Agile Leadership: Harmonizing Innovation and Autonomy to Shape the Future

HYOSUNG stands at the forefront of a rapidly changing industrial landscape. The company is active in various sectors, expanding into traditional industries such as energy, chemicals, and textiles, as well as new business areas like renewable energy. In this environment, agile leadership is an essential innovative leadership style for HYOSUNG as it aims to become a 100-Year HYOSUNG.

Agile leadership is a leadership style that emphasizes flexibility and speed in responding to rapidly changing circumstances, prioritizing adaptability and collaboration. Rather than a centralized decision-making approach, it favors decentralized decision-making, where teams make their own decisions and execute them independently. Agile leadership fosters interdepartmental cooperation, enabling rapid information exchange and collective goal achievement, thereby providing the necessary leadership to implement innovative ideas.

Accordingly, HYOSUNG has actively adopted agile leadership and emphasizing its importance to improve organizational culture and enhance autonomy. HYOSUNG creates synergies through collaboration among its various affiliates and understands the importance of teamwork. Additionally, it is committed to strengthening its global competitiveness and securing top talent. Attracting skilled professionals in the global market is always a challenging task. Through agile leadership, HYOSUNG aims to build a more flexible and dynamic brand image while creating an organizational culture that encourages talent to take on challenges.

Responding to a Rapidly Changing Industrial Environment through Agile Leadership

Agile leadership begins with fostering agile leaders. HYOSUNG is working to create an organizational structure where members set their own goals and take proactive actions to achieve them.

1.ESG Management Promotion Committee and R&D Committee

HYOSUNG is implementing an organizational culture that enhances autonomy and accountability through the ESG Management Promotion Committee and R&D Committee. The ESG Management Promotion Committee meets quarterly, discussing major decision-making issues and sustainable management strategies of the company. Representatives from each department participate in decision-making autonomously, supporting swift reflection of management decisions on the ground.

▲ Field-specific initiatives for HYOSUNG’s ESG management

2. In-house Technology Exchange Meetings and R&D Committee

HYOSUNG actively supports autonomous R&D activities through in-house technology exchange meetings and the R&D Committee. The technology exchange meetings are regular gatherings aimed at enhancing the efficiency of research and development, where departments share information and discuss core technology acquisition and strengthening research capabilities. This autonomous and voluntary research environment fosters creativity in R&D and enables members to propose and execute research topics independently.

3. Smart Factory Implementation

HYOSUNG is implementing real-time management of production resources and optimized operational environments through smart factories. This has enabled the establishment of an autonomous management system, allowing members to adjust production conditions based on data-driven decision-making to achieve optimal efficiency. Such autonomous systems contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increased energy efficiency.

4. Participation of Members in the Decision-Making Process

To actively incorporate the opinions of members, HYOSUNG has enhanced communication channels, including dialogue with management and intranet management messages. This encourages members to participate in the decision-making process and promotes autonomy regardless of rank. Through the VOC (Voice of Customer) program, the voices of customers as well as the opinions of internal members are reflected in management activities.

▲ Decision-Making and Execution System of Hyosung Heavy Industries

Fostering Agile Leaders Through Various Training Programs

In its 2023 Sustainability Report, HYOSUNG highlighted key achievements in leadership development programs. According to the report, a total of 1,022 employees completed leadership training, with 608 receiving educations in Korea and 488 overseas. These programs focus on helping leaders demonstrate autonomy and responsibility-based leadership and are aimed at various levels, from team leaders to mid-level managers.

To nurture global leaders, HYOSUNG also operates global training programs. In 2023, a total of 266 employees from Vietnam, China, and Europe completed global leadership training. These programs aim to enhance capabilities for success in international business environments by providing education on multicultural understanding, global strategy development, and international negotiation skills, thereby contributing to HYOSUNG’ global competitiveness.

▲ Global and Position-specific Training Completion Status

HYOSUNG also offers practical on-the-job training that combines both hands-on experience and leadership development. In 2023, a total of 5,003 employees completed this training, equipping them to independently solve problems and demonstrate leadership in their day-to-day work.

Agile R&D Achievements Meeting Global Market and Consumer Demands

HYOSUNG’s agile leadership has been particularly evident in its R&D achievements. The company successfully developed and mass-produced bio-based spandex, an innovation that minimizes environmental impact by using bio-based chemicals instead of petrochemicals. For example, bio-propanediol(PDO)¹ and bio-butanediol(BDO)² are derived from plant resources and produced through microbial fermentation. These achievements address global regulations, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fulfilling environmental responsibilities while also offering innovative products that meet consumer demands.

1. Bio-Propanediol: PDO(1,3-Propanediol) is a compound extracted from natural materials and is used in a wide range of industries, including bio-based plastics, cosmetics, and detergents. It is gaining attention as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based propanediol, with 40% lower energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions.

2. Bio-Butanediol (BDO): Bio-butanediol, also known chemically as 1,4-butanediol, is a plant-derived compound commonly used as a raw material in products like plastics and polyurethanes.

▲ regen BIO, which reduces CO2 emissions by 20% compared to conventional spandex

Strengthening Organizational Flexibility and Global Competitiveness through Agile Leadership

The achievements HYOSUNG has made through agile leadership are helping to enhance organizational flexibility and boost global competitiveness. Through a variety of educational programs and R&D successes, HYOSUNG is developing the ability to quickly adapt to rapidly changing market environments. Internally, this strengthens autonomy and accountability, and externally, it demonstrates the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and meeting global consumer demands.

Looking ahead, HYOSUNG will continue to advance its agile leadership, fostering innovation across various industries. In an era where change and innovation are essential, HYOSUNG will leverage continuous improvement and collaboration to achieve its vision of becoming a 100-year company, further solidifying its presence in the global market.