[Translation from Japanese to English ] Nomura: We believe that successfully operating mokuMOKU as a system is the fi...

Original text

野村：mokuMOKUを制度としてうまく運用させることこそが、挑戦させる文化および失敗を許容する文化を社内全体で培う第一歩に繋がると考えています。今回はロゴ作りなどのインナーブランディングにも注力していて、社員にどのようにプロジェクトの魅力を発信していくべきかを試行錯誤してきました。その工夫を風土醸成に繋げていきたいですね。

Translation / English

Nomura: We believe that successfully operating mokuMOKU as a system is the first step in cultivating a culture of challenge and a culture that tolerates failure throughout the company. This time, we have also focused on inner branding, such as creating a logo, and have been experimenting with how to communicate the appeal of the project to employees. We would like to use these efforts to foster a corporate culture.

Translation / English

Nomura: I believe that successfully operating mokuMOKU as a system is the first step in cultivating a culture of challenge and tolerance of failure throughout the company. This time, we focused on inner branding such as creating a logo, and through trial and error, we figured out how to convey the appeal of the project to our employees. I would like to use these ideas to foster a corporate culture.

Original text

濱口：これまでは、新規事業開発室ってどこか内々にこもりがちだったというか……。自分達で開発して完結という面が多かったのですが、今後はなるべく社員との接点をもちながらアイディアを集めていきたいです。TECHFUNDさんとお話していると、どんな考えも許容してくれる、受け止めてくれるという心的安全性があって、だからこそ何でもご相談出来たと思っています。

Translation / English

Hamaguchi: Up until now, the New Business Development Department tended to be somewhat insular… We often developed projects internally and brought them to completion ourselves. However, moving forward, we want to collect ideas while engaging as much as possible with our employees. When talking with TECHFUND, there’s a sense of psychological safety that they will accept and embrace any idea, which is why I think we were able to consult with them about anything.

Translation / English

Hamaguchi: Up until now, the New Business Development Office has tended to remain somewhat private... Most of the work was developed and completed by ourselves, but in the future I would like to gather ideas through as much contact as possible with employees. When I talked to TECHFUND, I felt a sense of security that they would accept and accept any ideas I had, and I think that's why I was able to discuss anything with them.

Original text

そうしたTECHFUNDさんから吸収した許容する文化を参考に、「あらゆるものがきても受け入れる」という覚悟と柔軟な思考を武器にプロジェクトを運用していきたいですね。

山本：新プロジェクトを確立するにあたって、特に苦労したエピソードがあれば教えてください。

Translation / English

We want to operate our projects armed with the resolve and flexible thinking to ‘accept everything that comes our way,’ inspired by the accepting culture we’ve absorbed from TECHFUND.

Yamamoto: Could you share any particularly challenging episodes you experienced while establishing the new project?

Translation / English

I would like to use the culture of acceptance that I have absorbed from TECHFUND as a reference and operate the project with a determination to accept whatever comes my way and a flexible mindset.

Yamamoto: Please tell us about any particular difficulties you faced when establishing a new project.

Original text

濱口：mokuMOKUを全社的に進めたい、という新規事業開発室の方針を社内に提案した段階で、「それって新規事業開発室がやることじゃないの」という意見が挙がったことでしょうか。そのほか、新規事業の定義に関して社内で統一の見解がなかったこともあり、今のプロジェクトを確立させるまでに内容が二転三転していたんです。

Translation / English

Hamaguchi: Perhaps the challenge was when we proposed the New Business Development Department’s policy to promote mokuMOKU company-wide, and there were opinions like, “Isn’t that something the New Business Development Department should be doing?” Additionally, there was no unified internal consensus on the definition of a new business, which led to the project’s content changing back and forth until it was established.

Translation / English

Hamaguchi: When you proposed the new business development office's policy to promote mokuMOKU company-wide, some people said, ``Isn't that what the new business development office should do?'' In addition, there was no unified opinion within the company regarding the definition of a new business, so the content changed several times before the current project was established.

Original text

赤木：当初は既存事業から染み出した範囲も新規事業として捉えようと考えていたのですが、「それは新規事業創出とは言わないのでは？」という指摘があったりね。悩むことも多かったのですが、細かな部分からプロジェクトの中枢を担う部分まで、なにか変化があったときにはすぐにTECHFUNDさんに相談させてもらっていました。相談するたびに新しい方向性や制度設計、適切な施策を提案してくれたので心強かったです。

TECHFUND：何度もミーティングを重ねながら、今の制度を作っていきましたよね。

Translation / English

Akagi: Initially, we considered even the areas that seeped out from existing businesses as new ventures, but there were remarks like, “Isn’t that not really creating new businesses?” There were many times we were troubled, but whenever there was a change, whether it was a minor detail or a core part of the project, we immediately consulted with TECHFUND. Every time we consulted, they provided new directions, system designs, and appropriate measures, which was very reassuring.

TECHFUND: We’ve had numerous meetings to develop the current system, haven’t we?

Translation / English

I would like to use the culture of acceptance that I have absorbed from TECHFUND as a reference and operate the project with a determination to accept whatever comes my way and a flexible mindset.

Yamamoto: Please tell us about any particular difficulties you faced when establishing a new project.

Original text

東京ドーム（持田）、以下持田：弊社の状況に合わせて進むべき道を提案してくれて。こんなに相談していいのって思うことまで、親身に寄り添ってくださってありがたかったです。
赤木：TECHFUNDさんって絶対「いいね」をくれるんですよね。勝手なイメージですが、コンサルさんに何か提案してもこちらが無理を言ったり、知識が浅いままお話したりするとどうしても否定されるイメージがあって……。

Translation / English

Mochida from Tokyo Dome: They proposed a path forward that suited our company’s situation. I’m grateful for their willingness to empathize with us, even on matters that I wondered if it was okay to consult about.
Akagi: TECHFUND always gives us a ‘like,’ don’t they? I have this arbitrary image that when you propose something to a consultant, if you’re being unreasonable or speaking with limited knowledge, you tend to get shot down…

Translation / English

Tokyo Dome (Mochida), hereinafter referred to as Mochida: For suggesting the path we should take based on our situation. I'm grateful that you were so kind to me, even to the point where I thought it was okay to consult with you.
Akagi: TECHFUND always gives us likes. It's just my personal impression, but if you suggest something to a consultant, if you say it's unreasonable or if you don't have much knowledge, you'll inevitably get rejected...

Original text

新規事業に関しては理想論でしかお話できない部分も多かったので不安を感じることもあったのですが、TECHFUNDさんは必ずこちら側の提案に肯定的なコメントをくれるんですよ。

Translation / English

There were times when I felt anxious because there were many aspects of the new business that could only be discussed in terms of ideals, but TECHFUND always provided positive comments on our proposals.

Translation / English

When it came to new business, there were many things that I could only talk about in idealistic terms, so I sometimes felt anxious, but TECHFUND always gave me positive comments on my proposals.

Original text

濱口：そう！　必ず認めてくれてるから、嬉しくなって突拍子もないアイディアもずっと喋っちゃう（笑）それでも温かく見守ってくれるんですよね。とはいえ、理想論だけで話を進めていくのではなく、こちらの意見は尊重しながらも的確な方向・改善まで導いてくれます。“改善すべき着地点を示してくれながらも、入り口が居心地いい”、そんな絶妙なバランスによって、社内外の垣根を越えたビジネスパートナーとしての関係性を築くことができました。

Translation / English

Hamaguchi: Yes! Because they always acknowledge our ideas, I end up happily talking about even the most outlandish ones (laughs). And yet, they warmly watch over us. However, rather than just proceeding with idealistic talk, they respect our opinions while also guiding us to the correct direction and improvements. “They show us where we need to land for improvement while making the entrance feel comfortable,” it’s this perfect balance that has allowed us to build a relationship as business partners that transcends the barriers within and outside the company.

Translation / English

Hamaguchi: Yes! They always approve of me, so I get happy and keep talking about my crazy ideas (lol).But they still watch over me warmly. However, instead of proceeding with the discussion based only on ideals, they respect our opinions and guide us in the correct direction and improvements. Through this exquisite balance of ``showing us where we need to improve, but also making us feel comfortable from the beginning,'' we were able to build a relationship as a business partner that transcended boundaries both inside and outside the company.

Original text

TECHFUND：そう言っていただけて光栄です。どんどんフェーズが進むにつれて当初設計した計画が変化するのは当たり前のことですし、その変化に対応できる施策を打ち出すことこそが、今後mokuMOKUを運用するうえでも最大のキーになると考えています。本プロジェクトをご一緒させていただくようになってから今日までは計画フェーズにいて、ある種“机上の空論”のような部分もあったかと思います。

Translation / English

TECHFUND: We are honored to hear that. It’s natural for the initially designed plan to change as phases progress, and devising strategies that can adapt to these changes will be the key to operating mokuMOKU in the future. Since we started working together on this project, we have been in the planning phase, and there might have been parts that seemed like “pie in the sky” ideas.

Translation / English

TECHFUND: I'm honored to hear you say that. It is natural for the originally designed plan to change as the phases progress, and I believe that developing measures that can accommodate these changes will be the key to operating mokuMOKU in the future. From the time we started working on this project until today, we were in the planning phase, and I think there were some parts of it that were a bit of "paper theory."

Original text

実際にこれから社内アクセラレーションプログラムを本格稼働させるなかで、社内起業家から集めたアイディアのタネをいかに新規事業に落とし込んでいくか、このステップこそが我々の本来の強みです。新規事業開発室の方々、社内起業家の方々とも連携を取りながらフレキシブルな対応を心がけたいですね。

Translation / English

As we are about to fully launch the in-house acceleration program, the step of how to translate the seeds of ideas collected from in-house entrepreneurs into new businesses is indeed our true strength. We aim to maintain flexible responses while coordinating with the members of the New Business Development Department and the in-house entrepreneurs.

Translation / English

In fact, as we move into full-scale operation of our in-house acceleration program, our true strength lies in how we can incorporate the seeds of ideas we have gathered from in-house entrepreneurs into new businesses. I would like to be flexible while cooperating with the people in the new business development office and in-house entrepreneurs.