Ntt data turns workers into startuppers to retain and motivate them

Ntt data transforms its workers into startuppers through training and the development of ideas to improve the organisation and company processes. With the aim of retaining talent and bringing an entrepreneurial approach to them, capable of motivating above all that Generation Z who looks at the world of work with a different gaze, seeking above all meaning in what they do.

Among the most recent international studies on the gradual decline in people's engagement is the one by the American company Gallup (State of the global workforce 2025) according to which globally only 21% of workers, i.e. one in five, say they are motivated. This is down from 23% the previous year. If we look at Europe the percentage drops to 13% and in Italy to 10%, so half the global average. This calls for a speedy reparation because, as the authoritative American company explains, the cost of inaction is enormous: USD 438 billion lost in productivity as a direct result of global disengagement. There are many avenues for action; among them is the plan to 'transform' workers into startuppers, as Ntt, the technology services company with a global turnover of USD 30 billion, has done. In Italy it is present with Ntt data and has 6,000 employees scattered in various cities, from Milan to Rome, Turin, Genoa and Bologna. In collaboration with Startup Geeks innovation, Ntt data has created an entrepreneurship project that it has called Ready, set, idea! to bring an entrepreneurial approach to the company. From involvement comes involvement, so much so that with each edition, this year's was the third, participation numbers have progressively grown.

Cristina Paternoster, Head of Learning, Talent Growth & DE&I, of NTT DATA Italia, explains that 'with Ready, Set, Idea we wanted to give space to the creative energy of our people. Once again this year together with Startup Geeks we have shown how much talent and innovation can be born when working together with passion. It is an initiative that not only enhances skills, but also strengthens our corporate culture of inclusion, collaboration and vision towards the future". The programme received 85 applications, involving 55 people who submitted 32 projects this year. The number of participants is up by 51 per cent compared to last year, and at the end of the process 10 proposals were chosen for development.

Participation in the project involves a 60-hour training project that is structured to help employees think like startuppers. There are three phases: the first is called Call for Ideas and consists of collecting, selecting and training teams on the proposed ideas. The second was called Development and involves workshops, consultancy and training sessions to turn proposals into projects. The last is called Innovation experience and is a concluding event where the teams present their final results to the commission, which then judges them.

Using methodologies such as design thinking, creativity is harnessed to simplify and solve complex problems by putting people and their needs at the centre. With lean thinking, on the other hand, the value created is maximised and waste minimised. The participants developed their innovative proposals with a practical approach and with the aim of optimising processes within the company. The ten finalist teams presented, with a pitch, the design solutions they had worked on in the previous weeks before the jury, which evaluated the proposals and proclaimed the winning team, awarding the strongest innovative idea. "Ready, Set, Idea! demonstrates how valuable it is to invest in the innovation that comes from people: an engine for growth, but also a way to listen to their voices and enhance talent," says Gabriele Casiraghi, Innovation Manager at Startup Geeks. "For those who participate, it is a path that helps them express themselves, grow and feel an active part of the company's future. Together with NTT DATA we have built an environment where ideas can turn into real value for the organisation and for those who live it every day".