電気機械企業における新規事業参入に関する考察

─シャープの半導体・産業用電子機器を事例として─

抄録

The postwar Japanese electronics industry began with the transformation from a military to a civilian industry, and great expectations were placed on the electronics industry as a new growth and technology-leading industry in the Japanese economy. However, Japan’s electronics industry was in a far inferior state compared to the electronics industries of Western countries, which had made long strides during and after the war. As a solution, in 1957, the government enacted the “Electronic Industry Promotion Extraordinary Special Measures Law” as a measure to promote Japan’s electronics industry, and sought to foster and promote consumer and industrial electronics equipment. As a result, the electronics industry developed to the point where it played a role in Japan’s rapid postwar economic growth. Sharp developed and sold Japan’s first ore radio in 1925, Japan’s first black-and-white television in 1953, and expanded the development and sales of consumer electronics products such as fans, washing machines, refrigerators, and water-cooled coolers in 1957. The company expanded its development and sales of consumer electronic appliances such as electric fans, washing machines, refrigerators, and water-cooled coolers. However, in order to further expand new businesses, the company narrowed its focus to the semiconductor and industrial electronic equipment businesses with the aim of moving away from home appliances, and the development of new businesses through the development of several new products led to the subsequent development of its business as a comprehensive electronics manufacturer. This paper looks at the life history of Kozaburo Baba, a university researcher with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and connections, and examines the product development process and sales activities that met customer needs and looked to the future after he was invited to Sharp as a leader to achieve multiple goals. Specifically, we will organize three cases of new business entry and expansion in the fields of semiconductors and industrial electronics led by Kozaburo Baba in chronological order, and clarify how Baba led and worked together with members of the organization to develop young human resources, invite outside specialists, and tackle multiple issues as case examples.