ABSTRACT
Through empirical studies in the fields of IT, communication, electronics, automobiles (including parts manufacturers), machinery, electronic parts, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, distribution and apparel in the global markets of Europe, America and Asia, about collaboration system (CS) usage forms, this chapter shows that CS are strategic IT tools that develop knowledge communities within and between companies, including customers, and strengthen the competitiveness of companies.
The chapter clarifies how the strategic use of CS tools in diverse strategic communities consisting of multifunctional teams spanning different specializations and business functions drives the creative and efficient (and effective) development of new products. In addition, the chapter clarifies how companies focus on creativity for exploration in addition to speed and efficiency (and effectiveness) to facilitate knowledge creation through strategic communities using the video communications functions of CS, and clarifies how companies promote knowledge usage through communities of practice that focus on speed and efficiency for exploitation, using other IT tools (voice and data communications), in addition to video communications functions.
Hence, the chapter clarifies that corporations utilizing CS strategically also use different types of IT tools and their functions for different product development situations, which they do by simultaneously executing “ambidextrous IT management,” which combines both uncertainty management (exploration) to develop new products, and existing business management (exploitation) to create new versions of existing products.
