"I wish the company's environment and systems were more like this..."
If you work in a company, I'm sure you've had some thoughts about it at some point, big or small.
Of course, working at a company is the first priority, but how you spend your time at the company and the systems the company has are also important factors. Starting this spring, Monosus has decided to define "apps" as activities that enrich the time you spend at the company or with your coworkers, or activities that enrich the company's systems.
What is the Monosus "app"?
An app is usually software that is installed on a computer or smartphone's operating system and runs on that OS to perform various tasks, but at Monosus, an "app" is an activity that makes activities within the company more convenient and fun, by thinking of the basic rules established by the company as the OS.
Currently, apps are broadly divided into three types: "official apps," "authorized apps," and "unauthorized apps."
| operation | Man-hours and costs | What is starting up | |
| Official App | An app provided by the company. It is basically run by the board of directors and headquarters. Depending on the content, committee members will be assigned. Must be available to everyone in the company. | The committee members will carry out their duties. The company will cover the costs. | ・Mom ・Dad ・Buddy lunch ・Bread day ・Company trip |
| Official App | An app approved by the company. The proposer proposes the content to the representative, If approval is given, a committee will be formed to create the system. Basically, it must be available to all company members. | Independent activities of committee members. The company's share of the costs will be determined depending on the content. | ・Library committee ・Cherry blossom viewing ・Plum wine club ・Year-end party ・Bar Monosus |
| Free App | An app that can be launched independently by company members. | Independent activities of committee members. For continuous implementation apps, Submit the contents, From 5 or more divisions Subsidies are available if at least one member participates. | ・Coffee Club ・Cat Club |
The "official app" is an app prepared by the company. It is generally operated by executives and headquarters members, but in some cases, internal members may be assigned. The committee members will carry out the task as part of their duties, and the company will cover the costs. The principle is that the app can be used by all members of the company.
An "official app" is an app that is officially approved by the company. A member who wants to launch an app proposes the content to the company president, and the member who proposed the app takes the lead in running it. If the app is usable by all company members, the company's share of the cost is determined by the content.
As the name suggests, "Katte App" is a spontaneous activity that is managed and operated by the members.
If the conditions are met, the company will provide a subsidy.
Is the app an experiment to give people the sense that "the situation can be changed"?
This new system is an app that overlaps with the system that would be called "welfare" in a typical company. We asked CEO Hayashi again why they decided to make it an app. It seems that the idea of making it an app started with Hayashi's "discomfort" with the company's previous internal systems.
"The scale of the company has changed, and the number of employees has increased to the point where it is no longer possible to involve them in something that I myself started thinking would be fun, and the main body of the company has also changed.
That was the main reason why I wanted to review and organize the system at this point.
For example, if a company prepares the hardware and OS, it is difficult to ensure that the hardware and OS will be comfortable and easy to use for everyone.
For example, let's say one day you have the desire to play on the swing.
You can buy the swing with all your own money, build it in your own home and play on it, and it will be a completely private experience.
However, I talked to the park management organization and they let me place the swing I made in a nearby park, so that I could enjoy it myself but also let other people enjoy it when I'm not using it.
If various people put up not only swings but all kinds of play equipment, they could create a fun park with their own efforts...
Rather than complaining, "There's nothing in the park in my neighborhood," I think it would be fun if we could customize the park ourselves.
If you think, "I will sacrifice myself for others," you will end up overdoing it and feeling miserable, but you will enjoy it, and in the end, everyone will enjoy it and it will be convenient for them. I think it would be good if the company had a system that made the whole place more comfortable, and I think that the person who created it will be able to continue to maintain it with affection.
Of course, there are some parts that cannot be customized, such as the core parts of the company, but I want people to experience the "freedom" of being able to customize their company themselves.
I want people to try out this app and realize that they can take the initiative and change the situation, and I think I would like people to have that feeling not only in the workplace, but also in other communities they belong to. I think that would be more fun."
Certainly, when you find yourself in a situation where you feel it's inconvenient or you wish things were better, if you believe that you can only be passive, you may end up feeling dissatisfied with the situation. This is because you believe from the start that you have no power to change the situation.
But if you can systematically create a way to realize your questions and thoughts, you can create a comfortable place for yourself and those around you. Don't put a lid on your thoughts, try experimenting to make them come true. That may be what this app is all about.
In the next chapter, I would like to introduce what apps are actually running.
Check out the apps in action!
It's been about six months since the app started. Some members are still wondering what the app is, but some are already using it.
We will introduce the "official apps," "authorized apps," and "unauthorized apps" that are currently in operation.
1. Official App
The official app provided by the company includes several food-related apps.
Mom & Dad
"Okan" is a meal delivery service called " Office Okan ." "Oton" refers to the side dishes and rice prepared by the head of the Freshwater Research Lab several times a month. "Oton" is very popular because it offers authentic side dishes (with occasional snacks) that are hard to find anywhere else at an affordable price. The basic cost to employees is 100 yen, with the company covering 200 yen per meal. Sometimes the head will make special ramen for Monosus, titled " Visiting Oton ."
The very popular "Oton" is served at Monosus by the head chef of the Freshwater Laboratory (bottom left), "Visiting Oton" (bottom right), who serves specially selected noodle dishes.
Ruler Bread Day
Every Thursday, bread is delivered from "Kamapan" of the Food Hub Project in Kamiyama Town, Tokushima Prefecture. The two members of the bread committee order and tally the deliveries, and the payment is deducted from their salary. The company covers the shipping and tax costs. When the bread arrives in the evening, they stop what they're doing and it's time to eat bread.
Buddy Lunch
One of the unique initiatives since the app system began is that once a month, a pair of company members is announced and they go out to lunch together as "buddies" for the month. It's not mandatory, but there's no limit to the number of times they can go, and they have time to get to know each other while eating together.
Monosasu Bread Day every Thursday (left) and Buddy Lunch (right), where you eat a meal with a randomly selected buddy that is announced every month.
2. Official Apps
The "official apps" are run through the proactive efforts of members who want to launch apps, and many of them are apps that allow everyone to have fun together.
Librarian
In addition to managing the bookshelves in the company, we also hold monthly reading groups with a set theme for book-loving members. We also provide information on new issues of magazines subscribed to by the company.
Cherry Blossom Viewing
Until last year, the members selected by the committee would meet many times to organize an elaborate cherry blossom viewing event , which could be considered one of Monosus' three major events.
This year, the event was held by a committee that gathered voluntarily. They laid out a blue sheet in the park, and the committee members prepared the side dishes and alcohol. It was a relaxed event with voluntary participation. It was a relaxed cherry blossom viewing.
The monthly reading group of the library committee (top left), which is also featured in a serialized article, the irregularly held Bar Monosus (top right), this year's cherry blossom viewing party (bottom left) which was mainly held by members who came together voluntarily, and the plum wine club's plum wine currently being aged (bottom right).
Bar Monosus
This event, which has been held several times in the past, was made into an app. The committee members were in charge of preparations, and members with bartending experience served cocktails at a discounted price. Members other than the committee members also brought food, making it a lively evening.
Plum wine club
This is also an app for making plum wine, which has been done independently until now. The committee members were the main group that gathered the ingredients and made the wine after work. They are currently aging the wine, looking forward to releasing it around the end of the year so that everyone can drink it.
3. Unauthorized Apps
The coffee section of the app is a place where people can make coffee when they want to drink it, using a coffee maker that everyone bought together. Since everyone in the company can drink it, the company pays for the coffee beans and other things. Depending on the season, the company members take turns managing it. It's a little heartwarming when the message "Coffee is brewed" is sent to the employee chat.
In addition, employees also take part in voluntary activities, such as preparing food for the cats that visit the company.
An experiment that has just begun
It's been almost half a year since the app system started. There have been some changes little by little, but many of the current apps are a continuation of previous activities, and there are still few attempts to "customize the company" from one's own ideas. This is a system that still needs to be developed. I'm looking forward to seeing what new "experiments = apps" will start from now on.
In the next "Mono-Ruler DIY" episode, we'd like to tell you about Buddy Lunch, a new initiative within the official app.
Monosus Site Team
How to create good blood circulation with members and other people involved? How can we deepen our relationships to do better work? While thinking about this, we introduce the people and work of Monosus. The secretariat has approximately five members. I love eating a lot.