Choosing to work for NEC despite contemplating quitting was a pivotal decision that led to transformative changes within the company. As the simultaneous CHRO and Managing Director of the People and Culture Division, I navigated NEC’s journey towards becoming an employer of choice, aligning with the Mid-term Management Plan 2025.
Attracting Global Talent:
In 1992, I sought a career in a globally competitive company, and NEC, ranking among the top five in various fields, emerged as the ideal choice. Despite a compliance challenge in 1998 tempting me to quit, a commitment to rebuilding and a customer’s reminder of NEC’s role in Japan’s safety compelled me to stay.
Cultural Transformation:
Transitioning from sales to planning for government and public solutions, I initiated changes by developing an evaluation system and fostering a change in employee awareness through outdoor training. The realisation that NEC operated like a consortium urged a shift from fragmented approaches to a cohesive strategy, reflecting the evolving market dynamics.
Strategic Shift and Social Value Creation:
In the 21st century, NEC faced a performance decline, prompting a crucial question: “Why does NEC exist?” This led to a strategic shift from manufacturing to services, introducing the concept of “social value creation.” The subsequent “Major Reforms in our 119th Year” started yielding results in 2018, driven by personnel, work-style, and communication reforms.
Mid-term Management Plan 2025 and Job-Based Human Resource Management:
The plan prioritises personnel and cultural transformation, establishing a foundation for change. The introduction of job-based human resource management aims to enhance strategic execution through flexible personnel allocation, aligning individual strengths and life plans with career choices.
NEC’s Unique Value Proposition:
The NEC Group’s value proposition centres around trust, cultivated over its 120-year history. This trust, rooted in NEC’s dedication to safety and security, allows the company to undertake innovative challenges for the future. The strength lies in each individual’s actions contributing to NEC’s global success and its positioning as an employer of choice.
In conclusion, NEC’s journey illustrates resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to evolving with the times. The actions taken today pave the way for NEC to not only excel globally but also emerge as a preferred employer, driven by a rich history of trust and a vision for a sustainable future.