Ep 06: デザイン思考に対する課題とビジネス上のメリット with Junji Matsuguma
Featuring guest
Junji Matsuguma
In this groundbreaking episode, we made history by conducting our first conversation entirely in Japanese, staying true to our mission of modernizing business conversations with Japan from both cultural perspectives. We welcomed Junji Matsuguma, a cross-products systems architect at IBM, to explore the intersection of technology, innovation, and traditional Japanese business culture. Together, we navigated topics ranging from remote work adaptations during COVID-19 to the transformative power of Design Thinking in Japanese enterprises. Our dialogue covered practical insights on video conferencing, IT industry evolution, and how traditional Japanese companies are embracing modern methodologies. We delved deep into Junji's personal experiences evangelizing Design Thinking among Japanese clients and discussed the future landscape of business post-pandemic, offering listeners authentic perspectives from both sides of the Pacific.
Themes of Inquiry
- Design Thinking adoption
- Remote work transformation
- IT industry evolution
- Japanese business culture
- Post-COVID business landscape
In this groundbreaking episode, we made history by conducting our first conversation entirely in Japanese, staying true to our mission of modernizing business conversations with Japan from both cultural perspectives.
Episode Summary
In this groundbreaking episode, we made history by conducting our first conversation entirely in Japanese, staying true to our mission of modernizing business conversations with Japan from both cultural perspectives. We welcomed Junji Matsuguma, a cross-products systems architect at IBM, to explore the intersection of technology, innovation, and traditional Japanese business culture. Together, we navigated topics ranging from remote work adaptations during COVID-19 to the transformative power of Design Thinking in Japanese enterprises. Our dialogue covered practical insights on video conferencing, IT industry evolution, and how traditional Japanese companies are embracing modern methodologies. We delved deep into Junji's personal experiences evangelizing Design Thinking among Japanese clients and discussed the future landscape of business post-pandemic, offering listeners authentic perspectives from both sides of the Pacific.
The Guest Biography
Junji Matsuguma
Junji Matsuguma is a seasoned technology professional who joined IBM in 1988, beginning his career as a hardware engineer working on product development from gate array modules to IBM PCs and ThinkPads. He transitioned into a pre-sales technical specialist role focusing on engineering workstations and blade servers before advancing to his current position as cross-products systems architect. In this role, Junji utilizes customer workshops to address IT infrastructure optimization, hybrid cloud solutions, IT economics studies, and Design Thinking methodologies for customer digital transformation initiatives. He is passionate about evangelizing Design Thinking among Japanese clients. Outside of his professional work, Junji pursues the traditional European craft of bookbinding, or 'relieur,' which he has been studying since 2005 and is now at an advanced level.
Continue the Dialogue
Ep 07: Transforming Australian Wine in Japan & Chairing the ANZCCJ with Sally Townsend
We explore the critical importance of building robust ecosystems of collaboration and innovation in our post-pandemic world with Sally Townsend, who leads South Australia's trade and investment office to Japan and Korea. Through our conversation, we examine how partnerships between government and private sector, as well as between nations, have become more essential than ever. We discuss Sally's journey navigating Japan's business culture, from encountering the infamous 'No Wall' to building meaningful relationships on her own terms. We delve into the challenges of innovation in conservative markets, particularly in the wine industry, and explore different stages of acceptance for foreign professionals in Japan. Our discussion covers practical strategies for leveraging business networks like the ANZCCJ and concludes with insights on leading trade and investment initiatives in the post-COVID era.
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