Adopting and Adapting Innovation in Japan's Digital Transformation

This book explores how the business transformation taking place in Japan is influenced by the digital revolution. The chapters present approaches and examples from sectors commonly understood to be visible arenas of digital transformation—3D printing and mobility, for instance—as well as some from not-so-obvious sectors, such as retail, services, and fintech.

Business today is facing unprecedented change especially due to the adoption of new, digital technologies, with a noticeable transformation of manufacturing and services. The changes have been brought by advanced robotics, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and digital networks that are growing in size and capability as the number of connected devices explodes. In addition, there are advanced manufacturing and collaborative connected platforms, including machine-to-machine communications. Adoption of digital technology has caused process disruptions in both the manufacturing and services sectors and led to new business models and new products.  

While examining the preparedness of the Japanese economy to embrace these changes, the book explores the impact of digitally influenced changes on some selected sectors from a Japanese perspective. It paints a big picture in explaining how a previously manufacturing-centric, successful economy adopts change to retain and rebuild success in the global environment. Japan as a whole is embracing, yet also avoiding—innovating but also restricting—various forms of digitalization of life and work. The book, with its 12 chapters, is a collaborative effort of individuals contributing diverse points of view as technologists, academics, and managers.

Anshuman Khare is a professor in operations management at Athabasca University, Canada. He is an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow and a former Monbusho Scholar. His research focuses on environmental regulation impacts on industry, just-in-time manufacturing, supply chain management, sustainability, cities and climate change, online business education, etc. His current research focus is on impact of digital technologies on business and education. Anshuman has co-edited a series of books on digital transformation of business during the last five years—Phantom ex machina: Digital disruption's role in business model transformation (Springer International, 2016); On the Line: Business Education in the Digital Age (Springer International, 2017);  Marktorientiertes Produkt- und Produktionsmanagement in digitalen Umwelten (Gabler Verlag, Germany, 2018), and Transforming Japanese Business: Rising to the Digital Challenge (Springer Nature Singapore, 2019). In 2022, he published two edited books with Routledge titled Japanese Business Operations in an Uncertain World and Sustainable International Business Models in a Digitally Transforming World. He has interest in the following sectors: automobile, aviation (airports and airlines), energy (alternative and renewable), manufacturing, services, sustainable cities, and smart cities (public policy).

William W. Baber has combined education with business throughout his career. Currently, he is teaching and researching negotiation and business models as an associate professor at the Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University. He has also taught as a visiting professor at University of Vienna and University of Jyväskylä. Additional experience includes economic development in the State of Maryland and supporting business starters in Japan. He is the lead author of the textbook Practical Business Negotiation and co-editor of Transforming Japanese Business. Recent articles include Transition to Digital Distribution Platforms and Business Model Evolution as well as Identifying Macro Phases across the Negotiation Lifecycle. Negotiation simulations include Mukashi Games and Pixie and Electro Car Merger, both available through TheCaseCentre.org