On the afternoon of July 27, 2024, the Human Resources Department of NSN organized a “Human Resources Management Workshop” featuring Dr. Yamazaki Kyoko, a leading expert in organizational and human resources development consulting from Japan. 

As a member of the Executive Committee of the Japan Society of Human Resource Management (JSHRM); and former HR Director of major corporations such as Hermes Japan; consulting for enterprises, Dr. Yamazaki Kyoko enthusiastically shared valuable insights and experience in human resource management with NSN and four other companies: 

1. VEC Energy Technical Investment and Development JSC
2. Thien An Bathroom & Kitchen Equipment Co., Ltd.
3. ETEK Automation Solution JSC
4. Ngai Cau Construction and Training Investment Co., Ltd

Addressing how to reduce employee turnover within the first year, Dr. Yamazaki Kyoko shared: “From the outset, companies need to create a profile of the ideal candidate for the job. During interviews, HR should not overly focus on academic qualifications but instead evaluate candidates’ competencies through practical questions to assess their problem-solving skills. This allows businesses to select those who are genuinely capable and well-suited for the role.” 

After listening to the experience shared by the companies attending the workshop, Dr. Yamazaki Kyoko observed that while the HR departments have done well with general training, departmental managers often lack tailored training plans, leading to a lack of direction for new employees, which should be an indicator for evaluating departmental managers’ leadership abilities. Second, there should be appropriate rewards for new employees who perform well during training. Both practices should become criteria and cultural norms for training within all companies. 

Dr. Yamazaki also noted that to retain talent long-term, the leadership must develop clear career progression pathways. Since each individual has varying levels of leadership and technical expertise, companies can create multiple career tracks for employees to choose from. Furthermore, rotating employees across different positions can provide them with broader learning opportunities, a comprehensive view of the company, an understanding of inter-departmental connections, and a clearer sense of fit with various roles. Leaders might also consider internal competitions to identify talented individuals and groom them as future successors. 

At the end of the workshop, Dr. Yamazaki Kyoko and representatives from the companies discussed the growing global popularity of hybrid working in the post-COVID-19 era. According to Dr. Yamazaki, while the biggest challenge of remote work is managing employees effectively, managers can set fixed times weekly or monthly for 1:1 meetings with their team members and manage based on work outcomes rather than monitoring every aspect of how work is done. 

The workshop was a successful event, with many practical questions about HR management and organizational development shared and addressed. This program is part of NSN’s regular series of managerial training activities. 

In the coming months, NSN’s HR Department will organize more programs to help managers enhance their professional knowledge and leadership skills, nurture future leaders, foster internal connections, and build a united team working towards common goals.