4.2.2 People
The product development is divided into three divisions: Entertainment Planning &
Development, Platform Technology Development, and Business Development. Each division
consists of analysts, planners, researchers, programmers and engineers, which promote
diversity and the sharing of knowledge between employees with different specialties and
experiences.
4.2.3 Policies
Loyalty and longevity are strongly engraved in Nintendo’s traditional values. Every year,
Nintendo hires approximately thirty new graduates and mold them into Nintendo employees.
They believe once you work for Nintendo, you will be in it for life. Nintendo is also
extremely strict on the working hours, while managers instruct employees and set deadlines.
Although these policies may diminish the creativity, it can improve the productivity and
efficiency of employees. Despite the stress and pressure, employees still have the incentive to
innovate as Nintendo provides a secure and high-paying job.
4.2.4 Perks
Similar to most large corporations, Nintendo provides employees with perks including paid
time-off programs such as personal recovery, family member recovery, and parental leave.
Some of the healthcare programs provided includes fitness planners, personal health
coaching, annual flu shots, fitness memberships and 24 hours nurses helpline. Furthermore,
all employees receive health insurance if they do not consume tobacco or are enrolled in the
tobacco cessation program. Employees can also admit to the Employee Assistance Program
to deal with lifestyle planning, financial or legal issues, child care and stress management.
10

Additionally, Nintendo offers tuition programs to enrich employees’ working ability in their
current position. In Japan, Nintendo employees earn above the average salary and works
below the average working hours. Nintendo also offers employees commuter benefits,
bonuses twice a year, and annual pay raises. However, most of the people that worked for
Nintendo are contracted employees and do not receive these benefits in the long-run.
5. Key Process to Develop Innovation
In the latest Nintendo financial report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, Nintendo
spent 69.28 billion yen (USD627.8 million) on R&D for the fiscal year ending March 31,
2019. That is an 8.8% increase over the previous fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. The
company also projects that R&D spending will continue to rise for the current fiscal year
ending March 31, 2020. They expect to spend 75 billion yen (USD676.28 million) in the
current fiscal year, a 7.7% increase over the last fiscal year.
While Nintendo has two main divisions, Entertainment Planning & Development and
Platform Technology Development, in charge of gaming and game console development
where each division has sub-teams responsible for different development stage.
5.1
Ethnographic Research
Nintendo's Wii was developed using ethnographic research; the aim of the Wii was to provide
families with a tool to play together just as traditional board games did in the past. The key to
ethnographic research is that it takes place in the research subject's own environment space.


You've reached the end of your free preview.
Want to read all 18 pages?
- Fall '13
- Video game console, Nintendo