Dynamic Capability in the Case of Long-Term Sustaining Kaizen Activities

Case Study of Cosmetics Manufacturer E

Abstract

Although the effective sustainability of Kaizen activities is emphasized in practice, there are not enough suggestions from the research side for the management of such activities. Under these circumstances, the author's previous study analyzed two cases of long-term sustaining kaizen activities, and showed the existence of fixed Kaizen objectives in long-term activities and the possibility of falling into core rigidities.

This study focuses on the 15-year history of a cosmetics manufacturer E, which has continued its Kaizen activities while making significant changes in the content of those activities. The purpose of this study is to analyze whether dynamic capability exists in the company's Kaizen activities through an analysis of changes in Kaizen objectives.