Knowledge Creation in New Ventures Based on the SECI Model: Similarities and Differences Between Japan, South Korea, and Austria

Abstract

This research deals with the question of which similarities and differences exist between Japanese, South Korean, and Austrian new ventures in terms of knowledge creation. The theoretical framework supporting this research is the SECI model developed by the two Japanese economists Nonaka Ikujiro and Takeuchi Hirotaka. Under the consideration of five conditions that must be met in a company, new knowledge can be created through the interaction of implicit and explicit knowledge by passing through the four modes socialisation, externalisation, combination, and internalisation. To answer this research question, an online questionnaire was sent to new ventures in Japan, South Korea, and Austria with a total of 154 companies participating. Additionally 12 expert interviews with employees or founders of new ventures were held. The result of the nonrepresentative research showed that a lot of similarities exist among the surveyed companies in terms of knowledge creation. Still there exists one important difference in the implementation of one of the five conditions of the SECI model. In comparison to Austrian companies, the majority of the Japanese and South Korean new ventures stated that their management often intentionally causes crisis/stress conditions, which can support the exchange of information and knowledge in a company.