Linking learning, knowledge creation, and business creativity - A preliminary assessment of the East Asian quest for creativity

This article reviews the growing body of recent business literature on the determinants and dynamics of organizational creativity, and its linkages wi th the nature and scope of organizational learning and knowledge creation w ithin the firm. The review is focused on examining the behavior of visionar y, long-lived, frontier firms in the developed world. It uncovers a strong linkage between advanced learning. knowledge creation, and organizational c reativity within the context of environmental factors which favor creativit y enhancement. Based on this review, a conceptual framework linking learnin g, knowledge, and organizational creativity is constructed and deployed to help interpret and provide a preliminary assessment of East Asia's quest fo r creativity in countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. (C) 20 00 Elsevier Science Inc.