Explaining the platform game in Japan

Dr Annabelle Gawer, a Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation at Tanaka Business School has just returned from Tokyo.

Dr Gawer was invited to speak at Institute for International Policy Studies’ conference on Globalization and Japan's Science and Technology Strategy following the publication of her work on platform leadership.

Dr Gawer presented her work that explores how firms become platform leaders to an audience of public policy officials and academics that included Mr Nakasone, Japan’s former Prime Minister and Mr. Okawara, Japan’s former Ambassador to the US.
 
Dr Gawer said: “Japan, like many developed markets, is considering how it evolves and maintains competitive advantage in the vital areas of scientific and technological development.  Understanding one of the latest trends, like the emergence of platforms in high-tech industry, will help Japan’s companies work toward their aims.”  She added, “As emerging markets seek to move from lowest cost to value competition, concepts like platform leadership may guide companies to either take advantage of, or at least react to some of the treats they are facing”.

Dr Gawer teaches business strategy and management of technological innovation at Tanaka Business School.  She is the European Editor of the Journal of Strategic Management Education and a world-recognized expert in high-tech strategy.

Dr Gawer’s book Platform Leadership: How Intel, Microsoft, and Cisco Drive Industry Innovation, has become a reference in business and academia, and is having an impact on top-management thinking worldwide.   It explains how Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, Palm and others have orchestrated ecosystem innovation to support their products - and in the process, established dominant market positions.  A Japanese translation was published in 2005.