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1515
look forward to further collaboration between your two
groups on this front.
Reinforcing Sony’s software development
structure by implementing strategies
that cross business lines
Chubachi As I mentioned at the beginning of our
discussion, in 2006 we introduced a new development
organization based on three development divisions and
four research centers. Our objectives here were to
accelerate the commercialization of research results and
to further reinforce our R&D structure. What are your hopes
and expectations for R&D in the future?
Ihara My biggest hopes for corporate R&D focus on
displays and related areas. When we first launched LCD
televisions, we consigned production of panels to outside
manufacturers, but the launch of S-LCD Corporation—
our joint venture with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.—
enabled us to develop our own in-house production of
LCD panels in a very short time. In the future, I look forward
to working with our R&D teams to cultivate technologies
and realize significant growth for the display business.
Nakagawa Rather than immediate commercialization
through use in consumer products, in most cases R&D
achievements must first be incorporated into devices and
semiconductors. As the unit responsible for this, my group
will do its best to address this challenge. Our current focus
is OLEDs, but we are also pursuing other promising R&D
initiatives. Going forward, we will collaborate with group
companies and cooperate in the implementation of cross-
business R&D strategies.
Chubachi On the development front, we are concen-
trating investment of resources on specific products that
show promise for commercialization within three to
five years. Other initiatives include introducing new
development approaches—entailing creating a forum for
software engineering leaders from different divisions to
gather and confer, in an effort to strengthen our software—
and modifying development processes. What are your
views on software development?
Ihara The Consumer Products Group has reviewed its
business group-based software development organization.
The centralization of resources that were previously
dispersed among different business groups has reinforced
development capabilities.
Nakagawa In the area of device sales, beating the
competition requires marketing solutions that include
IC chips. Recognizing the importance of software, we will
take steps to strengthen our software development
capabilities going forward.
Promoting mobility for human resources to
create a powerful corporate organization
Chubachi Linking our human resources worldwide is an
essential task. What are the two of you doing to promote
mobility and otherwise address human resources issues?
Ihara Unlike in the past, when our business was
expanding rapidly, both in terms of the breadth of its
business categories and its geographical reach, Sony today
is an established, comprehensive organization with global
operations. Having reached this stage in development,
there is a tendency for jobs and organizations to become
static. To enhance the vitality of our organization going
forward, we must implement effective job rotations and
nurture the capabilities of employees. In our group, our
aim is to maintain a 5% annual mobility rate and we are