GRIPS and Hitotsubashi University hosted a nine-day seminar program on knowledge-based management from November 18 to 26, 2013 for ASEAN countries in response to a request from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This program highlights one part of Japan’s ODA, and the seminar aims to introduce a new approach of the leadership and the organization management with knowledge creation for which Japan is noted. This program supports the establishment of an effective training program of leaders in line with the domestic situation of the respective countries.

GRIPS welcomed 18 staff members and researchers from academic institutions and personnel administration agencies from six ASEAN countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam).

Following the ice breaking by Dr. Hideki Kawada (Chief Executive Officer of Phronetic Co., Ltd.), the participants attended lectures on knowledge creation theory by Prof. Ryoko Toyama of Chuo University’s Business School. They also attended lectures on case studies by Mr. Chihiro Takayama (Director of Knowledge Creation Department, Eisai Co., Ltd.), Mr. Kenji Ueda (Director of Management with Resonance Promotion Department, Corporate Planning Division, Unicharm Corporation), Mr. Mom Luang Dispanadda Diskul (Mae Fah Luang Foundation in Thailand), Mr. Masayuki Uyama (Director of Living Environment Department, Mitaka City), Mr. Kenichi Kawase (Managing Director of SOHO CITY Mitaka Forum), and Mr. Tsugitoshi Hatano (President of Kizuna.Ba). Included in those lectures were comments on the practice of knowledge creation theory in the respective organizations. In addition, the participants had a chance to visit the Environmental Science Center at Lake Kasumigaura, Ibaraki Prefecture, and they learned about the knowledge creation theory practiced in the project from Mr. Hiroshi Iijima of the Asaza Fund.

Concurrently with this program, the Policy Forum on Leadership and Management Development in Asian Countries was held at GRIPS on November 21 and 22, 2013. This forum was jointly organized by GRIPS and JICA with the cooperation of the research team of Prof. Ikujiro Nonaka of Hitotsubashi University, and the participants of the seminar also participated in the policy forum as observers.

Please click here for the “Policy Forum on Leadership and Management Development in Asian Countries”.

In the last part of the program, the participants attended a lecture on leadership development and human resources management in the Japanese government by Prof. Masahiro Horie (Professor and Director of the Executive Development Center for Global Leadership, GRIPS).

During the program, participants presented their inception reports and exchanged opinions about current problems in their respective organizations and how to apply knowledge creation theory to solve those problems and assist their organizations to develop further.