Aiming Developer Credo
The principle of “Team vs. Problem” & Tsukkomibility
The principle of “Team vs. Problem”
At Aiming, we observe the simple principle of “Team vs. Problem.” If something should go wrong during the course of a project, blaming a specific individual resolves nothing.
It is unlikely that a single person will be able to alleviate the problem. The effort of the entire team is necessary.
With this principle in effect, we can avoid meaningless witch-hunts and build teams that have the tenacity to overcome roadblocks. It is a very fundamental policy for the company.
Allowing for Tsukkomibility
Furthermore, as the volume of content balloons during the development process, it is impossible for a single person to completely understand every aspect of the project. While teams must be created with that predicament in mind, the fact that everyone on the team will have their undivided attention on the project is key. If each team member is focused on the project, then someone will detect an issue before the problem magnifies.
It is the task of the company as a whole, however, to create an environment that encourages individual members to make those critical observations.
The company must not allow members to feel that their remarks will be taken for granted.
Creating an environment that combines just the right amount of laxness and friendliness nurtures robustness within the team fiber.
We call this trait allowing for Tsukkomibility. Tsukkomi is essentially critiquing, often in jest or in a casual manner.
We want members to be able to casually say to each other things such as, “Don’t you think this is a bit boring?” or, “Isn’t that wrong?” Even towards superiors and persons from other companies, as long as social and organizational boundaries are withheld, we want our personnel to be able to voice their thoughts in this manner.
Accordingly, team members on the same project are typically seated in the same area and communicate via chat rather than e-mail. Very much in the spirit of friends kidding around, members feed off each other’s energy as they work together to create something.