Experiencing Corporate Reorganization

Abstract

The above diary entry was written under the somewhat paradoxical headline “bright and clear weather” (the writer reports daily on the weather). The writer understands the situation of his company very well, and while he does not fear for his own job, he still expresses concern that his work situation might change radically after being sent to another company.

5 October 1998 — Bright and clear weather

The other day, Nissan, which entered into collaboration with Renault, announced a large-scale restructuring exercise. I think that according to this policy 20 to 30,000 employees will be restructured, out of a total of 140,000 employees, including those at affiliated companies. It seems that even this has not been viewed positively overseas (even more employees should have become the target of rationalization), but within Japan this plan is already considered to be quite harsh.

Inside our company we talk about Nissan being in a serious situation as if we were not involved ourselves, but somehow it appears that our company’s situation has also worsened. In the future, areas of business that were once cultivated as pillars of business to compare favorably with our core business will fail entirely, and pressure is mounting to scale down operations. In addition, research facilities that have been supporting new fields of business will become useless and there seem to be plans for reorganization.

The department where I am working is no exception; it looks as if a big purge will be carried out at the year end; a plan for large scale reshuffling and transfers to other companies. According to rumors, revitalization will be to the extent of dispatching employees for support to assembly plants of car companies (Being inserted into the assembly-line system, the manufacturing of car parts is very, very tough, dreary work beyond imagination).⁴

The above diary entry was written under the somewhat paradoxical headline “bright and clear weather” (the writer reports daily on the weather). The writer understands the situation of his company very well, and while he does not fear for his own job, he still expresses concern that his work situation might change radically after being sent to another company.