The Concept of ba

Accoding to Nonaka, "Ba" can be thought of as a shared space for emerging relationships. This space can be physical (eg. office, dispersed business space), virtual (e.g., email, teleconference), mental (eg. shared experiences, ideas, ideals) or any combination of them. Ba provides a platform for advancing individual and/or collective knowledge.

There are four types of ‘ba’ that correspond to the four stages of the SECI model. Each category describes a ba especially suited to each of the four knowledge conversion modes. These ba offer platforms for specific steps in the knowledge spiral process. Each ba supports a particular conversion process and there by each ba speeds up the process of knowledge creation.

The four Ba's proposed by Professor Ikujiro Nonaka are as below:

• Originating ba
• Interacting ba
• Cyber ba
• Exercising ba

“ While a community of practice is a living place where the members learn knowledge that is embedded in the community, ba is a living place where new knowledge is created. While learning occurs in any community of practice, ba needs energy to become an active ba where knowledge is created. The boundary of a community of practice is firm set by the task, culture and history of the community. Consistency and continuity are important for a community of practice, as it needs an identity. In contrast, the boundary of ba is fluid and can be changed quickly as it is set by the participants. " Nonaka, et al. (2000)