Relic Publishing Releases Fourth Book "Innovator Talent Management" Today

Relic Inc. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director CEO: Takao Kitajima; Representative Director CTO: Ryo Oba), a business co-creation company, today released its fourth book, "Innovator Talent Management: All About Discovery, Development, Evaluation, and Deployment" (Author: Ai Sasaki), from its publishing label, "Relic Publishing," on Friday, April 24, 2026. This book presents solutions to challenges many Japanese companies face, such as "lack of talent for new business" and "inability to evaluate properly," using Relic's extensive support achievements and its unique "IRM (Innovator Resource Management)" framework.

Relic Publishing was established with the goal of disseminating the practical knowledge and philosophies of each employee to society and visualizing and utilizing them as organizational intellectual capital, based on Relic's vision of "1 book, 1 business per person." Relic Publishing will continue to contribute to improving problem-solving capabilities and execution power in the business field by disseminating practical knowledge conducive to innovation creation.

Background of Book Publication

Many Japanese companies have introduced internal recruitment systems and accelerator programs, but cases where they do not lead to expected results are frequently observed. The fundamental reason for this is not in the system itself but in the blind spot of "talent design."

Since its establishment, Relic has supported new business development for over 5,000 companies and has become convinced that what leads to business success is not merely a meticulous business plan, but the quality of the "talent" driving it and the "management" that draws out their capabilities. In this book, the author, who has led numerous organizational development and talent training initiatives as a Senior Executive Officer at Relic, fully discloses practical methods refined in the field.

Main Contents and Features of the Book

This book defines the qualities of innovators, which tend to be subjective, with "9 roles" and "levels," systematizing them as a repeatable management method. It is a common language book for both the "HR department that wants to visualize the ROI of talent development" and the "new business department that wants to escape lonely battles and involve internal assets," solving the "valley of death (passing the buck)" that lies between them.

Utilizing talent throughout the organization, not as an "isolated island" - Explains how to identify innovators within the existing organization and deploy them at appropriate phases, rather than relying on special talents.

Visualization through "3-axis evaluation" that doesn't crush excellent talent - Taking into account the pain in the field where excellent challengers are unfairly evaluated and leave the organization by being measured with the same yardstick as existing businesses, such as short-term sales, this book organizes evaluation on "behavior, skills, and results" and presents a convincing evaluation standard that addresses the uncertainty unique to new businesses.

Practice of IRM (Innovator Resource Management) - Applies the concept of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to the management of innovator talent. It proposes a concept of talent management specialized in innovation creation that could not be fully captured by conventional HRM (Human Resource Management), which is "to continuously maintain and deepen relationships even after assignment, not just end with assignment."

Includes "IRM Introduction 3-piece Set" as a reader bonus, usable from tomorrow in the field. - Includes download rights for "9 Roles x Level Quick Reference Chart," "3-Axis Evaluation Sheet," and "IJM Worksheet." It provides practical tools that can be immediately applied to real work after reading, rather than abstract institutional theories.

【Book Information】

Title: Innovator Talent Management: All About Discovery, Development, Evaluation, and Deployment Author: Ai Sasaki (Senior Executive Officer, Head of Innovation Management Division, Relic Inc.) Release Date: April 24, 2026 Price: 1,600 JPY (excl. tax) *Kindle price may vary due to Amazon campaigns, etc. Sales: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and others Amazon URL

【Table of Contents】

Prologue: Why continuous businesses are not born even if systems are created Chapter 1: ① Definition: Defining the "type" of talent Chapter 2: ② Planning: Designing a talent portfolio Chapter 3: ③ Discovery: Discovering internal talent Chapter 4: ④ Development: Developing talent Chapter 5: ⑤ Evaluation: Evaluating talent Chapter 6: ⑥ Deployment: Designing assignments Chapter 7: ⑦ Definition Review and Retention: Establishing mechanisms within the organization Epilogue: Is it true that "there is no talent"? Appendix Bonus: Download rights for IRM Introduction 3-piece Set (9 Roles x Level Quick Reference Chart, 3-Axis Evaluation Sheet, IJM Worksheet)

Author Profile

Ai Sasaki Senior Executive Officer, Innovation Management Division, Relic Inc.