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Module production, centrality, and M&A in the keiretsu of Mazda

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Abstract

Relationship analysis is one of the most interesting issues in interorganizational management. The relationships between an auto maker and parts suppliers in the keiretsu of Japan, as one special case, have recently been greatly changed due to the diffusion of module production. Parts suppliers are required to develop their capacity for research and development (R&D) and parts integration to cope with the new situation. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are carried out by these parts makers. In order to measure the transactional relationship between centrality and module production, we reviewed the literature of module production and interorganizational research from the viewpoint of networks, and measured the eigenvector, one of the centrality indices, of the transaction network in the keiretsu of Mazda using the two fiscal years of 1995 and 2005. We analyzed the changes in interorganizational relationships between the years 1995 and 2005, and identified the relationship between centrality and the module system. Furthermore, we discussed the implications of our new findings about the transaction network in Mazda.

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Correspondence to Hiroshi Kimura.

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This work was presented in part at the 14th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, February 5–7, 2009

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Kimura, H., Ito, T. & Xia, Z. Module production, centrality, and M&A in the keiretsu of Mazda. Artif Life Robotics 14, 332–336 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10015-009-0676-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10015-009-0676-z

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