일본의 타사에 비해 역사가 짧은, ‘창업 50년의 쿄세라’를 세계적인 기업으로 성장시킨 이나모리 카즈오(稲盛和夫)는 일본에서 ‘경영의 신’이라 불리던 마츠시타 코우노스케(松下幸之助)의 사후, 현재 살아있는 경영의 신이라 불릴 만큼 일본을 대표하는 기업가이다. 그동안 이나모리에 관한 문헌은 이나모리 자신이 집필한 단행본에서부터 유명 저널리스트들이 저술한 단행본까지 다수 출간이 되었으나 학술적인 연구논문은 의외로 적으며, 그나마 주제가 그의 인생철학이나 경영철학에 관한 단편적인 것이 대부분이다. 따라서 이나모리의 명성에 걸맞게 그의 경영철학이 리더십을 통해서 쿄세라 성장에 어떻게 작용을 하였는지에 대한 보다 체계적이고 학술적인 연구가 필요하다. 이러한 필요성에 따라 본 연구는 그의 경영철학과 이를 바탕으로 한 강력한 리더십이 쿄세라의 성장·발전을 이끌어내기 이전의 조직혁신 단계에서 어떻게 영향을 주었는지, 구체적으로 분석하고 이를 통해 혁신의 성공요인과 함께 기업의 성장요인을 도출하고자 하였다. 그 결과, 혁신의 성공요인은 ‘효율적인 조직구조의 혁신’과 ‘철저한 구성원들의 의식개혁’, 그리고 ‘이를 지원하는 다양한 혁신적 제도의 도입’을 동시에 이끌어낼 수 있었기 때문이며, 이러한 혁신의 성공요인을 가능하게 했던 것은 이나모리의 공명정대하고 겸허한 마음을 바탕으로 한 ‘심본주의(心本主義) 경영’이라는 경영철학과 이를 바탕으로 한 ‘인간중심의 리더십’, ‘비전제시형 리더십’, ‘슈퍼 리더십’을 철저하면서도 지속적으로 발휘하였기 때문이다. 아울러 이 사례를 통해 도출할 수 있었던 시사점은, 첫째 기업의 성장을 위해서는 내외 환경변화에 대응한 지속적인 혁신이 필요하며, 둘째 혁신은 조직구조, 구성원들의 의식, 관련 제도라는 3요소의 혁신이 동시에 추진되고 성과를 거두어야 성공할 수 있으며, 셋째 혁신의 성공요소 3가지는 경영자의 경영철학과 이를 바탕으로 한 강력한 리더십이 뒷받침되어야 한다는 것이다.

Kyocera has been established in about 50 years ago, a shorter history than the other companies in Japan. Kazuo Inamori has been making rapid growth Kyocera as a global company. He is the typical Japanese entrepreneur, enough to be called the living god of management after the death of Konosuke Matsushita known as the god of management in Japan. The number of literature on Kazuo Inamori have been published by himself and famous journalists until now. However, academic papers were less than estimated, those subjects were piecemeal contents related to his philosophy on life and management. Therefore, it is needed to make a more systematic and scholarly research how his management philosophy has effect on the growth of Kyocera through his leadership. Depending on the needs, this study suggest the success factors of innovation and the company’s growth factors through specific analysis, how his management philosophy and strong leadership effect on the step of organizational innovation in earlier stages of growth of Kyocera. As a result, it has been found that the success factors of innovation were the efficient innovation of organizational structure, the radical reform of members’consciousness, and the introduction of various innovative system. It has been suggested that the innovation has succeeded because of his management philosophy as ‘mindism’ based on the honesty and modesty, and his thorough and continuous exercise of employee centered leadership, visionary leadership, super leadership based on management philosophy. In addition to, if it is suggested the implications from this case, Firstly, the continuous innovation is needed to respond to environmental changes to the growth of corporate. Secondly, if it is executed the simultaneous innovation of organizational structure and members’consciousness and systems related to those, the innovation will succeeded. Thirdly, the 3 success factors of innovation is needed to support the CEO's management philosophy and his strong leadership based on that.

Kyocera has been established in about 50 years ago, a shorter history than the other companies in Japan. Kazuo Inamori has been making rapid growth Kyocera as a global company. He is the typical Japanese entrepreneur, enough to be called the living god of management after the death of Konosuke Matsushita known as the god of management in Japan. The number of literature on Kazuo Inamori have been published by himself and famous journalists until now. However, academic papers were less than estimated, those subjects were piecemeal contents related to his philosophy on life and management. Therefore, it is needed to make a more systematic and scholarly research how his management philosophy has effect on the growth of Kyocera through his leadership. Depending on the needs, this study suggest the success factors of innovation and the company’s growth factors through specific analysis, how his management philosophy and strong leadership effect on the step of organizational innovation in earlier stages of growth of Kyocera. As a result, it has been found that the success factors of innovation were the efficient innovation of organizational structure, the radical reform of members’consciousness, and the introduction of various innovative system. It has been suggested that the innovation has succeeded because of his management philosophy as ‘mindism’ based on the honesty and modesty, and his thorough and continuous exercise of employee centered leadership, visionary leadership, super leadership based on management philosophy. In addition to, if it is suggested the implications from this case, Firstly, the continuous innovation is needed to respond to environmental changes to the growth of corporate. Secondly, if it is executed the simultaneous innovation of organizational structure and members’consciousness and systems related to those, the innovation will succeeded. Thirdly, the 3 success factors of innovation is needed to support the CEO's management philosophy and his strong leadership based on that.

Kazuo Inamori, Management Philosophy, Mindism, Leadership, Organizational Innovation, Growth Factors