Innovative product development projects often face structural challenges in decision-making and knowledge acquisition, especially under uncertainty. This study proposes the VSTE model (Vision, Strategy, Tactics, Execution), a structured knowledge framework based on Polanyi’s theory of tacit knowledge. The model explicitly integrates knowledge elements to support intuitive judgment through focal awareness. It defines knowledge as a “continuously updated and justified true belief” and maps belief, method, means, and justification to VSTE components. The model was applied analytically to the HondaJet project, revealing that VSTE elements were coherently integrated in practice. This suggests that HondaJet’s success stemmed not only from individual leadership but also from a structured knowledge system. The VSTE model offers a reproducible approach to managing innovation under complexity.
Matsuhashi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.