Yoshitaka Okada is Professor of Sociology and Business at the Institute of International Strategy (IIS) at Tokyo International University, as well as Director of the Center for Inclusive Business and CSR (CIBC) at IIS. He obtained a Ph.D. in Economic Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981. Okada started his academic career at the International University of Japan, where between 1982 and 1993 he advanced from Research Assistant to Assistant Professor, then Associate Professor and finally full Professor. In 1994, Okada became a Professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts (known as the Faculty of Comparative Culture at the time) at Sophia University, where he remained until 2014. During that time, Okada served as Director of the Institute of Comparative Culture (2002-2008) and Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts (2009-2013). He was appointed Professor Emeritus by Sophia University.

As an invited professor, Okada has taught at Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration (1992); the Economics Department at the University of Victoria (1991); the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs and Economics Department at Carleton University in Ottawa (1990); the Sociology Department and Graduate School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1987); and De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines (1985). In addition, he was invited as an overseas visiting scholar to St. John’s College at the University of Cambridge, where he conducted research for three months beginning in April 2001. From there, he continued his research at the University of Oxford, affiliating with St. Antony's College, the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies and the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology until February 2002. From October 2008 to March 2009, he was a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute in Cologne, Germany, where he conducted research on bio and nano ventures.

Okada's Ph.D. dissertation, “Investment Policies and US and Japanese Multinational Corporations,” was based on research in Indonesia. Since then, and in addition to his teaching, Okada has been involved in high-profile projects such as: (1) a United Nations University project on “Self-reliance in Science and Technology for National Development in Japan;” (2) an eight-country comparative research project on “The Social System of Production” led by Professor Rogers Hollingsworth of the University of Wisconsin-Madison; (3) a seven-country comparative research project, organized by the World Bank, on “Institutional and Policy Priorities for Technological Development;” (4) his own project on “Competitive- Cum-Cooperative Inter-firm Relations and Dynamics in Japanese Semiconductor Industry;” (5) a joint project with three others on "Institutional Restrictions and Organizational Flexibility for Transforming the Japanese High-Tech Innovation System;" (6) a Japan-UK comparative research project on “Relations among Advanced Technology Innovations, Inter-firm Relations, and Technology Supporting Institutions in the Semiconductor and the Bio Industries;” (7) a research project on "Influence of Socio-Economic Institutions on Risk Recognitions of Entrepreneurs: Cases of Japan's High-Tech Industries;" (8) action research on “The Redevelopment of Businesses in the Disaster-stricken Tohoku Area;” and (9) “Institutional Interconnections, Inclusive Business and Cross-boundary Cooperation: Comparative Research among Japanese/European/North American/Local Companies in India and Africa.”

Okada has been invited to present at conferences organized by research institutes, international organizations, government agencies and universities. Examples include the Presidential Council on National Branding, the Korean Government (2010), the Netherlands Institute of Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (1999), Frederich Naumann Stiftung (Hong Kong, 1997), World Bank (1992, 1993, 1994), Chilean Development Agency (1998), University of Illinois-Urbana (1987), McMaster University in Canada (1990), University of Utah (1987), University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands (1991) and Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang (1996, 1998). He is also quite active in presenting papers at events sponsored by international academic associations, especially in the Society for Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE), which elected him to its executive council (2003-2006). He has also served as an editorial board member of Socio-Economic Review, the official journal of SASE (2001-2013).

Peer-reviewed journal articles

• 2013
• “制度変革とＢＯＰビジネス: 持続可能性と分散知識” (Institutional change and BOP business: Sustainability and dispersed knowledge.) 国際ビジネス研究 (Journal of International Business) 5(2): 15-29, 136.
• 2008
• “From vertical cooperation to horizontal inter-firm cooperation: Shift for dynamic innovation in Japan’s semiconductor industry.” Asia Pacific Business Review 14(3): 379-400.
• 2004
• “Institutional persistence and companies' struggles for survival: Case of Japanese semiconductor industry." Journal of Asian Business 20(3): 41-76. (Part of a special issue that included four articles related to Okada's research project.)
• 1999
• “Path-dependent globalization: The state and financial deregulation in Japan.” Humanomics 14(4) and 15(1): 19-48.
• 1997
• “Catching up to leadership: The role of technology-support institutions in Japan’s casting sector.” World Bank Technical Paper No. 384. Washington, D.C. (Co-authored with S. Kojima.)
• 1985
• "Indigenization policies and structural cooptation by multinational corporations." Development and Change 16 (4): 603-634.
• 1984
• “Fertility patterns of Hispanic migrant farm women: Testing the effect of assimilation.” Rural Sociology 49 (3): 430-440. (Co-authored with D.P. Slesinger.)
• 1983
• "Dilemma of Indonesian dependency on foreign direct investment." Development and Change 14: 115-132.

Books

• 2006
• Struggle for Survival: Institutional and Organizational Changes in Japan’s High-tech Industries. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo. (Editor and Author)
• 2000
• Competitive-cum-cooperative Inter-firm Relations and Dynamics of the Japanese Semiconductor Industry. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo.
• 1999
• Japan’s Industrial Technology Development: The Role of Cooperative Learning and Institutions. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo. (Editor and Author)

Book chapters

• 2014
• “Creating shared value (CSV) and supply chain management (SCM) in developing countries.” In Japan Forum of Business and Society (ed.), CSR and Corporate Governance. Chikura Shobo, Tokyo. Pp. 54-73.
• 2012
• “ＢＯＰビジネスの可能性：考え方とケース” (The potential of BOP business: Ways of thinking and case studies).” In 大石芳裕(Yoshihiro Oishi), 桑名義晴(Yoshiharu Kuwana), 田端昌平(Shohei Tabata), and 安室憲一(Kenichi Yasumuro)(eds.), 多国籍企業と新興市場 (Multinational Corporations and Emerging Markets). 文真堂(Bunshindo), Tokyo. Pp. 263-28
• 2009
• “From vertical to horizontal inter-firm cooperation: Dynamic innovation in Japan’s semiconductor industry.” In Keith Jackson and Philippe Debroux (eds.), Innovation in Japan: Emerging Patterns, Enduring Myths. Routledge, London. Pp. 93-114.
• 1999
• “Cooperative learning and Japan’s techno-governance structure: Case studies. ”Best Practices in Managing Technology Systems and Extension Institutions. Published by The Policy Level Group on Small and Medium Enterprise of APEC and The Chilean Development Agency.
• 1997
• “Indigenization policies and cooperation strategy of multinationals: The Philippines in the 1980s.” In Noritake Kobayashi (ed.), Management: A Global Perspective. The Japan Times, Tokyo. Pp. 346-366.
• 1994
• "Japan." In Saneh Chamarik and Susantha Goonatilake (eds.), Technological Independence: The Asian Experience. United Nations University Press, Tokyo. Pp. 294-352. (Co-authored with five others.)
• 1992
• "Technology and U.S.-Japan relations." In Theodor Leuenberger and Martin E. Weinstein (eds.), Europe, Japan and America in the 1990s. Springer-Verlag, Heiderberg. Pp. 132-161.
• 1991
• "Japan? Rising sun or western star." Fen Osler Hampson and Christopher J. Maule, (eds.), Canada Among Nations 1990-91: After the Cold War. Carleton University Press, Ottawa. Pp. 209-240. (Co-authored with E.H. English.)

Reports and articles

• 2014
• “東北被災地支援： ふるさと価値観と復興へのビジネスモデル (Tohoku redevelopment support: Furusato values and business models for redevelopment).” 創価経済論集 (Soka Keizai Ronshu) 38(2, 3): 5-16.
• 2008
• “Japanese and U.S. systems of cooperative learning for high technological dynamics: Transformation of techno-governance structures and practices.” Paper submitted to the National Council of Applied Economic Research, the Government of India. March 20.
• 2005
• “企業の社会的責任(CSR)と人権 (Corporate social responsibility and human rights).” 世界経済評論 (World Economic Review) 49 (11): 33-40 and 49 (12): 34-44
• 2005
• “人権とCSR、そして中国におけるサプライ・チェイン・マネッジメント (Human rights and CSR, and supply-chain management in China).” In 谷本寛治(Kanji Tanimoto)(ed.), グローバライゼーションと企業の社会的責任 (Globalization and Corporate Social Responsibility), 労働政策研究報告書(Labor Policy Research Report) No. 45, 労働政策研究・研修機構(Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Training), Tokyo. Pp. 48-78.
• 1999
• “Authenticity and modernity in Japan’s industrial development.” Asian Monographs No. 27 (August). Center for Asian Studies, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
• 1998
• “Institutions, corporate environment and transformation of Japanese management.” Sangnum Forum 1(1): 37-79.
• 1991
• “Cooperative sectoral governance structure of Japanese automobile industry in North America: Framework for analysis.”Asian Pacific Research and Resource Center, Canada.
• 1990
• "日米半導体産業におけるガヴァナンス構造の比較" (Comparison of governance structures in U.S. and Japanese semiconductor industries).”　世界経済評論 (World Economic Review) 3:40-53 and 4: 59-65.
• 1987
• "フィリピンと太平洋協力 (The Philippines and Pacific cooperation).” 国際問題(International Affairs) 327(June): 38-52.
• 1984
• “多国籍企業と現地化問題I & II: 従属か相互依存か (Multinational corporations and indigenization: Dependency or interdependence?).” 世界経済評論 (World Economic Review) 28(6): 36-45 and 28(7): 28-34.
• 1982
• "The use of the multiplicity sampling procedure in a study of migrant agricultural women." CDE Working Paper 82-28, Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

PAPER PRESENTATIONS IN 2013 AND 2014 BY YOSHITAKA OKADA

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND LECTURES

• 2013
• “Creating shared value (CSV) and supply chain management (SCM) in Developing Countries.” A paper presented at the International Joint Conference, “CSR and Corporate Governance,” Co-hosted by Japan Forum of Business and Society (JFBS), Humboldt University International CSR Conference (HU CSR) and Japanese German Center Berlin (JDZB), held at Waseda University on September 19-20, 2013
• 2013
• “Redevelopment of disaster-stricken Tohoku: Furusato embeddedness and inclusive business models for resource-deprived people.” A paper presented in a conference titled, “Practical Wisdom from the Japanese Spiritual and Philosophical Traditions,” organized by the Academy of Business in Society and Yale University, funded by the European Foundation for Management Development, held at Soka University in Tokyo on May 11-12.

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC ASSOCIATIONS

• 2014
• “Institutional changes and inclusive business: Sustainability and dispersed knowledge.” A paper presented at the Society for Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE), held at the University of Chicago and the Northwestern University on July 10 - 12.

JAPANESE ACADEMIC ASSOCIATIONS

• 2015
• “Institutional interconnections, inclusive business and cross-boundary cooperation: Conceptual framework for comparative research on Japanese/EU/US/local companies in India and Africa.” A paper presentation at the East Japan Section of the Academy of Multinational Enterprises, held at Meiji University on December 12.
• 2014
• “Improving the road and railway transportation network in the Republic of Benin.” A paper presented at the Japan Industrial Management Association, held at the Tokyo University of Science on May 17 to 18 with Tomotaka Ohtsuka, Keisuke Nagasawa, Takashi Inohara, Zomahoun D.C. Rufin and Agbovou Felix.
• 2014
• “Redevelopment of disaster-stricken Tohoku Furusato embeddedness and inclusive business models for resource-deprived business people.” A power point presentation at the International Session of the Transcultural Management Society, held at the Aoyama Gakuin University on May 9.
• 2014
• “Tojyokoku sapurai chain manejimennto ni okeru CSR to kyoutsuu kachi sozo (CSV) (CSR and creating shared value (CSV) through supply chain management in developing countries.” Presented at the Japan Forum for Business and Society Study Meeting, held at Waseda University on February 16.