A long established company that has made its history as an exclusive wholesale trade company of papers in Nihonbashi for over 200 years since its establishment in 1783 has started a transition of working methods through the revision of their office. We interviewed Mr. Nakamura, who is the 9th president, about the reasons for beginning to use these approaches as well as the things he expects for the future.
(Ozawa) About five months ago we were given the opportunity to provide workplace-consulting services to your company, and I believe you are currently advancing the changing of the office along with the project for earthquake reinforcement construction of your company’s building. Would you first tell us about how you came to take these approaches
(Nakamura) This building was built 40 years ago, but at the time of completion it was born as an advanced building in the area that was also structurally strong. There were no problems even when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred last year. Nevertheless we were thinking of an earthquake reinforcement construction to prepare for large-scale epicentral earthquakes. As we had the desire to renovate the office when doing so we asked for consultation of the office to DOUMA, whom we had the chance to speak to.
(Ozawa) What was attractive to you about workplace consulting?
(Nakamura) First I agreed with the point that it is important to focus on the way of working in order to create an office. It is usually difficult to objectively understand how one is working when busy with tasks. Thus I felt the necessity to have a third person examine by using technical tools.
(Ozawa) Now specific renewal constructions are about to begin. What kind of things do you expect with the renovation of the office?
(Nakamura) The paper industry considers the relationships between people to be very important, so I would like the office to be a place where it is comfortable for the employees as well as the customers, and also a place where people can naturally feel they want to come to.
(Ozawa) I was told that your company’s business creed is “Believing in each other is the basis for all things”. We proposed the concept of the office this time as “an office that builds trust and consideration” by keeping the company policy in mind in order to raise the quality of relationships. It is a concept that is based on the tradition. On the other hand, when looking at the results of the profile examination of the corporate culture, there was a gap between the current awareness of the corporate culture and the ideal state for the future. We felt that the employees wanted to change the company.
(Nakamura) It is also something I noticed when participating in the vision session along with the employees, but it felt very encouraging since the things I had been saying were reflected in the comments of the participants.
(Ozawa) The vision of the manager is a section that becomes the core for creating offices, and whether this is shared well with the employees or not actually becomes the key for success with making offices. From now you will be working on the formation of more specific functional conditions and patterns of recommended layouts. I noticed when I visited the other day that you had changed the existing desks to the layout of the recommended plan.
(Nakamura) Yes. Before the real renewal of the office we tried moving the desks we have now to the layout that was experimentally suggested. It feels extremely fresh as a whole and seems to be popular.
(Ozawa) If possible it is ideal to fix the transition of offices by changing on a daily basis. In that sense I believe it is wonderful that you experienced this by moving the desks first. Now you will be starting the main stages of the renovation, and DOUMA wishes to continue assisting until the completion of the new office. Thank you for today.