Some startups are holding events throughout the year that were previously held at year-end to check business direction and organizational culture. This is an attempt to adjust business goals and strategies according to the rapidly changing market environment and harmonize the company's direction with the individual goals of members.
According to the industry on the 22nd, MyData specialist Bank Salad held a 'Pit Stop' event last month where all employees gathered together. Pit Stop refers to entering a maintenance area during a car race to change tires, repair the vehicle, or refuel. Bank Salad is organizing this event quarterly to assess organizational performance and strategies, much like vehicle maintenance.
Woowa Brothers, which operates Baemin, also held a 'Woowa The ONE' event last month. Every year, all employees gather to review the first half of the year. This year, at Jangchung Arena, they shared their 'Baemin 2.0' rebranding strategy along with performances by sibling duo Akdong Musician, focusing on user experience (UX), user interface (UI) design, and enhancing the overall brand.
Corporations typically reviewed their annual performance and shared their tasks for the coming year during year-end events. Since this period marks the conclusion of both the fiscal year and the business year, corporations held events based on this timing. Year-end also sees increased fatigue within the organization and reduced focus on work, so these events boosted morale and encouraged accomplishments.
Recently, there has been a movement especially among startups to check the status of business operations and re-align direction throughout the year. There is a judgment that fixed year-end events alone cannot timely reflect changing strategies and goals. It is believed that a method of recalibrating performance and plans at the end of quarters or the first half of the year is suitable for boosting member engagement and work motivation.
A person surnamed Park, 29, who works at Bank Salad, said, "It helps motivate us by being able to check if there are parts of our work that need adjustment," adding, "It's not just an event where we passively hear about the company's plans, but a platform for mutual communication where we can express our opinions."
Bucketplace, which operates Ohouse, also organizes 'Home Team Day' every summer where all employees gather. Each department discusses whether projects progressed according to goals set in the first half of the year, and what direction to take in the second half. Last year, they even held a 'Home Team Olympics' to celebrate their 10th anniversary.
The industry expects that the culture of holding events throughout the year will gradually spread. Startups inevitably need to respond sensitively to the uncertain economic environment and changes, making agile decision-making and flexible organizational management increasingly important.
A representative from a startup noted, "Through year-round events, communication within the organization is becoming more active, and there are positive effects in reducing resistance to change."
He added, "By checking goals from various perspectives and formats, we can enhance members' autonomy and sense of responsibility and verify alignment with the company's objectives," and said, "This will not only help improve quick decision-making and execution but also significantly enhance organizational culture competitiveness."