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Become a new business manager in your first year at the company! What is the ASNOVA Challenge System?
ASNOVA, which has a purpose of "Create your places of tomorrow with the power of kasetsu.," is truly taking the power of "KASETSU" seriously and creating "places of tomorrow". A typical example of this is the design of the personnel system, which supports a wide range of career plans, such as the growth of employees who aim to become executives and business managers, and employees who aspire to become business specialists. This time, KAKERUBA reporter accompanied the screening committee of the ASNOVA Challenge System of the matching service "MIRAIVA" held in July, and asked Senior Manager Ono of Corporate Planning Office about what kind of system it is.
Text and Photo: Mei Ogata
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- Makoto Ono
- Joined the company in 2017. He serves as Senior Manager of Corporate Planning Office.
The four axes of the ASNOVA WAY are "Habit," "Change," "Knowledge," and "Challenge."
First, please tell us about your personnel system, ASNOVA WAY.
Ono: The current ASNOVA WAY is based on four axes. We have the theme of "habits," which includes the acquisition of general education such as liberal arts; the theme of "change," which includes the educational program AMP!, which allows employees to acquire new perspectives; and the theme of "knowledge," ASNOVA Recurrent, in which the company covers tuition fees at external institutions. We don't necessarily support each employee's growth in order at each stage. We also have the ASNOVA Challenge System, which allows employees to take on challenges to advance their careers. As the company develops, we want to develop human resources from within the company who can lead new businesses, and when the businesses grow, become managers of affiliated companies.
ASNOVA Challenge System allows you to take on challenges
The ASNOVA Challenge System is a system that allows you to become the business manager of a new business!
Ono: It is the role of Corporate Planning Office within our company to give shape to new businesses. Corporate Planning Office will finish a business with a high potential from zero to one from a number of "seeds". Then, when commercialization is in sight, we explain the new business to the company and solicit candidates for the person in charge. After receiving the explanation, employees can run for office, saying, "I want to take on the challenge as a manager!"
So what is the process after you apply?
Ono: Next up is the review meeting. At the review meeting, the candidates will give a presentation, and executives and external guests will act as judges and discuss the presentation. At the review meeting, three approvals must be received: approval to proceed with commercialization, approval from the person in charge, and approval of the conditions for commercialization.
What will the candidates present?
Ono: In the presentation, candidates add originality to their business proposals, explain the business in their own words, and make it expandable. It is also important to convey enthusiasm for the business.
Once approval is received, the new business can begin.
Ono: Actually, even if the Challenge System is approved, it does not mean that commercialization has been confirmed, but rather that it is a milestone of "full-scale start toward commercialization." Therefore, until the start of the project, the person responsible for the approval will work with corporate planning office to promote the project. In addition, even after the start of the business, you will be in charge of existing business until the set conditions are met. Then, if the conditions are cleared, a new "business department" will be established and you will be in charge full-time.
After going through a temporary dual-role process, if certain conditions are met the business will be launched, so it seems you can't manage it without enthusiasm!
Could you please tell me the process of the judging process?
Ono: First, the candidates will give a presentation, followed by a Q&A session. We will invite several executives and related parties to give their honest opinions and questions from an outside perspective. By asking the candidates a variety of questions, we will be able to determine whether they are suitable for the position and whether they can commercialize the business.
So there is an opportunity to receive opinions and questions from outside the company! Is there a discussion after that?
Ono: After the Q&A session, the candidates will leave the room and we will exchange opinions on whether it is OK to continue the business as it is, whether they are suitable to be in charge, and whether the conditions for divisionalization are appropriate. If they meet the evaluation criteria, they will be approved.
Do the departments that launch the "ASNOVA Challenger" have mixed feelings?
What kind of person is candidate Sato?
Ono: Ms. Sato joined the company in August 2021 and is a member of corporate planning office. I am in charge of IR and public relations, and I am involved in a wide range of tasks, from corporate branding to the creation and brush-up of various IR materials.
This time, Sato-san ran for the screening committee for the matching service "MIRAIVA." How did you react when you heard that he wanted to run?
Ono: She is an attractive and talented person who has a strong will to lose and can express her emotions directly. When she ran for office, I had mixed feelings. They are very talented employees and a valuable asset, so it's tough to think about Corporate Planning Office alone... And. However, when I thought about her own career and the growth of the company first, I am now honestly glad that she was definitely a candidate.
What did you think of Sato's performance and presentation at the judging panel?
Ono: I think I ran for the position with a great deal of determination. That strong feeling made me very nervous. But it was a wonderful presentation that gave me great hope that the sight of such a young employee taking on a new challenge will shape the future of our company.
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