The Concept of “Ba”: Building a Foundation for Knowledge Creation
引入日本概念“Ba”（场所），将其定义为共享空间（物理、虚拟或心理），并说明知识嵌入其中。文章开发了四种平台及其与知识创造模式的关系，通过三个公司案例展示在不同组织层面运用Ba来促进知识创造。
This article introduces the Japanese concept of to organizational theory. Ba (equivalent to place in English) is a shared space for emerging relationships. It can be a physical, virtual, or mental space. Knowledge, in contrast to information, cannot be separated from the context—it is embedded in ba. To support the process of knowledge creation, a foundation in ba is required. This article develops and explains four specific platforms and their relationships to knowledge creation. Each of the knowledge conversion modes is promoted by a specific ba. A self-transcending process of knowledge creation can be supported by providing ba on different organizational levels. This article presents case studies of three companies that employ ba on the team, division, and corporate level to enhance knowledge creation.