Dynamic relationship design of knowledge co-creating cluster: traditional Japanese architectural industry

Abstract

Increased global mobility led by remarkable developments and the extension of public infrastructure has brought about not only the possibility of further conventional static relationship design, but also the importance of dynamic relationship design as well. Operating on the assumption that this catalytic environmental change will occur in the form of increased mobility, every type of organization—regardless of industrial sector, size, or profit status—is faced with the need to design and manage this connected society, newly dynamic environment. Considering the social environment above, this study aims to develop a methodology to design and manage innovation ecosystem which then generates sustainable and autonomously collaborative relationships as the inevitably required first phase of organization emergence. How can a dynamic relationship as a knowledge co-creating subjectivity be formed among the organizations? The authors introduced research methodology of dynamics, referring to knowledge creation theory: (1) proposing a dynamic system model simplifying research objects, (2) conducting the cases based on the proposed model, (3) performing theoretical analysis on observed phenomena, and (4) engaging in discussion on improvements, or further development of the original model based on the findings. In this study, the authors visualized the relations among co-creation, intersubjectivity, context, and boundary object in a dynamic model, and described the organizational emergence of knowledge-creating clusters using the dynamic model. This study contributes to the social shift in a contrasting approach, from the management of human well-doing for an efficient social system to the dynamic relationship design for human well-being.