ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING IN SUCCESSFUL EAST-ASIAN FIRMS - PRINCIPLES, PRACTICES, AND PROSPECTS

Guided by Marquardt's system-linked organizational learning model, thi s article investigates the nature of and limits to latecomer-catchup l earning engaged in by East Asian firms within the electronics industry over the past three decades. This is basically an adaptive, re-active , single-loop form of learning that emphasizes speed and enlargement o f market share at the expense of technological depth and breadth. Chal lenges for the 21st century revolve around the need to make a transiti on from reverse engineering to breakthrough engineering; from an effic iency-centered to a creativity-propelled mode of competitive stance; a nd from knowledge exploitation to knowledge exploration in new critica l areas such as design, software engineering, new product/process deve lopment, marketing, R&D, management of strategic alliances with intern ational partners, and the development of a vibrant local components an d capital goods network. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.