Abstract:
This literature review examines the application of Ikujiro Nonaka’s perspective on organizational knowledge creation in the Japanese Multinational Corporation (MNC). Focus is on the SECI model and the concept of ba. Literature published between 1994 and 2009 is synthesized to develop four guidelines for U.S. managers who work in Japanese MNCs, including the need to understand the Japanese view of tacit knowledge conversion and the important role of middle managers in translating top management vision.