Hello! This is Shizuka. Recently, we used our mgn time in Premium Day to read our Principle (Code of Conduct) that was decided in 2023.
Reading of our Principle
Premium Day
I thought it was very typical of mgn to combine these two items together as an event, so I will give you an overview on it. But first, I want to give you a little background.
What is mgn Principles?
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mgn Inc. has established A Code of Conduct called “Principles”, in 2023.
This is to serve as a guide for when we are in a doubt about something or some actions at work. For example, in the section called “Support each other,” one of the statements says along the lines of, “Each of us also has our own weaknesses and problems so it is important to share our feelings honestly with each other.” Let’s share our feelings honestly and face them together. If you are hesitant to open up your feelings, this Code of Conduct may be the reassurance you need to start taking action. Of course, it is not mandatory.
The point is “it is not a compulsion to act this way.” This is just a guideline that helps us understand our feelings and what we want to do at work. It includes what we are already acting on, what actions makes us feel at ease and comfortable to do, as well as our visions in work.
Before mgn decided our ‘Principles’
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At the beginning of 2023, we started on our project of making the principles of mgn. First, everyone shared our ideas together, picked out the most common and most suitable key phrases for mgn. Then, all members wrote what they think is the main points for each key phrases.
After that, a group called Summary Committee, which consists of four mgn members (including me) was formed. From March to the end of September, this group took the lead in finalizing the contents in both Japanese and English.
The process of putting the Principles together was not an easy task.
Looked through everyone’s ideas and categorized them
Dive deep into each ideas, with many discussions
Learned about the nuances and cultural differences between the Japanese and English language, elaborate and divided each into concrete sentences.
Depending on cultural differences, there are times that certain topics are considered as “obvious or typical” and does not need to be stated. An easy example would be an item from our Principles, “Taking breaks” because Japanese people are said to work too much. But isn’t it common sense? Why is it important and do we need to put it in our Code of Conduct? There can be some cultural differences that requires more clearance.
We discussed these matters as much as we could, the four of us. The Summary Committee members usually spend about 4 to 6 hours to complete one item. In some cases, we could not even reach a conclusion or finalize by ourselves so we had to discuss again with all members in order to find the main objectives of an item. This was a crucial process because every members has their own interpretations, assumptions, and other factors that would quickly change the direction of the main objective if not taken the matter carefully.
Since our four members were doing all of this during our work hours, after one Summary Committee meeting, everyone was exhausted (laughs).
And that is why we were all extremely happy and proud when the Principles finally came together!
There is one word that sums up all the Principles, in other words, ‘What is mgn working for…’
“For the happiness of users, clients and us”
The Summary Committee did not proceed and decide this slogan, but rather we always discuss and decide on many things with all mgn members. We had many heated debates before we made the final decision. In addition, we also learned “the good ways of deciding things in mgn”.
And just like that, all the Principles were created. As I mentioned earlier, this can be found on the current mgn website.
Read together on Premium Day
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You hardly hear about Premium Friday anywhere now a days. However, mgn has been using this “Premium Day” as part of our culture for some time now.
We usually held watch parties, games (cooperative, competitive, etc.) and recently, we enjoyed online board games. During the watch parties, each member brings their own recommendations and we vote on what to watch that day. Sometimes, we were simply invited to “get together to watch this”. In other times, offline events were held such as, ‘Hatsumode’ (first shrine of the year) or ‘Ohanami’ (cherry blossom viewing).
Premium Day is held almost every month. Everyone prepares snacks and drinks and is ready to chat and have a good time (laughs). We would talk about things like, “What is today’s snack?”.
And guess what? At the end of September 2023, we used this time to celebrate the completion of mgn Principles with a reading.
The structure of the Principles is determined as follows.
Main item name
Overview (First line)
Bullet lists
Each item of our Principles is available in Japanese and English.
Some of our members read in Japanese, and some read in English. Regardless of the native language of each member, we all take initiatives to raised his or her hand to say, “I will read this item,” and read it aloud one by one. I had a hard time reading the English version. I even spent some time wondering if I pronounced the words correctly or not…
We took about an hour and a half to finish reading 11 items on our Principles. Of course, we had snacks and other refreshments while reading. There were even moments when the committee members would revealed the “Difficulties they had encountered” during a certain part of the item.
It seems to me that this was a time for the committee members to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings as everyone read out the items. And I thought that finally the creation of the mgn Principles completed.
Summary
I was very happy to see that all of my team members cared about the Principles by reading it together. I also felt thankful to our committee of four and to all the members who entrusted the four of us this project and allowed us to experience this final reading moments together.
It was special to combined the newly established Principles with the culture of Premium day that is deeply rooted in mgn. Along with the laughter, being able to share things in a place with less tension is something unique but very typical of mgn.
