Will you join the new industrial trend?
Why not!
Idea from PEOPLE I Co., Ltd.
A ‘start-up’ is a small enterprise with little capital which has begun recently. Originally, it has meant a high growth, highly profitable technology company. This company is able to handle trouble easily and quickly during a time of a drastic change.
Currently, the government tries to do more for ‘start-ups’. The government supports funds, provides education by employing experts and specialists, and helps people who want to start a business. However, problems often occur because the support provided by the government are apt to have loopholes.
Pay Attention to People I
‘Free- willingness, a relaxed manner, and a desire to work.’
‘We have 3 key words and they are joy, relaxation, and responsibility.’
“Our company has a friendly atmosphere because the staff works hard and are rewarded with good results.”
This is ‘People I’, a start-up company, from a job posting. These excerpts from the posting presents the joyful atmosphere that the ‘People I’ company are pursuing.
So what is the company ‘People I’? ‘People I’ has engaged in the business for 2 years. This company works in research and development in the area of software and robotics. It is an IT specialty enterprise that makes intelligent service robots (that can transfer videos by smartphone Wi-Fi, and have simple control functions), as well as national defense software.
This company started with little capital (10 million won). In the long run, the company grew to large scale and so its capital grew to match. Currently, ‘People I’ is in the middle of discussing a $300,000 expert with Dubai S company and plans sign an MOU after it.
‘People I’ tries to let everyone know that they are doing best to develop new skills by uploading information on Facebook, following the latest SNS trends.
The Crisis of Korean Industry
Today, the whole world is in the middle of an industrial slump, and Korea is no exception. Furthermore, the competitiveness of Korean industry has deteriorated gradually. The most tangible reason for this situation is that Korean products are vulnerable to competition. Lots of global companies try hard for raise their competitiveness in the world market. However, the Korean currency (Won) will be depreciated and the rate of economic growth of Korea will make for future negative growth. We need new trends to turn the negative projections into positive growth. Therefore, we need to establish a long term policy, such as a flexible labor market and induce the investment toward new growth in the engines of industry.
80% of workplaces in Korea are small and medium sized business. In other words, small and medium sized businesses can play major pivotal roles in job creation. However, our society puts a higher value on conglomerate companies. Prejudice can bring about a decline in Korean technology, industry, and the economy itself. So we need to set up a long term policy so that small and middle sized companies and conglomerates can coexist better. In addition, we must construct creative economy and technology banking. These policies can create jobs and reinvigorate the economy of Korea.
PEOPLE I Co., Ltd.
People I short for People Interface shouldn’t this be earlier in the piece? means a way of communication with people. The CI looks like a human in a speech bubble. This company put a great deal of importance on people. The president of this company said, “The driving force of managing a company is people.” When he has an idea for a robot, it can be realized because of dependable companions. With them, he can run and manage the People I company.
They work flexibly at their free time but in moderation. They wear casual clothes and sometimes they enjoy table tennis. The company’s prime rule is ‘Work while you work, relax while you relax’. It brings the concentration of the business high and allows for creative, fresh ideas. They trust each other and are responsible for their own work. If they have differing opinions about a project, they express themselves freely. Lots of conversation and debate contributes to creative products such as the I-bot.
The People I staff are good at managing their company, but they have experienced tough times. First, the president of this company believed his idea about an ‘I-bot’ which can be operated by smartphone can be used by parents to watch their baby. He wanted to make this idea to be real. So he attended numerous start up assistant lectures and prepared step by step. Finally, he got support funding (70%) form Smart Venture Institution after he passed a 3-round screening test.
After he started his business, he had to manage the company. It was a new challenge for him because he had performed a financial management job in the past. It was very stressful. He knew nothing about the management of company part and he still has lots of problems. However, he thinks learning new things is fun and he is happier than before because he is running the company with his colleagues. He also works hard until every his colleague lives a happier life.
The New Trend
The traditional Korean cultural system is hierarchical. The political system is central, the home system is patriarchal, and the company system is bureaucratic. However, there are many voices calling for change. Horizontal culture and communication are important. The big stream wants new organizational culture and manpower. They will be important driving forces of social improvement.
In the new organization, leader and teammate should play their roles well. The leader can strengthen the trust in the organization by setting a free communication environment. Teammates experience lots of thing for making creative ideas and will try hard to make these ideas ripen.
New trend has subject that? make new culture? This process will be tough. However, when we pass through a crisis, we can accomplish a more advanced industrial environment. People I leads this new trend. Korea needs lots of cooperation with other people who have new ideas and cultures such as People I.
By CP Reporter Lee Sae-un
By CP Cub Reporter Kim Chae-hyeon