The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), in partnership with Japan’s National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), co-facilitated an Observational Study Mission for Batch 6 of DAP’s Phronetic Leadership Class (PLC) in Tokyo, Japan on May 27-29, 2024.
The mission included 14 high-ranking officials, among them two undersecretaries: Atty. Joahna Paula Q. Domingo from the Office of the President of the Philippines, who headed the mission, and Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan from the National Economic and Development Authority. Other participants were two assistant secretaries, Eufrocinio M. Bernabe, Jr., from the Department of Finance and Francisco R. Cruz from the Department of the Interior and Local Government; one deputy director general, Aniceto D. Bertiz III from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; and seven senior directors from nine government agencies along with four members of the DAP Learning Management Team.
This activity is the second phase of the PLC, implemented by the DAP’s Center for Career Executive Service Development under its flagship, the Public Management Development Program. The PLC is designed to enhance the leadership capacities of national leaders and their organizations to address pressing policy issues, focusing on imparting the essence of knowledge-based management and phronetic or “wise” leadership. The observational study mission allowed the participants to interact directly with recognized phronetic leaders in Japan, enabling the participants to co-create solutions to specific local issues, with this batch focusing on the transformation of the industry and services sector.
GRIPS organized a courtesy call to H.E. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, and visits to six exemplary cases of productivity and innovation in Japan. After an opening ceremony at GRIPS, participants visited Komatsu Co., Ltd, winner of the Prime Minister Award of the Japan Service Award, and EARTHBRAIN, Ltd. where President Chikashi Shike and President Akinori Onodera demonstrated how strong leadership and innovative digital transformation methods bridged manufacturing and service sectors based on user experience of the workers and engineers. Digitalization of the entire construction process was at the heart of the innovation in Komatsu and EARTHBRAIN.
OBSERVING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES AT KOMATSU CO. LTD., PLC BATCH 6 LEARNS HOW TECHNOLOGY ENHANCES USER EXPERIENCE AND REVOLUTIONIZES THE INDUSTRY THROUGH A DIALOGUE WITH KOMATSU’S PRESIDENT CHIKASE SHIKE (STANDING) OF KOMATSU’S SMART CONSTRUCTION PROMOTION DIVISION
At JR East TESSEI Co., Ltd, a company leading the cleaning of Japan’s pride, the Shinkansen bullet train, President Ryosuke Mimura emphasized the importance of clear company vision and values which motivate employees to take pride in their cleaning work because it showcases the Japanese culture, create value for travelers and earn the admiration of the riding public. President Mimura himself ushered the participants to witness the globally recognized “seven-minute miracle” where a team of 22 cleans a 17-car train with about 1700 seats in seven minutes.
MR. TADAO KIKUCHI, PRESIDENT OF ROYAL HOLDINGS, ENGAGES WITH THE PLC PARTICIPANTS IN A DIALOGUE, DETAILING HIS DIRECT EXPERIENCES AND INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES IN TRANSFORMING THE COMPANY INTO THE INDUSTRY LEADER IT IS TODAY
PLC BATCH 6 DIVES INTO CULINARY EXCELLENCE AT THE HEART OF TENYA RESTAURANT’S KITCHEN, EXPERIENCING FIRSTHAND AN EXEMPLARY MODEL OF PRODUCTIVITY IN JAPAN’S FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY
In the food industry, the delegation met with Tadao Kikuchi, president and CEO of Royal Holdings Co., Ltd, a phronetic leader who shared how his past experiences and data-driven theories transformed Royal Holdings to an industry leader. Participants observed hands-on training at TENYA, a tempura restaurant under the group, and sampled their products.
PLC SCHOLARS EXPLORE ORIHIME, AN AVATAR ROBOT REMOTELY PILOTED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM THEIR HOMES AND HOSPITALS, SHOWCASED BY DR. KENTARO YUSHIFUJI AT AVATAR ROBOT CAFÉ DAWN
The delegation also visited Ory Laboratory’s Avatar Robot Cafe DAWN, a model social enterprise founded by a young professor-entrepreneur Kentaro Yoshifuji who developed the “OriHime,” an avatar communication robot to combat the loneliness and help people with mobility issues become part of society through the ingenious use of digitalization, based on his personal experience.
The final visit was to Eagle Bus, Co., Ltd, where President Masaru Yajima illustrated phronetic leadership and digital technologies transformed the company, earning it the Local Revitalization Award.
Despite cultural differences, participants grasped the essence of management and leadership principles demonstrated by the Japanese leaders, emphasizing the critical roles of leaders in transforming the organizations, the importance of digital technologies, and the relentless pursuit of the common good. The mission concluded with a simple closing ceremony where participants received Certificates of Completion from GRIPS and shared their learning and insights. They will present their innovative class co-creation project concept on industry and services transformation at the DAP on June 28, 2024.
