#Japan #Stamen #Workplace Improvement #Mino City

Stamen's Role in Enhancing Workplace Environment in Mino City

In a significant move to bolster workplace improvement initiatives, Stamen Co., Ltd. based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, has joined hands with Mino City Hall in Gifu Prefecture. Under the leadership of Mayor Keisuke Shinoda, Stamen is actively involved in the city’s engagement survey and workshops, paving the way for a revitalized vision rooted in the city’s cultural heritage, particularly its emblematic Mino Washi paper.

Overview of the Initiative

The collaboration aims at promoting an inclusive and engaging work atmosphere led by the young talents within the Mino City workforce. As part of a strategic policy planning training in the 6th fiscal year, young employees have taken the final lead in the planning of this workplace enhancement project. Through five engaging workshops and comprehensive engagement surveys, they reflectively re-evaluated the essence of working as city staff. This leads to the formulation of a vision that encapsulates their ideals of working in Mino City, establishing a foundation for sustainable local governance.

Mino City’s Vision

The newly crafted vision emphasizes three core principles titled "Creating the Right Balance for the Future" in Mino City:
1. The Right Distance
This represents building relationships between citizens and staff that maintain a natural and comfortable balance — not too close, yet not too far.
2. The Right Way of Life
It focuses on enabling both citizens and employees to pursue their authentic selves in their everyday lives and professional endeavors.
3. The Right Changes
It speaks to a commitment to cherish tradition while taking bold steps forward into the future.

Guiding Principles: W.A.S.H.I

To underpin this vision, a set of behavioral guidelines has been introduced:

• - W: Prioritize a sense of excitement in work (Workwork)
• - A: Foster a culture of gratitude
• - S: Ensure sincere work ethic and emotional engagement
• - H: Recognize and embrace changes
• - I: Act with foresight and consideration

Insights from Mino City Leadership

Mayor Shinoda shared deep personal reflections on this project, recalling his time as a city staff member and emphasizing the evolving importance of employee engagement rhetoric over the years. He expressed pride in the employees' initiative to visualize their organizational future through collaborative efforts. The workshops served not just as platforms for discussion but as catalysts for rediscovering Mino's unique balance, demonstrating the staff’s genuine commitment to their work.

Moreover, with the challenges posed by population decline, Mayor Shinoda has positioned the notion of "transformation" as a focal point for Mino City’s renewed journey, reinforcing the need for every individual to have a voice in shaping the organization’s direction.

Comments from the Workplace Improvement Team

Members of Mino City’s Workplace Improvement Team, including Ms. Okada and Mr. Kuroda, underscored the intent behind this project. They viewed it as a necessary pathway for the organization's collective direction through the insights obtained from the engagement survey. Each component, from the selection of words to the final design, has been created collaboratively by the employees.

They reiterated that the charm of Mino City lies not only in its amenities but also in the comfortable distance shared between staff and citizens. This ‘just right’ philosophy will remain at the core of their strategy to cultivate a harmonious environment for all, enhancing shared happiness.

Stamen’s Commitment to Change

Reiji Yamada, from Stamen’s leadership team, elaborated on the changing environment surrounding municipal services. While city employees work relentlessly to enhance citizens' quality of life, they face challenges in maintaining engagement levels. With issues like population decline and financial constraints looming, a renewed focus on human resources and organizational management is crucial.

The project reinforced the strong desire of Mino's employees to take ownership of their organization’s evolution, with meaningful feedback and collaboration forming the backbone of this visionary effort. The drive for improved workplace satisfaction shouldn’t come at the cost of meaningful engagements, and Yamada expressed confidence that this vision will ultimately enhance the quality of services provided to citizens.

About Stamen Co., Ltd.

Founded in August 2016, Stamen Co., Ltd. operates with the mission of spreading happiness through inspiration and has firmly established itself in the HR Tech field with services like TUNAG and cloud-based IT asset management tools like Watchy. With a progressive increase in business operations, it went public in December 2020, marking a significant milestone in its growth.

Stamen’s vision and commitment to fostering positive environments resonate not just within the confines of municipal projects but extend to its operational ethos, guiding them as they navigate a path towards broader transformational changes in the working world.

Conclusion

This initiative in Mino City is a reflection of the changing dynamics of workplace culture in municipal governance, showcasing how thoughtful engagement and collaborative leadership can lead to sustainable improvements in both the environment and organizational effectiveness. Stamen's partnership exemplifies a forward-thinking approach that prioritizes both employee and citizen experiences.