The theme for this fiscal year (June 2021 to May 2022, 47th fiscal year) is "Learning and Growth." Since the start of 2022, we have also implemented online learning across the company. In this article, I would like to share my thoughts on the words "Learning and Growth."

*From the "Learning and Growth" page of the 47th Policy Notebook

- What motivated you to adopt the theme of "learning and growth"?

This is written in our policy notebook, and everyone, including myself, is making sure to follow it.

If you read the content, I think you will get the general idea that "learning and growth" are important for a company's growth.

The previous generation also always said that "it is important to learn and grow," but in reality, we were so busy with our daily work and thought about things from a short-term perspective that neither the executives, including myself, nor the employees were able to understand this.

When I became the representative, I understood the vision of my predecessor and realized that it was important, but there was always something bothering me in the back of my mind about how to bridge the "gap in vision" between me and the employees.

Furthermore, while carrying out the environmental improvement activities, FISH activities (business improvement activities), and activities to raise the level of our family factories that we are currently carrying out, I have come to feel keenly that "learning and growth" are important for a company.

We then decided to absolutely do it, and for the first time in 2019 we set the theme of our policy planner as "Learning and Growth," and began thorough activities together with our employees.

FISH activities (business improvement activities) are derived from the initials of the above words.

-About "organizing information"

This year, employees were given the option to choose learning opportunities and time during their working hours.

However, by making it optional, there was a discrepancy between employees who participated and those who did not, and even employees who felt that it was important to study ended up studying without a clear purpose or output.

For this reason, we have set aside a certain amount of mandatory learning time for online learning this term (2021). In order to focus on practical output in the workplace, each employee has set a "theme" this time.

Keeping in mind the order of "input ⇒ information organization ⇒ output," I conducted interviews with each person to decide on a theme, and I myself played the role of "organizing the information."

We prepared themes in advance to help each employee, who has different work duties and levels, achieve their goals, preventing them from getting lost among the various content.

We are still exploring this, so we would like to talk about it again once we see results as a company.

-As an employee, I empathize with the company's philosophy and policies.

The theme of the first online learning session has been set with the intention of enabling employees to acquire the skills and knowledge to improve their work skills and then use them to produce results in their work.

I believe that in the future, we will see even greater results if we also include learning about "knowing yourself and what it means to be yourself."

No matter how skilled a "professional" you are, if you use your skills in the wrong way or in the wrong direction, you will not achieve results. Before you can be a professional, you must first establish a foundation of empathy with the philosophy and policies of Okafoods as an employee, and then your professional output will be fully utilized.

If you feel like you are not seeing results, are receiving low evaluations, or are not seeing any growth, it may take some time, but I think it would be a good idea to consider lifelong learning and reflect on yourself.

- "Happiness axis" and "Success axis"

Is there a better future for us as we learn and grow?

When I was writing about this topic in the President's Diary, an employee asked me the following question.