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Noboru Konno and the European Drucker Society

Noboru Konno, the Executive Director of the Japan Innovation Network (JIN) and an esteemed professor at Tama University Graduate School, has been awarded the prestigious title of Senior Fellow by the European Peter Drucker Society. This honor, which aims to preserve and further the legacy of the prominent management thinker Peter Drucker, was announced on July 1, 2025, at a ceremony held in Tokyo.

The awarding ceremony featured a keynote speech from Yoshikuni Takashige, the ambassador of the Drucker Forum, and discussions on "New Management, New Leadership." The founder of the European Peter Drucker Society, Richard Straub, presented the award and noted that Konno’s theories on “knowledge ecology” and the concept of “Ba” as a shared physical and virtual space serve as contemporary applications of Drucker’s foundational ideas in social ecology, thus creating significant new impacts in today’s multi-stakeholder ecosystem.

The Senior Fellow title honors excellence in the theory and practice of management, commemorating the legacy of Peter Drucker, often referred to as the founder of modern management. Konno stated, “I feel very honored and humbled, especially as I follow the footsteps of Professor Ikujiro Nonaka, who received the same prestigious award in 2023, and I sense a deep responsibility accompanying this honor.”

Throughout his career, Konno has collaborated closely with Professor Ikujiro Nonaka, the world-renowned scholar in knowledge creation theory, bridging the gap between theory and practice in knowledge creation and innovation management, particularly through the concept of “Ba.” His accomplishments in building a knowledge ecosystem that spans architecture, management, design thinking, purpose engineering, and innovation management systems have garnered national and international acclaim.

Currently, through JIN and collaborations with Tama University, major enterprises, governmental offices, universities, and research institutions across Japan, Konno is actively promoting innovation management aimed at creating “knowledge-generating organizations” and sustainable societal systems. Receiving the Senior Fellow title symbolizes international recognition of his contributions to both intellectual exploration and societal implementation. He shared that this award acts as a significant motivation acknowledging his journey thus far and as a new starting point for future endeavors.

Profile of Noboru Konno

Born in 1954 in Tokyo, Noboru Konno graduated from Waseda University with a degree in architecture. He earned a doctorate in information science from Tama University Graduate School. His esteemed career includes roles as a visiting associate professor at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and a special appointed professor at Keio University Graduate School of System Design and Management.

He is recognized internationally as a leading authority on knowledge creation theory, conducting research and practice that spans fields such as knowledge management, innovation, design thinking, and purpose engineering. His contributions particularly focus on developing theories and applications for knowledge co-creation spaces based on the concept of “Ba.” His published works include titles like Methodology of Knowledge Creation, Methodology of Conceptualization, Promoting Knowledge Management, Knowledge Management, Knowledge Design Companies, and Kōsō-ryoku: Conceptualizing Capability.

About the European Peter Drucker Society

Established to contribute to the advancement of management as a vital function in society, the European Peter Drucker Society is a non-profit organization founded based on the principles of Peter Drucker, the father of modern management. Under the support of Drucker’s widow, Doris Drucker, and with Richard Straub—who held leadership roles in European PC business at IBM—this organization was founded. Since 2009, the Global Peter Drucker Forum has been held annually in Vienna, the birthplace of Drucker. Learn more about the Drucker Forum.

About Japan Innovation Network

Founded in 2013 with the aim of making Japan a nation where innovation springs from all organizations, JIN has assisted over 100 Japanese companies, ranging from major corporations to SMEs, in implementing innovation management systems (IMS) and supporting innovation projects. As the sole domestic deliberative body representing Japan in the multinational committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), JIN is responsible for consensus-building, standards development, and international negotiation.