INA FOOD INDUSTRY: A COMPANY THAT MAKES EMPLOYEES HAPPY

Hiroaki KANEKO; Cristian VLAD; Luiza GATAN; Toru TAKAHASHI; Seiko ADACHI

doi:10.24193/subbnegotia.2021.1.03

Authors

Hiroaki KANEKO Senior Director, Globis University, PhD Candidate, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, h-kaneko@globis.co.jp
Cristian VLAD Associate Partner, Talent & Engagement, IBM Japan, Professor, Nagaoka University of Technology, Founder & CEO, Japan Creative Enterprise, PhD Candidate, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, cristian@jp.ibm.com
Luiza GATAN General Manager, Yume Partners SRL, PhD Candidate, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, gatanluiza@yahoo.com
Toru TAKAHASHI Managing Director, Globis International Education, PhD Candidate, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, t-takahashi@globis.co.jp
Seiko ADACHI Head of Corporate Communication & Patient Engagement, Novartis Pharma KK, PhD Candidate, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, seikoadachi2020@gmail.com

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/subbnegotia.2021.1.03

Keywords:

Innovation, Japan, Organization, Transformation, Sustainability, Talent, Strategy, Ethics

Abstract

This research illustrates how a traditional Japanese company, Ina Food Industry, focuses on talent operations, engagement, their well being and social innovation. The authors worked with key executives and talent operators from Ina Food Industry to underpin the main characteristics of their talent operations strategy and to determine how the organization draws from its corporate philosophy and core elements of traditional Japanese culture to create sustainable user engagement and to develop a unique employee value proposition.

JEL Classification: M10, L66

References

Tsukakoshi, H. (2009), Annual Growth Ring Management’ without Restructuring, Kobunsha, 2009.

Tsukakoshi, H. (2011), Chōrō no Chie (The Wisdom of Elders) Part 1 of 4 - Making Employees and Society Happy: That is the Way a Company Should Be”, in Shukan Toyo Keizai, April 23, 2011 edition.

Tsukakoshi, H. (2015), Isetsu Iron [Different Opinions, Different Views] — The Seniority System at the Forefront of the Era Increases Motivation by Respecting Senior Employees Nikkei Business, March 23, 2015.

Tsukakoshi, H. (2015), Kenjin no Keisho (Wise Men’s Warnings) — ‘Enjoyable Company Trips Benefit Japan’s Economy: If They Are Not Fun, You Are Doing Something Wrong,’ Nikkei Business, July 13, 2015.

Yin, R.K. (2003), Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Sage. Thousand Oaks, California.

*** (2001), Management Strategies — Special Feature on a Leading Small Company — Find Opportunities through ‘Unconventional Management’ — Conviction, Persistence and Eye-Opening Ways of Thinking: Ina Food Industry’s Agar Manufacturing, Nikkei Business, January 8, 2001.

*** (2007), Special Topic — A Company Makes Money Because its Employees Work Hard, Steer the Way of Management toward Employees First Policy— Ina Food Industry (Manufacture and Sales of Agar Products, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture) has been a Gradual Increase in Employee Satisfaction according to its Growth, Nikkei Venture, May 1, 2007.

*** (2007), Yukun Mukun (Column: Words of Wisdom) — People — Prioritize ‘Employee Happiness’ without Being at the Mercy of Trends: Hiroshi Tsukakoshi, Chairman of Ina Food Industry, Nikkei Business, September 3, 2007.

*** (2008), Even Toyota Was Amazed! Secret behind Ina Food Industry’s 48th Consecutive Annual Revenue and Profit Increase, PRESIDENT, December 1, 2008.

*** (2009), A Company that Openly Pursues Employee Happiness, Seniority System, Lifelong Employment, Low Growth — Ina Food Industry Asks ‘What Is a Company?’, Nikkei Business Online, April 13, 2009.

*** (2012), Ikujiro Nonaka’s Essence of Success, Vol. 63, Ina Food Industry, Recruit Works Institute, October–November 2012.

*** (2015), Agar Special: Ina Food Industry Constructs New Building at Fujisawa Plant, Aiming to Begin Operations in November, The Japan Food Journal, July 8, 2015, p. 9.

*** (2015), Dialogue: Akio Toyoda (President of Toyota Motor Corporation), Hiroshi Tsukakoshi (Chairman of Ina Food Industry), in PHP Matsushita Konosuke Juku, January–February 2015 edition, Vol. 21.