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"Ma" and innovation management

Mitsuru Kodama

pp. 1-21

How do certain leading companies, organizations and individuals consistently achieve high quality innovations? The actions and thinking of leading practitioners (innovators and creators) originate in Ma thinking, the core theoretical concept presented in this book. In this chapter the concept of Ma is explained from the viewpoint of philosophy and beliefs (Shintoism and Buddhism), which have had a deep impact on Japanese culture. Ma is also defined as the holistic relationship that enables connection of continuous and discontinuous events and matters in distinct types of space-time (structured space-time vs. unstructured space-time). Through examples in business and management as well as art and architecture, the concept of Ma is explained as the trigger that promotes the coexistence of creativity and efficiency in people and organizations and achieves innovation.

Publication details

DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-59194-4_1

Full citation:

Kodama, M. (2017)., "Ma" and innovation management, in M. Kodama (ed.), Ma theory and the creative management of innovation, Dordrecht, Springer, pp. 1-21.

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