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Trial “Work-in-Residence” Report #02 – Corporate Management Camp

Check out the video of the stay (Click to play) We had a group from an Osaka-based startup company use ROKKONOMAD. Here is a video of their stay.

ROKKONOMAD on Mt. Rokko, is a facility that can also be used as a base for a work vacation or workcation. Ahead of its opening, here is a trial of the facility and the “work-in-residence” program.
This place is also suitable for companies to hold management camps and/or development camps.

It’s less than an hour’s drive from Osaka, where you can have a camps in nature.
Quiet and surrounded by nature. When waking up early or in between meetings, take a walk around the area and it will really help clear the mind.
Even when deep in a meeting, just look out and see this view.

Last time, we had a Taiwanese office worker who works in Tokyo as our guest.This time, we had a group of five executives from the Osaka-based Trois-Re Corporation use ROKKONOMAD for three days and two nights.

You can change your mood or work on your computer on the deck.

The company develops and provides a unique testing system for schools and cram schools to scientifically measure the learning abilities and characteristics of the students to facilitate individualized instruction. They have been rapidly expanding their business since launching the service in 2014. The office is usually located in a members-only workplace for entrepreneurs in Umeda, central Osaka.


Schedule
12/7 (Mon.) Each person from Osaka will meet at ROKKONOMAD by car / Meetings until sunset / BBQ on the wood deck
12/8 (Tue.) All-day meetings from morning till nightfall
12/9 (Wed.) Have an interview about the stay / Meetings until evening → Return to Osaka

Detach from Daily Life.

Management camp in the lounge space of ROKKONOMAD. (The interior is currently under renovation. The image will change when the facility opens.)

“The number of staff members has increased, the business has grown, and we are running at a very fast pace. We received the invitation to participate in the seminar and thought it would be a great opportunity.”

From the window, there is an open view of nature and the sound of birds.

“It’s nice to be able to completely shut out the daily grind and still have this relaxed environment for serious conversations.” 

“You can probably do this at your regular office or at a nearby coworking place, but you will inevitably be distracted by day-to-day work. Employees also tend to want to discuss things.
In that sense, I like the fact that it’s not too close to Osaka. At the same time, it’s not so far away so that it feels like a hassle to come here. We thought it was the perfect distance.”

Between management camps, we had online meetings with clients while on Mt. Rokko.
On December 25, 2020, high speed fiber lines started on Mt. Rokko

Deepening Team Communication

On the first night, after the meeting, we had a BBQ on the wooden deck. For lunch on the second day, we cooked curry by ourselves. “This kind of camp is good for deepening communication among team members outside of work.” 

One of the cottages for lodging. This cottage is used as a base to go to and from the meeting space.
You can also relax on the deck or have a BBQ here.

“This year, due to the effects of the new coronavirus, we have been working remotely a lot, which means we tend to only communicate with people when we need to.
The more developed the online world becomes, the more important it becomes to be able to combine it with offline camps and offices.
Another advantage of this time of camp is that you get to know people’s personalities and ways of thinking in ways that you don’t see during your normal work hours.
For us, as a young organization with less than 20 members, it’s important to have shared values.”

Inside the cottage. A wood stove can be used at night.
Relaxing in nature between concentrating in the meetings.
Concentrated for three days and was able to move forward with big projects.

Potential for collaboration with acceleration programs

“Wouldn’t it be great if these facilities could collaborate with acceleration programs? Osaka and Kobe have a lot of such programs that could take advantage of this….”

Because we are a start-up company we appreciate advice and being able to focus.
For those who have started their own businesses, by holding training camps at regular intervals, such as once a year or every season, one can make effective use of the space to improve the quality of work. This can be done in the pleasant mountain air and nature that is so nice to look at.

The changing color of the sky.
Meetings can flow until the evening because you don’t have to worry about time or surroundings.
Night view of Mt. Rokko. Looking down on the city lights. 
Left: Yuki Hamano, CEO of Trois-Re Corporation; Right: Kazumichi Doi, sales and marketing manager.

Next time, we would like to include other activities.

“We are satisfied that we were able to have a focused meeting for three days this time, but it would be good if we could have a different kind of meeting next time, such as tennis, jogging, or something where everyone can talk while doing something physical.”

“Or maybe there’s a place a little further down the road where you can get some good bread. We could take a walk there in the morning and have a conversation. I think it would be better if those type of things could happen.”

“We would like to share this experience with the presidents of the venture companies around us. When your company grows, you might want to buy one of these properties.” 

“We will use it again. Thank you so much!”

It was very helpful for us too. Thank you very much.
How about using ROKKONOMAD on Mt. Rokko as a training camp for your company to discuss management strategies in a condensed manner?

For more information about the Work-in-Residence program, please visit:
Programs|Work-in-Residence

(Column written by Youhei Yasuda
Video recording by Kento Norinao and Youhei Yasuda, Video editing by Haruhi Encho)