NEC aims to participate actively in international community networks and solve social issues.

On March 12, 2019, Yasuhiro Imanaka of NEC Corporation’s Global Relations Division represented private-sector companies as a panelist in a public event co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the FAO’s Liaison Office in Japan, “FAO’s Contribution to Achieving SDGs and Japan’s Role.”

In the event, Mr. Imanaka presented an example of public-private partnership in Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Mozambique. He explained how NEC is helping to support the social independence of African farmers and explained that even larger scale public-private partnership is needed going forward. He also exchanged opinions with other participants at the event regarding how private companies can participate towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

NEC will continue to form partnerships with international organizations such as the United Nations and engage in co-creating business development and contribute to solving various issues in developing countries.

NEC aims to provide four values to society through its business activities, including its materiality theme, “NEC Safer Cities”: Safety, Security, Efficiency, and Equality.

An opportunity to communicate these ideas to the next generation of young people who will strive to achieve the SDGs and inspire them to consider future design arose in November 2018. The chief of the Global Business Promotion division at the time, Masahiro Yoshikawa, was invited to give a special lecture for the “Meji Haruka Lectures” program of the Keio Futsubu School.

The “Meji Haruka Lectures” are special lectures in which alumni of the school working on the front lines of various fields are invited to give lectures, providing students to feel the intensity of the front line while learning directly from the experience of their seniors. This time, Mr. Yoshikawa was asked by the school to give a lecture as an alumnus, and he gave a talk to the third-year class.

In the Middle East and Africa region, where Mr. Yoshikawa was assigned for around 15 years, NEC provided a citizen ID system that uses fingerprint authentication technology and an infrared thermographic camera system that helps to identify the Ebola virus as part of its NEC Safer Cities initiative.

During his lecture, Mr. Yoshikawa talked about his own experience, saying that “A very important attitude to take for global business and for protecting oneself is to understand the country’s history and culture, and based on the social situation, to have a strong will to decide thing ultimately for yourself, based on your accumulated knowledge and on your own responsibility.”

He is also an experienced rugby and American football player and is passionate about promoting these sports. In talking about what he has learned from sport, he said, “Working out a strategy, then working together with a team while keeping within the rules to obtain an objective works the same way in business as well,” encouraging the students by saying, “I’d like you to give your very best effort in both study and sports.”

The market environment is changing rapidly and the level of uncertainty is increasing. To grow in this situation, the NEC Group needs to completely reform its management, strategies, organization, employee values, and conduct. In 2018, the NEC Group started the Project RISE* as transformation initiative intended to implement major reforms in its 119th year since NEC’s foundation.

President and CEO Niino started by creating opportunities for direct dialogue (dialogue sessions) with employees at major offices throughout the world. At these events, he emphasized the importance of changing as an organization and as individuals, touching on themes such as “breaking free from big corporation disease,” “eliminating bureaucracies,” and “throwing out accepted norms of the past.” At the same time, he listened to employees through the dialogue to see what issues they were aware of and their ideas for change. Across the Group, over 10,000 employees participated in dozens of sessions held in 2018.

The Project RISE transformation plan was designed based on the opinions and suggestions provided by employees at these sessions. We have established a structure for reflecting employees’ opinions into management action. Looking ahead, we will continue to listen not only to employees, but to various stakeholders including customer and society, as we seek to promote better corporate management.

In February 2019, a town-hall meeting was held at the head office of KMD Holding ApS, attended by Executive Vice President Yamashina, who was appointed as KMD’s chairman.

NEC Corporation announced the acquisition of all of KMD’s stock on December 27, 2018, the largest Danish IT company. Denmark is the most advanced country in the field of digital government, a focus area under NEC Corporation’s growth domain, NEC Safer Cities. KMD is supporting the transition to digital government in Denmark.

At the town-hall meeting, over 1,000 people attended, including online. The meeting covered NEC’s technology and business direction, cultural differences between Europe and Asia, and communication for learning about NEC’s technology. A large variety of opinions and questions were heard on these themes.

NEC Corporation and KMD have different national and corporate cultures, however, through this dialogue, KMD employees showed an extremely positive and passionate excitement about becoming NEC Group employees. It was an excellent start for them as members of the NEC Group.

We will continue to interact with KMD in a variety of ways while promoting the businesses as one by both companies.