Developing Creative Innovators for Global Competitiveness in the Japanese Context

Abstract

This chapter presents a research model for enhancing Japanese competitiveness in global markets. We pay special attention to two dimensions of innovative tal- ents—personality traits and quality programs (education and training experiences). Our extensive field interviews examine two aspects of Japanese innovative talent development: (1) executives maintain high profitability levels by offering successful innovative products and services and (2) outstanding engineers create technological competitive advantage in the global market. Our interview questions explore (1) key elements of innovative talents and (2) key success factors of sustainable innovation. Based on field interviews we sug- gest the main characteristics of innovative talents and identify key factors of sys- tematic talent development. Table 4.1 is a summary of sample characteristics of the interviewees. Due to the confidential nature of these interviews, the names of all the interviewees are changed. The experiences of Japanese firms since 1990 suggest that customer competence and technology competence are not sufficient for sustain- able competitive advantage. Instead, the role of linkage competence is critical to integrate the processes of generating innovative ideas from customer competence and translating them into outstanding products through technology competence. Increasingly, Japanese firms regard linkage competence as the key to reclaiming their superior competitive position in global markets.