Sony

Sony was established in 1946 in Tokyo by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita.

Originally called Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Company).

Sony has 168,000 employees worldwide.

Sony is producing and marketing Play Station (home video game system), TV, and video camera’s, computer’s and music player’s.

Sony had a managerial problem in 2005. Sony hired sir Howard Stringer who

leads to close 11 plants, cuts more than 10,000 jobs and shifts component manufacturing to low cost locations as a chairman and CEO.

Sony operates in many countries, so national environment of sony is differs sharply in terms of culture, legal system, economic conditions, technology levels and infrastructure.

The main aim of Sony is to be progressive in international human resource management.

Criterias of Sony are entrepreneurial spirit, thinking creatively and strong communication skills when Sony is recruiting new employees.

HR managers of Sony are spending much time with employees,linking firm’s objectives and strategies in order to achieve important tasks.

Firstly managers are identifying the jobs and then they are looking for talents that they need to hire for the job.

Sony offers management trainee program’s for it’s most promising recruits.

Trainees are on duty to find ways to use their talents to advance the company.

Sony uses online system for a reason that to make easy the development of personnels all aroud the world.

In 2001, the japanese yen’s appreciation against the dollar an euro leads high cost for sony and it decrease profitability of the company and Sony close 16 plants.

Because of this result Sony faced problems with employees in some countries.

As a result sony tooks pain to reduce workforce.

Sony follows an “integrity approach” to foreign manufacturing operations and attempts to maintain work place standarts that exceed local requirements.

Sony is attempting to establish a universial standard of employement, offering superior working conditions and locally relevant wages and benefits at all locations.

At the corporate social responsibility , sony is focusing on creating link between its business and the environment.

Sony has code of conduct which sets the basic internal standards to be observed by all directors, officers and employees in order to make strong the corporate governance, business ethics.

Sony’s basic policies are concerning ethical business practices and activities, including respect for human rights.

Sony has enough capacity to success corporate social responsibility.

Managers are researching the standards of all countries that it operates and it gives value its employees according to the standards.

Sony is doing this job perfect and it collects its fruits with high motivation of employees and efficiency.

There are a number of employee programs and policies in place designed to make employees feel valued and appreciated which in turn, amount to happy and motivated employees.

They offer a stimulating, challenging and highly supportive work environment –with an outstanding reputation for exceptional quality and services.

To ensure their employees find a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives, Sony offers a number of incentives and benefits including:

Employee assistance plans. Life Works child/elder care referral

programs. Life Works provides employees with information and resources that can help improve many areas of your life, from personal to professional.

Career and Employee Development Cross functional experience with Project

Marketplace. Seminars on stress and other issues

Up to 3-weeks paid vacation the first year

11 paid Holidays (vary by Sony location) Time off policies to accommodate

personal needs Opportunities for flexible work

arrangements

The key problems/issues of Sony are slowing down of sales and revenues, cost cuttings, moving factories in Asia, cooperation between divisions and efficient management. With such a large multinational corporation, greater planning and more use of strategies should be pursued. Sony could start with the implementation of a new strategy, with profit and benefits of the company tied more closely to everyday operations. 

Recommended solutions: 1. Regarding cost cutting strategy, Sony

should seriously consider setting up operations in other Asian countries in order to take advantage of the cheap labor and the emerging markets.

2. Diversification, instead of pursuing the fast changing and easily imitated consumer goods market.

3. Sony should use its technological know-how for high-end business and office equipment.