#Japan #Niigata #Family Engagement #OM Network #R-Shift

The Benefits of Family Involvement in Employee Engagement Activities

On October 11, 2025, OM Network Corporation, located in Niigata, Japan, executed an innovative initiative at a Round 1 Sports facility. This event involved employees, alongside their family members and partners, where they explored the impact of such gatherings on work productivity and quality. The primary goal was to determine if meeting in a casual setting could enhance communication quality, increase the frequency of informal conversations, and encourage a behavior shift towards more manageable consultations, thereby improving decision-making speed and output accuracy.

Background of the Initiative

OM Network recognizes certain inefficiencies in workplace communication: meetings and formal reviews tend to limit discussions about work-related topics, often causing employees to hold back questions and concerns until they accumulate, leading to complex issues that delay decision-making processes. To address this, the company hypothesized that fostering better relationships through shared experiences during weekends might lead to more spontaneous discussions and an increase in informal problem-solving, thereby enhancing work quality and pace.

Overview of the Testing Process

Date and Location

• - Date: October 11, 2025
• - Location: Round 1 Sports (Niigata Branch)

Participants

• - 4 employees plus family members and partners.

Activities

Participants engaged in various activities at the facility, enjoying each other's company and reflecting briefly after the event.

Key Observations

• - Triggers for conversations (requests, small talk, spontaneous discussions)
• - Moments of hesitation or waiting, focusing on guidance and decision-making.
• - Observations and comments from family members and partners.
• - Follow-up the week after to track the frequency of informal consultations via Slack and shared understanding before meetings.

Results: Before and After the Initiative

Indicator A: Quality of Communication

• - Before: Increasingly abstract explanations led to long-winded discussions.
• - After: Shared experiences served as metaphors, enabling shorter, more specific agreements.

Indicator B: Quantity of Daily Conversations

• - Before: Conversations relied heavily on problems or impending deadlines.
• - After: The frequency of casual chat increased; discussions around work became incorporated into everyday conversations.

Indicator C: Timing and Granularity of Consultations

• - Before: Accumulated concerns resulted in convoluted discussions.
• - After: Quick consultations became commonplace; fewer hurdles led to rapid agreements and progress.

Conclusion

This initiative showed simultaneous improvement in both the quality and frequency of conversations, confirming enhanced decision-making speed and accuracy in outputs.

Impact of Family Involvement

Visualizing Company Culture

Involving family members helped to convey the atmosphere of the organization through an external lens, giving insight into the company's culture.

Continuity of Conversations

Work discussions continued into family settings, facilitated by the sharing of specific experiences.

Mental Support

Families provided better understanding and encouragement during busy periods, thus sustaining employees' focus.

Representative’s Comment

Shinya Yamagishi, President of OM Network, remarked, “Our weekend activities reveal that play can indeed be beneficial to work. Feedback from employees encouraged us to try this initiative, and as shared experiences increase, so do the benefits in terms of concise communication and quicker problem-solving. We aim to institutionalize this as a regular practice across the company.”

Future Directions

We plan to make this initiative a recurring event, possibly quarterly, inviting family members and partners to join. Additionally, visits to clients’ workplaces who utilize R-Shift will promote relationship-building. We will implement rules like tagging '#5-Minute Consultations' in our chat systems to encourage informal conversations and minimize information hoarding. We also aim to collect insights and arrange improvement actions swiftly after each event.

Company Overview

• - Company Name: OM Network Corporation
• - Location: Niigata, Niigata City
• - CEO: Shinya Yamagishi
• - Business Description: Development of business systems and shift management systems like R-Shift.
• - Website: OM Network