A New Approach of Standardization for Japanese Businesses

Abstract

We need to overcome the current low profit business situation seen in the majority of Japanese companies. We need to innovate the market by using international standardization for avoiding unnecessary competition and achieving "innovation", i.e., creating a new market. The objective of standardization should be changed from "achieving compatibility" to "creating a new market". One seemingly effective approach is standardization on the environmental aspects of business models where cutting edges of Japanese technologies can be fit in to define an environmentally conscious market. Another approach could be contributing to "symbiotic" business models where the standards define the rules of stakeholders to cooperate for solving societal issues. A good example is ISO TC 292 which standardizes in the field of security to enhance the safety and resilience of society. Japanese companies should be more vigorous to seek for such opportunities in doing standardization which is well aligned to their business strategies.