NTT DATA's Internal SNS Awarded IT Management Innovation Award- Innovative Forum for Communication Created by Employee Initiative -

Nexti, the internal social networking service (SNS) of NTT DATA Corporation (President and CEO: Toru Yamashita; headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo) today was awarded the IT Management Innovation Award. The award was presented at the Fiscal 2008 26th Information Technology Award ceremony sponsored by the Japan Institute of Information Technology (Chairman: Nobuya Minami, Advisor to Tokyo Electric Power Co.; location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; known as the "IT Institute").

Nexti

The internal SNS was conceived and brought to fruition within NTT DATA by interested employees with the support of top management. It constitutes a concrete measure for the realization of one of NTT DATA's action guidelines, stated as "Avoid office politics; share your wisdom and strength with your colleagues." Nexti arose out of the activities of the new Working Group on Reforms in Employee Conduct in which the employees generate and implement ideas with the aim of realizing the NTT DATA Group Vision.

Operation of Nexti officially commenced in April 2006. Within two days of launch, 1,000 people had registered. In four days, the number had reached 2,000, and it is now at approximately 7,400. In the Q&A page, an average of more than one question per day is submitted, each garnering multiple responses. The number of communities is about 1,000 (over half in business-related categories), and the number of diary entries is about 100 a day.

The IT Institute's statement on the reason for selection

NTT DATA formulated its management vision for revitalizing the corporation in 2005. The company also devised action guidelines for employees and has since been working to achieve that vision. In that process, it was thought that changing the culture of communication was the most crucial factor, as that would form the basis for behavioral reform. Thus it was decided that a practical approach would be to create a platform for communication through the introduction of an SNS tool. For this project, which was part of the company's management strategy, cross-functional teams consisting of volunteers ("respecters") were formed and their efforts were launched with the backing of top management. This was a pioneering project in the field of corporate in-house SNS implementation. It skillfully combined bottom-up initiatives with top-down measures to eliminate cultural and psychological impediments, thereby succeeding in bringing about a forum for innovative communication.

To meet the goal of cultural reform posited by the management vision, the company made it its mission to leverage IT and formed an organization of self-directing teams. This enabled the company to achieve an interplay of ideas, which in the past had been lacking, and gave impetus to management's leadership. The effort has been recognized as a significant management innovation.

Achieving a company's vision is a management challenge that requires medium- to long-range effort. It is hoped that efforts will not end with the success in implementation of the SNS, but that progress will be reevaluated from the viewpoint of the original goals, that further utilization of IT will take place, and that various other measures will be adopted as efforts continue to achieve those aims.

Nexti Screen

Japan Institute of Information Technology

The Japan Institute of Information Technology was established as an operating member of the Japan Management Association group in July 1981. The IT Institute engages in research and development regarding the adoption of information technology in corporations. By disseminating the results of its R&D and promoting implementation, it is working toward the goal of contributing to the healthy development of Japan's society, economy, and industry.
Website of the Japan Institute of Information Technology (in Japanese): http://www.jiit.or.jp/

The Information Technology Award

The aim of the Information Technology Award is to improve the operational productivity of Japan's industry and governmental organizations and to promote the development of effective management systems. Toward that end, the IT Institute awards companies, organizations, business projects, and divisions of organizations as well as individuals that are recognized to have successfully devoted outstanding effort to achieve management innovation utilizing IT.

The former Office Automation Prize, which was established in accordance with the system created in March 1983 for awarding companies, organizations, business sites etc. for excellence in OA and IT implementation, has since fiscal 2001 been named the Information Technology Award.