarded to students
from selected countries who maintain a 4.0 grade average in their
JAIMS courses.
The ICMP 1998-fall students completed their
four months at JAIMS in January, and congratulations are due to
numerous award recipients. Hodaka Miyashita of Japan received the
Francis A. Wong Award for Leadership, placed second in
the speech competition and also won first place in the research
competition for his project on the American Dream, "Uncle Sam,
What Is He Dreaming?" Jiandong Yang of China was honored by
his classmates with the Students’ Choice Award and placed third
in the speech competition. The first-place President’s Language
Award was presented to Thein Thein Aye of Myanmar for her speech
entitled "One Hundred Twenty Days in ICMP," and she was
also recipient of the Funika Scholarship together with Medy Ratna
of Indonesia. Akira Shimogami received second place in the research
competition for his project on "English Language Schools in
Hawaii." Mina Kawabe and Hiroshi Maeda took third place for
"Did Somebody Say Neiman Marcus?" The keynote speaker
at the ceremony was Larry Kiyohiro, JMP-15 graduate and principal
of Artisan Capital Management in Honolulu. Congratulations also
to the 15 class members who found time to complete the Honolulu
Marathon in December!
JAIMS staff participated in a two-day gasshuku
(retreat) in November on Oahu’s North Shore. Discussion and
reflection focused on global change and JAIMS’ mission in the
21st century. JAIMS staff also enjoyed surprising Hawaii Kai neighbor
Kuapa Pre-School during the yearly Halloween visit made by the young
children. Staff shed their daily professional attire, donned costumes
and acted out characters from the Mother Goose nursery rhymes. Great
performances were made by all, including Little Bo Peep, Miss Muffet
and Jack Be Nimble, with a finale by Humpty Dumpty.
CHEMBA students and JAIMS staff alike are delighted
to welcome Rosa Chiang as the program specialist in Business Mandarin.
JETRO Test
Offered at JAIMS
On June 5, JAIMS will be one of several sites
worldwide to offer the 1999 JETRO Business Japanese Language Proficiency
Test, an international test that certifies Japanese listening and
reading skills for business organizations and academic institutions.
JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization, a nonprofit, Japanese
government-supported organization that promotes mutually beneficial
trade and economic relationships between Japan and other nations,
developed the exam as an objective and practical indication of non-native
speakers’ skills. Given once each year, the test consists of
two parts: the listening and reading comprehension test—given
at JAIMS and other sites—and the oral communication test—offered
only in Japan to those who pass the most difficult level of the
comprehension test.
Priority is placed on the test-taker's ability
to understand and communicate in Japanese that is encountered in
business situations, rather than simply measuring conversational
vocabulary and grammar. Of the three levels that comprise the comprehension
test offered at JAIMS, level 1 is the most difficult, demanding
a thorough understanding of dialog spoken during company meetings,
negotiations and news events. Level 2 involves a more general understanding
of main points spoken during a business meeting and in negotiations,
while level 3 calls for a more basic understanding of documents,
business conversation and Japanese business practices. Students
from the Japan-focused Master of Business Administration program
offered by JAIMS and the UH College of Business Administration have
been among the—slightly nervous—test-takers for the past
three years.
Those interested in signing up for the test
may contact JAIMS for more information. April 4 is the registration
deadline.
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