Transforming Team Performance at ONE: A Case Study in Global Organizational Change

The Context

Ocean Network Express Holdings, Ltd. (ONE) is a leading Japanese container transportation and shipping company, jointly owned by major Japanese shipping lines Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and K Line. With over 14,000 employees and $30 billion in revenue in 2022, ONE embarked on a comprehensive transformation initiative to enhance its organizational culture and operational agility.

As part of their Phase 2 transformation, ONE aimed to foster a high-performance culture and strengthen the capabilities and mindset of its global teams.

The Challenge

During its transformation journey, ONE faced significant challenges in adapting to new ways of working and building a cohesive high-performance culture. Key obstacles included a lack of the “human factor” in change processes, entrenched legacy practices, and siloed cultural and leadership styles that hindered collaboration and agility. 

Without a strong strategy for embedding change across its global workforce, the risk of falling short on transformation goals was high, potentially impacting overall business performance.

How we helped?

ONE partnered with Aeqlia to design and implement a targeted learning and development program that addressed cultural and operational challenges. Aeqlia introduced a custom-built business simulation and competency-building approach, including:
 
  • Custom Learning Program: A blend of workshops and interactive training designed to help ONE’s global teams adopt agile ways of working and high-performance behaviors.
  • Business Simulation: A gamified simulation to allow employees to translate strategic objectives into actionable skills, fostering collaboration and a shared vision.
  • Global Rollout for Leaders and Teams: Over 200+ managers and employees participated in immersive sessions, guided by 25+ trained Change Champions who would continue to drive transformation efforts within their teams
 

Outcomes

The partnership with Aeqlia brought tangible results to ONE’s transformation journey:

  • High Training Satisfaction: Employees and managers reported a 9.7/10 satisfaction rating, reflecting the effectiveness of the simulation and learning modules.
  • Change Champions Empowered: Over 25 Change Champions were trained to sustain and spread the culture of agility and high performance.
  • Broad Impact on Workforce: Over 200 leaders and team members developed the necessary skills and mindset to work cohesively, accelerating ONE’s shift towards a high-performance culture and enabling it to achieve its transformation objectives.