【Survey on the Reality of Challenge and Learning in Companies】75% of Growth Companies vs. 19% of Declining Companies – What is the “Invisible Structure” with a 56-Point Difference?

Necchu-Soshiki Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Takeo Yazawa), which develops organizational development, human resource development, and consulting businesses with the aim of creating a "state of passion" for individuals and organizations, conducted a "Survey on the Reality of Challenge and Learning in Companies (General Employee Version)" targeting 200 general employees working at companies with 100 or more employees.

This survey analyzes the relationship between the degree of corporate performance growth and the "environment conducive to challenge" and "system development" within the organization.

As a result, it was revealed that there is a maximum difference of 56 points in the implementation status of specific initiatives between companies with growing performance and those with declining performance.

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## Survey Summary

- A maximum 56-point difference in the challenging environment, with 75% for growth companies versus 19% for declining companies.
- The perception of "easy to challenge" is proportional to performance: 61% for growth companies, 34% for stagnant companies, and 26% for declining companies.
- On the other hand, system development remains at 10-20% for declining companies, a larger difference than perceived.
- Stagnant companies also show low levels of 17-20%, similar to declining companies (10-16%).

## "Perception of Challenging Environment" Varies Greatly by Performance

Question regarding whether employees are in an environment where they can easily challenge new things.

In many companies, the "importance of challenge" is widely recognized.

In this survey, the percentage of respondents who answered, "Our company is an environment where it is easy to challenge" was 61% for performance-growing companies, 34% for stagnant companies, and 26% for declining companies.

Companies with higher performance tend to have a higher perception of being in an environment conducive to challenge.

## "System Development" Shows a Greater Difference Than "Perception"

Question regarding prior sharing and discussion of failure risks.
Question regarding reflection as learning after failure.
Question regarding the clear articulation of behavioral standards in case of failure.

On the other hand, a larger difference was confirmed in the status of system development related to challenge and failure (such as risk sharing, reflection, and clear articulation of standards).

For performance-declining companies, affirmative responses regarding these systems remained in the 10-20% range, indicating a large gap with perception.

## The Biggest Difference is "Specific Support from Superiors"

Question regarding specific support from superiors.

What was particularly striking was the involvement of superiors.

Regarding specific support from superiors when taking on difficult projects, approximately 75% of performance-growing companies responded "with support," while only about 19% of declining companies did so.

This difference amounted to 56 points, the largest among all questions.

## "Structural Risk" Lurking in Stagnant Companies

Even in companies with stagnant performance, the level of system development remained low at 17-20%, similar to declining companies (10-16%).

This suggests that even if performance is currently maintained, the organization's challenging environment may not be sufficiently developed.

This survey also analyzes the background of these differences, suggesting that it is not merely individual awareness but rather the influence of systems designed by the organization and the involvement of management.

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## Insights Gained from This Survey

This survey suggests that differences in corporate performance are not merely due to individual motivation but may arise from organizational systems that support challenges and the involvement of management.

Furthermore, even in companies with stagnant performance, the level of system development is low, indicating that they harbor a "structural risk" where performance may fluctuate due to changes in the external environment.

On the other hand, further analysis is needed on how these differences arise and how they can be improved.

■ What you can learn from this report

This report provides a detailed explanation based on survey data on:

- The structure of specific factors that create performance differences
- Characteristics of initiatives common to growth companies
- The overall picture of systems that should be developed as an organization

Click here for the full survey report

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## Survey Overview

- Survey Name: Survey on the Reality of Challenge and Learning in Companies (General Employee Version)
- Survey Subject: Necchu-Soshiki Inc.
- Target: Full-time employees working at companies with 100 or more employees
- Sample Size: 200 people
- Survey Method: Internet survey
- Survey Period: March 17, 2026 - March 26, 2026

## Company Profile

Necchu-Soshiki Inc. (https://www.necchu-soshiki.com/) is a consulting company that supports organizations in creating a state where "joy of working," "business performance," and "solving social issues" are simultaneously realized.

Focusing on employees' mindsets and behavioral patterns as factors hindering corporate performance improvement, the company provides transformation support through updating the organization's fundamental structure (Organizational OS).

- Company Name: Necchu-Soshiki Inc.
- Founded: July 2020
- Location: 2F Tokyu Toranomon Building, 1-21-19 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Representative: Yukiyoshi Juta