Notable Moments
Kyocera’s Management Philosophy is established after contentious demands of young employees are successfully resolved (1961)
On April 29, 1961, three years after Kyocera's founding, 11 high school graduates who had joined the company the previous year suddenly submitted a written demand. It stated that they wanted promises for the future such as regular raises and bonuses, and that they would all resign if their demands were not accepted.
At that time, Kyocera was working to increase production of multiform glass, and overtime had become routine. Sometimes staff were pulled in to work even on Sundays, and their dissatisfaction was being compounded by anxiety about the future.
In response, Inamori said, "This is a new company so I can't make any promises about the future. However, I will make sure that it benefits you. Can you trust me on that much? If you have the courage to quit, don't you also have the courage to risk being cheated?"
The negotiations lasted three days, eventually moving to Inamori's home. One by one, they were convinced by Inamori's persuasiveness and his determination in saying "If you feel cheated by my sloppy management, go ahead and stab me to death." Eventually, the leader who was the last holdout took Inamori's hand and began to cry.
This incident was an important learning opportunity for Inamori to grow into a true manager. Thinking deeply about the shape of the company, Inamori realized that "Corporate management must protect the livelihoods of employees and their families, and aim for the well-being of all." On top of that, he came to believe that for the company to grow over the long term, it must also fulfill its responsibility as a corporate citizen to contribute to the development of society.
After becoming president, in 1967 Inamori defined Kyocera's management philosophy as "pursuing the material and intellectual well-being of all employees while contributing to the advancement of humanity and society." Shifting from being a company that sought to promote its own technology to one that aimed to ensure the well-being of all employees established a firm foundation for corporate management.
