June 2, 2009
Guru heartily applauds Canon Electronic's approach to motivation at its Japanese HQ, where chairs have been removed and piercing alarms sound if staff walk too slow.
Company president Hisashi Sakamaki, author of the future bestseller "A Company will do Well if you Get Rid of the Chairs and Computers", recently revealed the tactics that have helped keep the gadgets company afloat in the recession.
According to his book, employees concentrate much better at meetings without chairs, and the knowledge retention has meant that the company has halved the length and number of meetings each year.
Sakamaki also said that by standing at work, instead of sitting on chairs, employees develop a closer relationship with each other and solve problems faster.
Staff from Nikkei were able to see the motivation firsthand when they went to interview Sakamaki recently. The corridor below is designed to detect if employees are walking below 5m per 3.6 seconds, an 'optimal speed' according to the company president. Anyone caught strolling below that limit will force flashing lights and piercing sirens to sound, 'encouraging' them to get to their destination faster.
(Thanks DannyChoo.com)
Guru wholeheartedly supports a man who can halve the number and length of meetings, as well as save millions (of Yen) in ergonomic chairs and physio bills.
Company president Hisashi Sakamaki, author of the future bestseller "A Company will do Well if you Get Rid of the Chairs and Computers", recently revealed the tactics that have helped keep the gadgets company afloat in the recession.
According to his book, employees concentrate much better at meetings without chairs, and the knowledge retention has meant that the company has halved the length and number of meetings each year.
Sakamaki also said that by standing at work, instead of sitting on chairs, employees develop a closer relationship with each other and solve problems faster.
Staff from Nikkei were able to see the motivation firsthand when they went to interview Sakamaki recently. The corridor below is designed to detect if employees are walking below 5m per 3.6 seconds, an 'optimal speed' according to the company president. Anyone caught strolling below that limit will force flashing lights and piercing sirens to sound, 'encouraging' them to get to their destination faster.
(Thanks DannyChoo.com)
Guru wholeheartedly supports a man who can halve the number and length of meetings, as well as save millions (of Yen) in ergonomic chairs and physio bills.
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