Challenges in globalization to protect technological knowledge

Advanced globalization has led to information sharing among the overseas bases of companies. Technical information should be protected as they are the knowledge assets of companies. Therefore, companies establish general standards within enterprises, and it is necessary for all employees of an organization to act under their regulations and rules. This study was aimed at finding success factors in the global expansion of standards in the overseas business bases of a Japanese manufacturing company consisting of 50 business units and approximately 8,000 employees. We conducted action research from 2014 in a subsidiary company that consisted of eight bases and approximately 1,500 employees in the Asian area. It was important for personnel to recognize values from the results and begin to think of ways of achieving goals. Therefore, managers and employees co-created knowledge to positively visualize shared goals. In addition, we found that the person in charge who held the key to on-site activities had an influence. The international activities of knowledge creation caused employees to act under unified standards in a company, and led to safe and secure innovations in technological knowledge.