Japan's defense aims to maintain a free and open international order while addressing diverse security challenges. Accordingly, international collaboration is essential in research and development (R&D) and procurement projects related to national security to strengthen strategic partnerships. The successful execution of these projects requires sophisticated information management concerning international negotiations and defense equipment, and specialized know-how and expertise. However, much of this critical knowledge remains tacit, embedded in the experiences of seasoned professionals, hindering its transfer. To address this issue, methodologies such as the SECI process and knowledge structuring have been proposed to facilitate the conversion of tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. Additionally, research on knowledge transfer in corporate R&D project management highlights the importance of sharing "ba" (which roughly means "place"), as the shared context for knowledge creation. Despite these advancements, frequent personnel rotations and temporal-spatial gaps between projects hinder direct knowledge sharing through on-the-job training (OJT). While the U.S. utilizes personnel exchanges for knowledge transfer, Japan faces significant difficulties due to differences in organizational culture and structures, leaving temporal and spatial gaps unresolved. This study examines the sociological dimensions of knowledge transfer in Japan’s international security cooperation. By analyzing organizational structures and institutional cultures, it identifies key factors influencing expertise retention. Through case studies and stakeholder interviews, critical knowledge is systematically organized into a dynamic transferable framework using knowledge engineering methodologies. These insights contribute to practical methods for sustaining knowledge in these national security projects. They also offer methodologies applicable to situations where direct knowledge transfer is difficult.

Authors:
Yudai Wada, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
Chiaki Oshiyama, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
Koki Ijuin, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
Takuichi Nishimura, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Yudai WADA is currently a doctoral student at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Tokyo, Japan.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yudai-wada-6a24b335b

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