2017 Volume 24 Issue 2 Pages 7-16
In the 1970s, many materials and chemical companies such as Kanto Denka, Dowa Kogyo, Toda Kogyo etc. had entered the development of metal magnetic powder for magnetic recording. The business environment of functional materials had become complicated at this period. The decision making to start new theme of R＆D for functional materials and the decision making to invest functional materials industry has been forced to be difficult. Now, in the R＆D and commercialization of functional materials for electronic parts and devices, the risk that investment does not lead to success is increasing. Especially technological change has been rapid in the 21st century and many companies of developed countries also have entered in the electronic equipment field. Therefore, as it is observed in the materials business of lithium ion batteries, the business of functional materials is becoming more complicated than in the past. We compare the technology management strategies of four companies concerning metal magnetic powder as an example of the beginning of business about functional materials with large uncertainty and risk.
