We analyzed information infrastructure, human resources management and the interaction between them based on WEB survey data. Concerning information infrastructure, five factors of dissatisfaction applicable to the factors of “the flow model of information and knowledge” are extracted, and the malfunction which originates in “semi-explicit knowledge” especially became clear. Regarding human resources management, significance of Know-Who and of case information is confirmed, four factors of incentive toward knowledge provision are extracted, and there is found mismatch between ideal incentive and real one. Concerning the interaction, the following points became clear: 1) current knowledge management is not effectively supported by information technology, 2) there are peculiar knowledge needs for every value chain elements, 3) the problem of intellectual cost affects knowledge provision, 4) satisfaction of information needs is the nonlinear event which is due to sensitivity and commitment to knowledge. Finally, we proposed the information technology and the corporate-culture which alters risk attitude towards knowledge behavior.

Being popular with networking social structure, cooperations and alliances in inter-firms relations are formed. But in these cases, it is important that several factors are completed for success in cooperations inter-firms that have different technology and different process each other.

This paper investigates critical success factors for cooperations focused on “consistency in skills” through in depth case analysis about small manufacturing firms relations called “Rush-Sumida”. The paper first realizes several conditions about “consistency in skills” at two different types of group in “Rush-Sumida”. In “parts sales and productions” group, it is important that following each five skills are consisted with members for aiming at conformity in each products: ① technological quality assurance skills ② cost assurance skills ③ delivery assurance skills ④ delivery quality assurance skills ⑤ continuous cost reduction skills. On the other hand, in “products development” group, it is important that following two more skills are consisted with members for aiming at harmony with manufacturer and designer: ⑥ skills in conceptualized end-products specification ⑦ skills in improving design.

Secondly, the paper analyzes the reason why these conditions have been accomplished and continuously maintained. Through depth case analysis, in “parts sales and productions” group, five skills consistency have been accomplished and maintained through inter-organizational learning. On the other hand, in “products development’’ group, two more skills consistency have been accomplished and maintained through inter-organizational competitions.

The paper finally proposes that these two different types of group co-relations are very important for accumulating and consisting with skills in inter-firms relations.

Electronic commerce automation using Internet e-mail is being considered because its use will reduce business overhead costs compared with the current EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) using private networks or VANs. However, Internet communication problems prohibit the practical use of Internet e-mail for automatic electronic commerce.

We propose a two-phase method for the Internet e-mail environment (2PM) that will not only solve the communication problem, but also enhance EDI use by increasing the flexibility of the parties engaging in commerce and adapting to negotiation-based commerce. 2PM was prompted by the concept of the two-phase commitment method, which is well known in the information technology (IT) community. This paper describes the conditions of the negotiation procedure in EDI commerce, and how the proposed method can be applied to EDI commerce, using actual examples (hotel reservation, etc.). The method was implemented using Internet e-mail to demonstrate how it can solve problems caused by the communication quality of the Internet.

Surveys of customer satisfaction are widely used by many enterprises now. However, from a customers’ point of view, we find some problems in questionnaires (for example, sentences of questions are too long or the choices of answer is not just enough and so forth). We neither have many studies nor special references which show us the objective standards of how to cope with such problems (especially, the methods of scale evaluation).

In this study, we discuss surveys of customer satisfaction. We search for the factors which affects easiness of answering and derive the terms (adverbs) which compose equal intervals in scale evaluation. We propose some types of the adequate scale evaluation for designers of questionnaires and respondents.

This paper argues IC-PFB(Internet Commerce -PlatForm Business). IC-PFB has the functions that exchange the information between industrial players and customers, and generalizes the knowledge by editing information. Providing the fields and opportunities for industrial players and customers to refer and interpret, IC-PFB is able to contribute to the industrial development. Authors classify IC-PFB into nine(9) kinds of models by the difference of function of “editorial linker” which IC-PFB provides as the method to make users utilize the media function in the internet. This classification is shown as the 3X3 matrix combined by the three(3) basic types of Knowledge Chain and the three(3) basic types of Knowledge Community. By the comparison among nine(9) kinds of IC-PFB models, this paper describes the “to-be” IC-PFB model to contribute to the industrial development. Authors confirm its contribution to the industrial development by case studies.