Building a team that leverages strengths of individuals

In managing our team, I always try to bring out the best in each person and let the team members act on their own initiative. When our team deals with a new problem, I always try to leave it to my team member first. Our team is made of members from diverse backgrounds, and when each member brings their own ideas together, they often come up with innovative and outstanding approaches that I could never have imagined by myself. However, if we simply assemble a collection of individuals, we only get "one plus one equals two." I believe that we can maximize the synergy of the team by allowing the members to work together while appreciating individual initiative. My feeling is that everyone at NEC is really talented, so the best thing to do is to leave them to pursue their own initiative.

I actually learned this approach when I was stationed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for a year and a half. I worked at MIT as a visiting researcher to prepare to start my research on affective computing through learning from the world's leading authorities. I was assigned there to conduct work for NEC.

In that laboratory, the style was to encourage each of the unique members to constantly express their opinions. The discussion driven by their energy was extremely stimulating. In a laboratory setting, professors tend to guide the research themes. Corporate research is similarly guided, and the discussions often do not venture far beyond meeting the needs of the customers or the wishes of the business divisions. I believe that new things capable of changing the world are born when talented team members can exchange opinions freely, rather than when discussions are restricted to some predetermined path.

In addition, I am also taking advantage of the discretionary work system to pursue a doctorate program for working professionals, which I attend on weekdays after leaving work, as well as on weekends. Although NEC has a domestic graduate school study system that offers tuition support for doctoral students, I chose to pursue my doctorate on a personal basis. All I wanted at the beginning was an environment where I could study something new while maintaining my effort and focus on my main job. I also thought that I might quit the graduate school without completing the program if this becomes too much of burden. This is why I joined the graduate school at my own expense.

When I started the program, I immediately forgot what I was thinking before (laughs). Although I came under a lot of pressure in the laboratory, my passion for the doctoral research and my desire for the doctoral degree become stronger than ever. I am now in my fifth year and will finally complete my degree examination this fall. I came to realize the importance of a doctorate through my experience overseas, so I want to keep going until I finish.