Insights

At Baycurrent, “Baycurrent Institute,” our management research institute, leads the effort to derive insights for society and businesses.
In a rapidly changing world, we delve deeply into key issues and provide knowledge to help companies open the door to the next phase.

Articles

Transformation and Future Vision of the Electric Power Industry Looking Ahead to a World After the End of Carbon Neutrality Momentum — Part III

In Part I, we presented the results of an estimate indicating that electricity demand in 2050 could reach 1.5 times the current level. In Part II, we focused on next-generation nuclear power as a key technology for providing the supply capacity needed to meet that demand, and examined the challenges involved in promoting it as well as possible solutions. In this final installment, we frame the coming era—when the wave of carbon neutrality (CN) investment has run its course and CN is no longer the top priority—as the "world after the end of CN momentum." We then identify the social demands the industry will face in that era and consider what kinds of strategies can spare the industry future rework.

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Transformation and Future Vision of the Electric Power Industry Looking Ahead to a World After the End of Carbon Neutrality Momentum — Part II

In Part I, we presented the results of an estimate indicating that electricity demand in 2050 could reach 1.5 times the current level, and examined the power generation mix that could meet such demand. The analysis confirmed the reality that even if renewable energy and thermal power generation were utilized to their fullest extent, around 40% of total electricity demand would still remain unmet, meaning that nuclear power would inevitably have to play a substantial role. In this second installment, we summarize trends in new technologies that address the greatest challenge facing nuclear power—safety—and examine the issues surrounding the promotion of nuclear power, as well as possible measures to resolve them.

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Transformation and Future Vision of the Electric Power Industry Looking Ahead to a World After the End of Carbon Neutrality Momentum — Part I

Driven by a sharp increase in electricity demand, the electric power industry has once again entered a growth trajectory. At the same time, carbon neutrality (CN) initiatives are advancing at a rapid pace. Given the limited time remaining until 2050, there is no longer room to postpone discussions on “realistic CN measures.” On the other hand, when CN momentum eventually settles down, will the electric power industry be able to respond smoothly and without backtracking to the new social demands it will face? This article looks ahead to the world after the end of CN momentum and re-examines the initiatives currently underway. It then considers what kinds of strategies will prove effective for the industry over the long term.

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Redefining Japanese Companies’ Energy Chains in Light of the Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Designing Contingency Resilience for an Era of Compound Risks

The peacetime logic of low-cost, efficient procurement transforms directly into vulnerability in times of crisis. The Strait of Hormuz crisis has laid this fact bare, and its essence lies in a structural reality: constraints on fuel itself cause "price" and "supply" to falter simultaneously. For companies, energy is no longer a mere cost item but a strategic foundation that defines business continuity and competitiveness. This article dissects the structure through which energy risks arise and considers the shift in corporate decision-making now required.

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Books

Building a High-Growth Organization

Five Core Principles for Breaking Free from Gradual Decline and Achieving Sustainable Growth (Nikkei BP)

Can an organization transform a state of normalcy into one of urgency? Guided by this question, we analyzed companies that continue to achieve high growth and identified the shared “perspectives, ways of thinking, and behavioral patterns" that underpin their success. We distilled these into what we call the "Five Core Principles".　 We then present a change-management approach for embedding these "Five Core Principles" within an organization. In addition, we conducted interviews with thirteen executives to validate the applicability of these principles.

Sharpening the Issues

The art of questioning assumptions and getting to the heart of the matter（Nikkei BP）

The key to a breakthrough in a stalled project lies in the “issue setting" of problem solving. Although it is possible to set up some kind of “issue“, the initial point of contention may not always capture the essence of the problem. That is why it is important to keep reviewing and "sharpening" the issues. In this book, we will thoroughly explain the highly difficult process of "sharpening the issues" to find the issues that really need to be solved, along the five steps to do so.

SX　Sustainability Management Practice

(Nikkei BP)

Sustainability management is rapidly increasing in importance, and if a company lags behind in SX (Sustainability Transformation), there is a high possibility that the survival of the company itself will be in jeopardy. So how do companies actually proceed? Baycurrent, which has supported SX in many Japanese companies, thoroughly explains specific theory for practicing sustainability management with corporate case studies.

Impressive CX

"10 new strategies" and "7 signposts" for Japanese companies (Toyo Keizai Inc.)

The core of CX (Customer Experience) is to continue to exceed customer expectations, and all companies should aim for CX that impresses their customers. We looked at CX from various angles, such as consumer changes occurring in the modern digital society and discussions that cut from cutting-edge academic research. In addition, it organizes "10 new strategies" and "7 signposts" for Japanese companies to realize Impressive CX, and is a must-read book for all business people

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