Amoeba Management at Kyocera Corporation

Abstract

The Amoeba Management System (AMS) is practiced by Kyocera Corporation, in Kyoto, Japan. This system has transformed the corporation from a small, local manufacturer to a globally-based, technological leader in the field of advanced ceramic applications, with annual sales amounting to 4 billion U.S. dollars. The AMS is named after the amoeba, since it uses the one-celled organism's self-sufficiency and ability to regenerate as the focus for criteria which lead employees toward achievement.

The AMS is not based on a systematic method of influencing operations, as are time-motion studies to labor, cost-reduction programs to expenses, or statistical process control to quality enhancement. Instead, it is based on one fundamental management concept: that all positive progress comes from the employees' imagination and ability to materialize their vision and ideals. Further, it recognizes that a company can only become that which is the result of the synergy of actively committed people who take the initiative to work as leaders.

The AMS values human activities involved in transforming materials to useful products by identifying them as essential business factors. At the same time, the AMS generates an atmosphere where the employees understand both their role in their own section and in the corporation as a whole. This environment allows individuals to spontaneously inquire, take action, work in teams, and to initiate positive changes that may influence the course of the company.