Vol.01 2023

DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

Prologue
Editor's Preface to the New International Journal

On the behalf of the editorial board, I am pleased to announce a new separate volume of DHU Journal,
DHU International Journal. The aim of this open-access international journal is to provide opportunities forresearchers, practitioners, and students in digital content and communication to publish their work and achieve
global exposure.
This inaugural volume comprises three peer-reviewed articles: Matsumura et al.’s “Relationships between
Success Skills for Young Professionals and Competency Enhancement in University Education: from the
Perspective of PROG Test Measurements” presents the results of their analytical study on relationships
between the work competency required for Industry 5.0 and university education; Maeda’s research report,“The Ethics of Information "The Normative Theory in the Infosphere"” explores the formation of social norms
and the construction of their foundations in the infosphere, examining the significance of information platforms
to improve quality of life; and Kannari and Yamazaki’s “Comprehensive Survey of Requisites and Trends ofLanguage Training in the COVID-19 Era”presents the results of their survey on the AI/Web services used in thecommercial sector, demonstrating the increasing significance of AI in language services.
The first issue of DHU International Journal is a small-scale publication. Our vision, however, is that the journal
will become an international outlet for presenting and exchanging new findings and ideas, developments, andachievements in areas related to digital content, digital communication, and education, contributing to theirdevelopment. We encourage submissions from all scholars engaged in these areas.

Chief Editor

YAMAZAKI Atsuko
Digital Hollywood University, Graduate School, Specially Appointed Professor©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

Contents
001

Editor's Preface to the New International Journal
YAMAZAKI Atsuko ｜ Chief Editor / Digital Hollywood University, Graduate School, Specially Appointed Professor

003【Paper】Relationships between Success Skills for Young Professionals and Competency
Enhancement in University Education: from the Perspective of PROG Test Measurements
MATSUMURA Naoki ｜ RIASEC Inc.
TANABE Akihiro ｜ RIASEC Inc.
YAMAZAKI Atsuko ｜ Digital Hollywood University, Graduate School, Specially Appointed Professor

010【Research Notes】The Normative Theory in the Infosphere
MAEDA Kunihiro ｜ Digital Hollywood University, Graduate School, Professor

018【Research Notes】Comprehensive Survey of Requisites and Trends of Language Training in
the COVID-19 Era
KANNARI Taro ｜ OTC Inc.
YAMAZAKI Atsuko ｜ Digital Hollywood University, Graduate School, Specially Appointed Professor©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

PaperRelationships between Success Skills for Young Professionals
and Competency Enhancement in University Education: from the
Perspective of PROG Test Measurements
MATSUMURA Naoki

TANABE Akihiro

RIASEC Inc.

RIASEC Inc.

YAMAZAKI Atsuko
Digital Hollywood University, Graduate School,
Specially Appointed Professor

Job satisfaction, career autonomy, and self-learning are important for young professionals to have a successfulcareer. To analyze relationships among these factors in their professional life and university education, we surveyed
1,548 respondents who graduated between 2013 and 2016 from 13 universities in Japan. All respondents hadtaken the PROG test, which measures generic skills from two aspects, literacy and competency, in their third year of
university. Their answers regarding career awareness, learning, and activities at university were analyzed in relation totheir PROG test scores. PROG literacy scores during university did not correlate with post-graduate job performance,
but a higher PROG competency score led to higher job satisfaction and motivation. The respondents’ selfevaluations showed that their enthusiasm for coursework and activities and their proactive experiences and senseof growth while in university positively related to the attainment levels of literacy, competency, and subject mastery.
These analysis results suggest that learning and activities during university to increase competency can increase
young professionals’job satisfaction and career autonomy, which are important in managing transformations in job
requirements and concepts regarding Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0. jobs.

characteristics while interacting in authentic environments [6].

1. Introduction
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), driven by

However, attaining and assessing these educational outcomes

digitalization and automation technologies, is transforming job

is difficult. Although providing educational programs linked to. The Fifth Industrial Revolution

positive career development is a role of university education,(Industry 5.0), proposed by the European Commission as afew studies have quantitatively investigated university

new concept to advance Industry 4.0 innovations, is predictededucation outcomes in terms of how they affect students’requirements and concepts[1][2]

to further transform the jobs and skill profiles of workers[3]

career development after graduation [7].

.

These transformations due to Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0

2. The Purpose of This Study

involve substantial changes in the demand for knowledge andskills and indispensable implications for higher education.

In improving the quality of university education, theMany studies have demonstrated a growing gap between

visualization of learning outcomes is required, and eachhigher education systems and the future needs and demands

university is endeavoring to quantify or visualize theseof the labor market due to rapid technological advances [4][5][6].

outcomes through various innovations. There are multifaceted

Moreover, many students are expected to prepare for newly

approaches to the visualization of learning outcomes, but the

emerged occupations or positions of the future. Under thesemost important aspect is to apply a long-term perspective

circumstances, many higher educational institutions haveregarding the effects of education to determine how university

realized the need to reform the present traditional education

education is useful after graduation. In this sense, clarifying

system to manage the growing gap between academia andhow the university education that young professionals receive

the needs and demands of the labor market.

affects their careers after graduation is crucial. Also valuable is

Because of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0, educational

identifying the connection between their university education

programs and curriculums must evolve such that students canand career development factors such as job satisfaction andenhance their ability to apply, analyze, and create with what

career autonomy.

they learn in classrooms. In other words, the abilities acquired

Thus, we conducted a nationwide survey targetingin university education should be more than memorizing anduniversity graduates with some work experience 3–5 years

understanding a curriculum subject. Thus, many universities,

after graduation. We analyzed the situation of graduates inas part of their educational goals, are striving to cultivate

terms of their satisfaction with their student life at university,

students’ abilities to think logically and utilize knowledge

the skills and abilities they acquired while at university, andto solve problems practically and enhance their behavioral

their current professional life. We also analyzed the survey©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

data to determine how their competencies and skills had

Many of the literacy and competency measurement tools

been cultivated at universities, directly and indirectly, andinvolve subjective assessments conducted by test examiners

the influence of career development factors (e.g., self-and evaluators; therefore, their validities can be weak. To

evaluation on job performance and job satisfaction), which areprevent subjectivity and validity problems in literacy andessential to career success. In the analysis, we used survey

competency measurements, the PROG test has one question

respondents’scores on the PROG test in their third year ofwith no apparent correct answer. In its original questions

university to quantitatively investigate the relationship between

based on realistic scenarios, the PROG test instructs the test-

their skills and abilities acquired from university education andtaker to seek optimal solutions for the scenarios and measuresthe career development factors. We used their third-year test

the test-taker’s ability to think logically and practically toscores because many universities have them take the PROG

solve problems by utilizing experience and knowledge, nottest to demonstrate their levels of generic skills before job-

simply confirming knowledge. Collected data from young

seeking activities in their fourth year.

leaders employed globally are used as a reference to evaluate
student’s answers. This database, the model of judgment

3. PROG Test

criteria and behavior they have selected for each question, is

The PROG test is designed to measure the student’s level

used to determine how statistically different students’answersof the generic skills and attitudes required in society (hereafter,are from the model, and the differences are transformed into

generic skills) regardless of major or specialization. It is a two-the literacy and competency levels of the student[8].

part assessment of the student’s generic skills: literacy andcompetency. Literacy is the ability to solve problems based on

Table 2. PROG test for competency: three skills measured

knowledge. Competency is a behavioral trait acquired throughexperience. The literacy part measures the student’s ability toCompetency skill 1: Interpersonal basic skills(ability to build trust with others and participate in a team)apply knowledge and to continue learning. The competency

Skill Components

Definition

Affinity

Ability to take an interest in people
and to empathize with and trust them

Cooperative ability

Ability to understand roles and help
each other

Leadership

Ability to advocate opinions andenhance the teampart measures the student’s behavioral traits acquired throughexperience and the ability to transfer the acquired skills to any
job. Tables 1 and 2 show the list of abilities measured by theliteracy and competency parts of the PROG test, respectively [8].
Table 1. PROG test for literacy: skills measured
Literacy: Thinking skills required for the problemsolving process

Competency skill 2: Self-control basic skills(ability to control emotions and motivation)

Skill Components

Definition

Skill Components

Definition

Informationgathering skills

Ability to identify appropriate
information sources from a wide
range of perspectives, collectand research information using
appropriate means, and organize andstore this information appropriately

Emotional control

Ability to control emotions
appropriately

Confidencebuilding ability

Ability to know the self and inspire
confidence

Action persistence

Ability to work proactively andcomplete tasks

Information
analysis skills

Problemidentifying skills

Conception ability

Ability to organize and analyze facts
and information objectively and frommultiple perspectives, not based onassumptions or speculation, and tounderstand the hidden structure that
integrates these facts and information
to determine the true nature of theinformation. (includes verbal andnon-verbal processing skills)

Competency skill 3: Basic skills for managing problems(ability to think and act to solve problems)Ability to perceive phenomena
and events from various angles
and perspectives, consider themechanisms and causes hidden in
the background, and discover issues
that need to be resolved

Skill Components

Definition

Problem-finding
ability

Ability to gather information andunderstand the essence

Planning ability

Ability to set goals and make plans

Practical ability

Ability to put thoughts into action
and reflect

Because of the PROG test’s objective measurementsof literacy and competency, as well as its advantage in

Ability to conceptualize the processof problem-solving while consideringvarious conditions and constraints
and to envision the risks andmeasures that might be implemented
in the process

qualitatively visualizing the outcomes of educational programs,
many higher educational institutions in Japan have adopted it.
Since 2012, more than 1.29 million students from universities
and junior colleges have taken the PROG. From 2012 to
September 2021, including technical colleges, vocational
schools, and companies, 1.41 million PROG tests have been

The PROG test objectively scores students’ literacy andtaken [9].

competency levels, and its measurement validity has been
demonstrated in statistical analyses of a large volume of data.

©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

4. Survey Method

Category 5: Learning experience and sense of growth

We conducted an internet-based survey from April 21,

while in university

2020, to February 22, 2021. A survey participation request

Q1. Speak up in class

was sent to 12,844 working adults who took the PROG test

Q2. Didn't understand the classes

in their third year of university: 13.0% (1,548 working adults)

Q3. Discussed with other students

answered the questionnaire. The details of the respondents,
including gender, the year of university graduation, and their

Q4. Participated in voluntary study groups

majors, are in 4.1. The details of the questionnaire are in 4.2.

Q5. Felt closer to the faculty
Q6. Consulted with faculty and staff about my career

4.1 Questionnaire respondents

Q7. Had a sense of growth while in university

The working adults had graduated between 2013 and 2016

Category 6: Significance of the graduation thesis

from 13 universities nationwide: 779 males and 752 females(17 did not identify a gender). Table 3 summarizes the

Q1. General completion of specialized subject education

respondents’majors at university.

Q2. Experience in learning liberal arts
Q3. Discussions with various people

Table 3. Survey respondents’ majors at university

Q4. Communicate my view

Major

# of Respondents

Q5. Experience in task completion

Humanities or liberal arts

420

Q6. Proactive learning attitude

Social science

562

Category 7: Satisfaction with subjects and activities

Science or engineering

366

Medical or health-related sciences

74

Other

126

Total

1548

while in university
Q1. Coursework in specialized subjects
Q2. Coursework in liberal arts subjects
Q3. Learning a foreign language
Q4. Graduation thesis
Q5. Teachers' teaching procedures

4.2 Questionnaire items

Q6. Club/circle activity

The questionnaire had 11 categories. Categories 1–3 asked
questions regarding basic attributes, such as age, gender,

Q7. Friendships

university major, years since graduation, and academic

Q8. Part-time job

performance in the third year of junior high school and highQ9. Job-seeking

school and at university graduation. Categories 4–8 asked

Q10. Total satisfaction

questions about being university graduates. After extracting
similar question items from survey questions used for many

Table 5. Survey items: jobs and careers

universities, we created our questions by focusing on thecommonly observed items. The questions in categories 9 andCategory 8: Jobs and careers 1

10 were from the Working Person Survey administered by

Q1. Career after graduation

Recruit Works Institute [10].

Q2. Current employment status

Categories 4–7 asked about experiences and satisfaction

Category 9: Jobs and careers 2during university. Categories 8–9 asked about the respondent’s jobs and careers, including questions about job satisfaction

Q1. Type of industry

and career autonomy. Categories 11 and 12 asked about

Q2. Type of occupation

the abilities acquired in university and required in society.

Q3. The company’s scale

Question items regarding the respondents’ experiences in

Q4. Type of industry

university and their jobs and careers are summarized in Tables

Category 10: Job satisfaction and career awareness4 and 5, respectively.

Q1. Learning activities outside the workplace
Q2. A sense of growth in the workplace

Table 4. Survey items regarding while in university
Category 4: Attitude and level of enthusiasm forcoursework and activities while in university

Q3. Sense of career prospects

Q1. Coursework in specialized subjects

Q5. Job evaluation

Q2. Coursework in liberal arts subjects

Q6. Job satisfaction

Q4. Job motivation level

Q3. Learning a foreign language
Q4. Graduation thesis
Q5. Club/circle activity
Q6. Part-time job
Q7. Job-seeking©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

acquired at university, and we requested a subjective

Table 7. Literacy and competency skills acquired in college
and their factors

evaluation (5-point scale), such as "To what extent do you

17 ability indicators

Factor 1*

Factor 2**

Factor 3***

Q1. Affinity

0.746− 0.123

0.071

Q2. Cooperative ability

0.782-0.0480.064

measures. In Category 12, the respondents were asked toQ3. Leadership

0.771− 0.002− 0.052

indicate their perspectives on a 5-point scale regarding to

Q4. Emotional control

0.732− 0.051− 0.020

Q5. Confidence-building ability

0.919− 0.029− 0.011

Q6. Action persistence

0.806

0.007

− 0.001

Q7. Problem-finding ability

0.419

0.402

0.004

Q8. Planning ability

0.488

0.343

0.002

In Category 11, we used 17indicators for the abilities

think you acquired the following abilities at university?" Table
6 summarizes these 17 ability indicators, and they correspondto the categories of skills and abilities that the PROG test

what extent each ability in the 17 indicators is required insociety.
Table 6. The 17 ability indicators of the survey for Categories
11 & 12Q9. Practical ability

0.647

0.167

0.004

Q1. Affinity

Q10. Specialized knowledge− 00.001

0.026

0.387

Q2. Cooperative ability

Q11. General liberal arts
background− 0.008

0.067

0.810

Q12. Foreign language
proficiency

0.160− 0.006

0.397

Q13. Data science skills− 0.166

0.592

0.165

Q7. Problem-finding ability

Q14. Information-gatheringskills− 0.032

0.844

0.071

Q8. Planning ability

Q15. Information analysis skills− 0.0510.964− 0.021

Q9. Practical ability

Q16. Problem-identifying skills

0.038

0.906

− 0.070

Q17. Conception ability

0.107

0.794

− 0.165

Q3. Leadership
Q4. Emotional control
Q5. Confidence-building ability
Q6. Action persistence

Q10. Specialized knowledge* Factor 1: Competency (Q1-Q9)** Factor 2: Literacy (Q11-Q13)*** Factor 3: Coursework (Q10-Q17)(Knowledge learned in specialized university courses)
Q11. General liberal arts background(Knowledge learned in college liberal arts courses)
Q12. Foreign language proficiency

5. Survey Result and Analysis(Ability to use foreign languages)

The survey result was analyzed using the PROG test data

Q13. Data science skillsof the respondents’ tests in their third year of university.

(Ability to think mathematically and analyze and utilize data)

The main focus was the relationships between respondents’competency scores and career development factors. The

Q14. Information-gathering skills

scores of their self-evaluation for course subject attainments

Q15. Information analysis skills

were also analyzed. Finally, we conducted a portfolio analysis

Q16. Problem-identifying skillsof competency skill components in relation to needs andQ17. Conception ability

attainments reported by the respondents for the 17 ability
indicators of the survey.

Note: Definitions of Q1–9 and Q14–17 are the same as thoselisted in Tables 1 & 2.

5.1 Relationship between competency scores andcareer development factors

Factor analysis identified three factors for the 17 ability
indicators, as shown in Table 7. The numbers in Table 7

The relationships between respondents’competency scoresindicate the strength of each indicator's influence on eachand career development factors were analyzed to determine

indicator. Thus, a common latent factor is between indicators

how their PROG test competency and literacy scores in theirwith large absolute values. Based on the factor analysis forthird year of university and their attainment level of subject

each indicator, our interpretation is as follows: Factor 1,

mastery affected their professional life after graduation. The

competency skill items; Factor 2, literacy skill items; andrelationships among career development factors were also

Factor 3, coursework attainment items. Therefore, using

analyzed. The path analysis results are illustrated in thethese 17 ability indicators to investigate the attainment levels

diagram in Figure 1. The direction of an arrow in Figure 1

for competency, literacy, and coursework was statisticallyindicates a cause-and-effect relationship, and a number on

reasonable.

the arrow shows a correlation coefficient between the cause
and the effect, which indicates the degree of influence ofthe cause on the effect. Figure 1 demonstrates the multiple
relationships, explained in the following paragraphs.

©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

such as club activities and part-time jobs. We also analyzed
the responses to the questions in Category 7 (satisfaction
with university subjects and activities) to determine therelationships between the three attainment factors andrespondents’ satisfaction with club activities and part-time
job experience. There was no direct relationship between theattainment factors and these activities.
Table 8. Correlation among three attainment factors (selfevaluation) and commitment and enthusiasm for activities
while in university

Figure 1. Diagram of relationships among the PROG scores,
subject mastery self-evaluation, and career success factors

self-evaluated attainment factor(Note: Q10_#: corresponds to the question number ofCategory 10, and FAC3 denotes Factor 3 in Table 7.)
As shown in Figure 1, the competency scores of the PROG
test during university years affected the self-evaluation of
the current job and were related to career autonomy, anindividual’s ability to manage their career and life. Moreover,the literacy scores of the PROG test did not directly affect the

Degree of enthusiasm

Competency

Literacy

Subject
Mastery

Specialized subjects

＋

＋

＋

Liberal arts subjects

＋

＋

＋

Learning a foreign
language＋＋＋

Graduation thesis

＋

＋

＋

self-evaluation of current job performance but did affect young

Club/circle activity

professionals’ career autonomy and autonomous learning.

Part-time job

The respondent’s self-assessment of the mastery level of ansns

Job-seeking

subject affected the self-evaluation of job satisfaction and job
performance. For the relationships among career developmentns

As shown in Table 9, the three attainment factors werefactors, high job satisfaction was directly related to high job

positively related to proactive experiences, such as speaking

motivation, and high job evaluation led to high job satisfaction.

up in class, discussing with other students, participating in

In addition, the degree of job satisfaction was related tovoluntary study groups, and building good relationships withautonomy (career autonomy and autonomous learning) in thefaculty and staff. The table also shows that a sense of growth

workplace, eventually leading to job motivation.

was directly related to the three abilities.

5.2 Relationship between PROG test scores andTable 9. Correlation among three attainment factors (self-course subject attainments

evaluation) and university experiences and a sense of growth

Tables 8 and 9 show the relationships among the threewhile in university

attainment factors self-evaluated by the respondents(literacy, competency, and subject mastery), their attitudes

self-evaluated attainment factor

toward activities and experience, and their sense of growthCompetency

Literacy

Subject
mastery

Spoke in class

＋

＋

＋

Didn't understandthe classes--

Discussed with otherstudents＋＋＋

Participated involuntary study groups

＋

＋

＋

Felt close to thefaculty＋＋＋Consulted with faculty
and staff about mycareer＋＋＋Had a sense of growth
while in university

＋

＋

＋

Experience and growthduring their university years. Because the respondents'
answers regarding attitude and a sense of growth were selfevaluations, we used self-evaluations for the three attainment
factors. In Tables 8 and 9, the plus sign (+) and the minus
sign (-) represent that an item in the left column (“Degree ofenthusiasm”in Table 8 or“Experience and growth”column inTable 9) directly influenced the attainment factor (competency,
literacy, or subject mastery) but that other items in the column
did not. The plus sign denotes positive correlation, and theminus sign denotes a negative correlation. A blank in Tables
8 and 9 denotes that a correlation was observed but wasmediated by other factors, and no direct relationship wasrecognized. The abbreviation ns means no correlation wasobserved between each item in the column and the attainment
factor in the row.
Table 8 shows that the self-evaluation levels for the threeattainment factors were related to the levels of enthusiasm for

5.3 Generic skills for jobs

university activities, coursework in liberal arts and specialized

Figure 2 is a scatter diagram of the 17 indicators of abilities.

fields, foreign language learning, and graduation theses. The

For each indicator, the degree of attainment (self-evaluation)

attainment factors did not show a direct relationship withis on the horizontal axis, and the degree of need is on thethe enthusiasm levels for activities other than coursework,

vertical axis for each indicator. We classified the 17 indicators©2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

into five groups: knowledge and skills related to university

after graduation. The analysis results show that motivation iscoursework, three competency skill areas ( interpersonal

expected to influence performance in combination with ability.

basic skills, self-control basic skills, basic skills for managing

In other words, motivation coupled with ability is expected toproblems), and problem-solving skills. Indicators in the same

influence performance outcomes.

group tended to be close together in the diagram.

Some studies have demonstrated that practical skills such

Based on the diagram, the analytical results are as follows:

as competencies are cultivated mainly by active learning

1. The nine indicators, skill components measured byin extracurricular activities and working experience during

the competency part of the PROG test (Table 2), are in theuniversity [11][12][13]. However, our results show that cultivating

upper right compartment. Because their values are above thethese skills is possible but depends on how students engage

average values of all the indicators for the necessity level for ain classes. The literature has demonstrated that extracurricular

working adult and the attainment level while in university, theactivities and part-time jobs positively contribute to skill

respondents assessed that they acquired these generic skills

development [11][12][13]. However, our results demonstrate thatnecessary for working adults before graduation.

the content of these activities for a student is important. In

2. The respondents perceived that leadership, planning,other words, activity content that is valuable and meaningful

and emotional control skills were relatively difficult to acquire

to students induces their positive attitude and commitment

during university; among these, the ability to control emotions,

toward the activity, including coursework, and eventually leads

despite its high degree of necessity, was slightly below theto successful career development.
The portfolio analysis of competency skill components

average of the attainment levels.
3. The four literacy items, skill components measured byin relation to the needs and attainment levels of 17 ability

the literacy part of the PROG test (Table 1), are grouped nearindicators shows that the university graduates perceived thatthe intersection of the averages. Their necessity levels are notthey acquired higher skills in the competency components

as high as their competency skill items, and their attainment(Table 2) than in the literacy components (Table 1) andlevels while in university are slightly lower than the average

the proficiency acquired in class subjects. Moreover, thevalue of all the indicators.

attainment level of emotional control was slightly below the4. The four indicators for knowledge and skills related

average despite the high degree of need for emotional control.

to university coursework are scattered and much lower

This indicates that the inability to manage stress might be athan the competency and literacy items for the necessity

recent issue in university education. The levels of data scienceand attainment levels. In particular, the indicator of foreign

skills were recognized by the respondents despite necessity

language skills is in a very low position for the necessity level

scoring higher than other skills acquired through course

for a working adult and the attainment level while in university.

subjects in liberal arts and specialized subjects.

7. Conclusion
The employment environment of workers who recently
graduated from university, typifi ed by JOB-type employment,
is undergoing major changes [9][13] . In this environment,
university graduates must become professionally independentof organizations and companies, starting in their early working
stage. In this sense, university students must develop various
skills during their university years, which directly and indirectly
influence their future careers. An analysis of PROG test scoresfrom 2014 to 2020 of university students presented in The
PROG White Paper 2021 [15] shows a downward trend in
PROG test competency scores for self-control basic skills.
Although basic interpersonal competency skills have remained
mostly unchanged, competency skills such as leadership,emotional control, and planning have a declining trend. Theseskills are often mentioned as skills whose enhancement isFigure 2. Portfolio analysis of competency skill components
in relation to needs and attainments for the 17 ability
indicators of the survey

expected more to manage recent changes in the job market.
The analysis results of this study reaffirm that student’s
enthusiasm and proactive attitudes toward learning and activities
while in university lead to career development after graduation.

6. Discussion

Positive attitudes toward coursework and outside class activities,

The effect of university education on generic skills andincluding working part-time, can cultivate a sense of growth incareer development after graduation was not quantified

the workplace, which can lead to job motivation. This implies

because the outcomes of university education tended to focus

the importance of a support system that encourages students toon the aspects of coursework attainment, such as subject

implement an independent and proactive approach to learning

test scores and course grades. By expanding the scope ofopportunities in class and outside class. The outcomes of

educational outcomes to include generic skills, we investigateduniversity education should be considered from a perspective

connections between university education and professional life

©2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

of a student-centered support system for enhancing student’

150323_wp2014.pdf (Accessed 2023-10-1)

s career development after graduation, as mentioned in [15].

[11] Patrick Buckley, Paul Lee:“The impact of extra-curricular

Because of the increasingly severe employment environment

activity on the student experience”Active Learning in Higher

due to the rapid changes in society and technology, universities

Education (2021), vol. 22, issue 1, p. 37-48.

are increasingly required to implement individualized support

https://doi.org/10.1177/146978741880898

measures for each student to help them engage in learning[12] Chin-Fah Wang & Shan-Hua Chen: “Weighting theand activities proactively and positively during university. Then,

Benefits of Part-Time Employment in College: Perspectives

students’proactive behavior during their university years canfrom Indigenous Undergraduates” International Education

enhance their ability to manage unprecedented changes due

Studies (2013), vol. 6, no. 1, p. 104-110.

to the progress of globalization and accelerated advances in[13] Tracy Hui, Sam S. S. Lau, Mantak Yuen:“Active Learningscience and technology.

as a Beyond-the-Classroom Strategy to Improve University
Students’ Career Adaptability” Sustainability (2021), vol.

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Library (2022).

Technology in Society (2022), vol. 71, no. 2022, 102086.

https://doi.org/10.1787/cc9fa6aa-en

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102086[4] Chaka Chaka:“Is Education 4.0 a Sufficient Innovative,and Disruptive Educational Trend to Promote Sustainable
Open Education for Higher Education Institutions? A Reviewof Literature Trends”Frontiers in Education (2022), vol. 7,
p. 1-12.
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.824976[5] Perumal Kaliraj, Thirupathi Devi (eds): “Industry 4.0
Technologies for Education”Auerbach Publications, New York
(2022).
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003318378[6] Mariam Ali S A Al-Maadeed, Abdelaziz Bouras, Mohammed
Al-Salem, Nathalie Younan (eds):“The Sustainable Universityof the Future: Reimagining Higher Education and Research”
Springer Nature, Switzerland (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20186-8[7] Thuy Thi Hai Ho,Van Hong Le,Duong Tuan Nguyen, Chi
Thi Phuong Nguyen, Ha Thi Thu Nguyen:“Effects of careerdevelopment learning on students’ perceived employability:
a longitudinal study” Higher Education (2023), vol. 86, p.
297–315.
doi: 10.1007/s10734-022-00933-6[8] Naoki Matsumura, Akihiro Tanabe:“The Development of
PROG, and Performance Assessment of International PBL with
PROG”, Proceedings of 2019 JSEE Annual Conference &AEESEAP Workshop, Sendai (2019), p. 19-24.
https://doi.org/10.20549/jseeen.2019.0_19[9] Fumiaki Hirata, Naoki Matsumura: “Support theory forcareer management in JOB-type employment era 「( ジョブ型雇用時代」のキャリアマネジメント支援論) (in Japanese)”CrossMedia
Publishing, Tokyo (2022).
[10] Recruit Works Institute: “Working Person Survey
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h t t p s : / / w w w. w o r k s - i . c o m / r e s e a r c h / w o r k s - r e p o r t / i t e m /©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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Research Notes

The Normative Theory in the Infosphere
MAEDA Kunihiro
Digital Hollywood University, Graduate School, Professor

This paper comprehensively examines the formation of social norms and the construction of their foundations in the
Networked Reality (the infosphere), from the perspective of the metaphysics of information to the dimension of social
implementation. The purpose of this study is, and the discussion begins with the ethics and metaphysical question of
information as the starting point of what should be the better way of life and the place to live better in the infosphere.
Referring to A.N. Whitehead's ideas of human civilization and social civilization in his "Philosophy of Organism", his
paper uses the concept of the "cycle of good" model to identify ways to enable sustainable contributions to society
and improve human knowledge to a high-definition "world resolution".

1. Introduction.

our eyes with mathematical formulas. He conceived of the

In this paper, the author clarifies the significance of"philosophy of the organism" as a more concrete metaphysics

information ethics in the networked reality (hereinafter referredand sought to question not only his students but the world

to as the "infosphere") and consider what form and what roleat large about the worldview necessary for the impending"learning to live a better life," which is the original purpose

turning point of civilization. The message came to fruition inof ethics, can play in the contemporary infosphere. We will

1929 with his main work, "Process and Reality" [3] in whichthen discuss "what the infosphere should be," envision social

he described the cosmology he wanted to open the world's

norms for living a better life together with people living in theeyes to. This cosmology was the path to a "better world

same infosphere and examine normative theories for their(civilization)" that could be obtained by improving people's

implementation.

worldview (world resolution). In this essay, I would like toFirst, for the sake of sharing the philosophy of social

introduce the process of intersection between“A Virtuous ofnorms in the infosphere, I would like to introduce a part of

Cycle”model in the infosphere and Whitehead's "philosophy

philosopher Alan North Whitehead's worldview. At the ageof organism".

of 63, Whitehead took a break from writing the final volume

2. Fundamentals of Information Ethicsof Principia Mathematica, which he co-authored with his
close friend Bertrand Russell, and turned from mathematician

Luciano Floridi, a scholar who has proposed the concept

to philosopher, working on metaphysics (philosophy ofof the Infosphere and an authority on information ethics since

speculation), which was backward at the time. He also moved

computer ethics, is a scholar who addresses information

his education from Cambridge University in the U.K. to Harvard

ethics from a metaphysical perspective, positioning theBusiness School in the U.S., which had just been founded.

Infosphere as "a new environment worthy of moral attention

I would like to introduce a message that shows the reason

and capable of treating the people who inhabit it as an

why he pursued metaphysics while he was in a place to train

information organism in which to care for it, He positions it asbusiness managers, and to show that his metaphysics is aan ethical framework"［4］. His ethical argument is an ontology

practical study.

that respects the life of the entire Infosphere equally, and he"Today, humanity is in one of its rare moods to change its

advocates an entropy-saving and deep ecological philosophy

way of looking at things. Our task - as philosophers, students,

under the name of e-environmentalism.

and businessmen - is to recreate and redefine a worldview
that contains elements of reverence and order without It

The right figure (Figure1) isis to re-create and redefine a worldview that is thoroughly

called the RTP model, which

grounded in unyielding rationality. Such a worldview is themodels the behavior of moral

knowledge that Plato identified with virtue. [1]agents in the infosphere

Whitehead, who lost his youngest son Eric in World War I,

developed by Luciano

believed that the new direction of human evolution was not

Floridi. The circle in the left

civilization by "force" (war) as taught in Plato's "Timaeus" [2]figure is the infosphere, and2300 years earlier, but by "agreement through negotiation andthe moral agents (net users)

persuasion," or business. Furthermore, he had been working

in the sphere receive Info-

on not only mathematics but also early quantum theory, andResource (R), define thehis new goal was cosmology in the Greek philosophical sense.

target of their response as

His dissatisfaction with cutting-edge physics and mathematics

Info-Target (T), and output

was the limitation of the "study of things," the inability toInfo-Product (P) information. The beauty of this model is that it

explain the "here and now" or "everything" in the world before

is easy to classify and analyze the patterns and factors of moral©2023 Digital Hollywood University

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Figure1. RTP Model L.Floridi

DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

3. Living in the infospherereactions and immoral acts in the infosphere that occur in eachof (R), (T), and (P). variation and applied it to actual online

The Word is the house of being. In this abode man dwells.［5］"community interactions.

It was Heidegger who said.

For example, applied to Floridi's image, the ethical object

This term describes the process by which a human being(T) and ethical behavior (P) of the moral actor depend on

is actively involved in the infosphere and eventually becomesthe ethical accuracy and quantity of information resources

an integral part of it. In the case of the infosphere, people doavailable to the moral agent, which in turn determines ethicalnot buy a house for sale and live there. By transmitting useful

judgment and responsibility. This corresponds to intellectualism

information to others in a specific place and creating content

according to Socrates' argument. However, I have madethat serves as a starting point for interaction, a home issignificant modifications to the RPT model because I believe

created, and you live in that home. This is how the infospherethat even if the accuracy and quantity of information available

has developed. Therefore, words are not just words, but

to a single moral agent due to the Internet is dramaticallycontent that invites the sympathy of others, in other words,

improved in Floridi's RTP model, it is not applicable to thethe act of creatively spinning out words that create a home

circularity, database nature, and improvement of social norms

for oneself, opening and closing the door to find contact

as a knowledge community of multiple agents.

with others, leading to poetic human dwelling.

The figure on the right

One misuse of the word "home" that contributed to the(Figure 2) shows multiple

development of the Internet is the name homepage. As themoral agents communicating

homepage within a website was introduced in magazines as

in a bidirectional manner.

the cover of the website, it was mistakenly thought to beThis is the author's originalsynonymous with the website. Moreover, the meaning andmodel, which assumes thatvalue of "home" within the Internet must have been felt morea particular moral agent

attractive than that of "homepage" within personal website.

performs a moral act with

What added even more value to the website was the domaincompassion, care, andname. It is a unique identifier in the sense that it is the only

affection for another moral

one of its kind in the world, and it is also valuable as anagent. See Chapter 5.
The figure on the righte-mail address. Initially they were just addresses attributed to

Figure2. Duolex RTP Model
MAEDA.Kunihiro

countries or professions, but now they are brands. Do these(Figure 3) illustrates an RTP

now exist as poetically human "homes"?

model that incorporates

Here again, borrowing from Heidegger's words, "We musttime and vector elements in

begin by learning to live," I would like to consider the meaning

the individual infospheres.

of having a home in the infosphere and learn to "live" in

I n t e r e s t i n g l y, t h e m o r a l

it again. First, to live in the infosphere is to have a stableagent will move both in time

Internet connection, good human relations, no shortage ofand space with bidirectional

daily topics of conversation, hobbies, and places to study,

exchanges in the infosphere,

and to maintain a sense of comfort in both the real world andthus broadening his or her

virtual space at the same time. What is even more important ishuman vision (here calledthat it functions as a place for creative activities that nurturea person's identity, in other words, <living in a poetic way> isresolution). By Socratic

Figure3. Moral Life Log
with RTP Model

logic, the more human

MAEDA.Kunihirothat does not ensure privacy due to insecurity, harassment

the thought world or world

realized. In other words, depending on the individual, a placevision and knowledge we expand the more morally correctfrom noisy neighbors, or noisy noise is not desirable. In thedecisions we will be able to make. For further possibilities,

next chapter, the auther will consider what constitutes a goodsee Chapter 7.

environment and a comfortable place in the infosphere.

However, since the infosphere has no map or center, it is

4. Good and Circulation in the Infosphere

almost entirely dependent on chance to determine where andhow these interactions occur. This is because even though

The auther believe that "goodness" in the infosphere is a

we are talking about an information society, we have not evenstate in which information that is meaningful or pleasant toaccumulated half a century of history, culture, and customs as

one's life is flowing like clear air. Moreover, it is importanta society. Therefore, the public sphere (media effect) is finallythat the information flows through the infosphere as food for

created when an aggregation eff ect such as social media islife that can be shared by everyone and does not belong

generated with real human relationships as the starting point,

to anyone else. This can be compared to air in terms of its

and the starting point of individual interests is networked

composition ratio, purity, and efficiency of oxygen and carbon

with other interests, becoming the center of multifaceted

dioxide exchange.

movement and its range of activities, in other words, the place

First of all, good air is free of dust and dirt, and that iswhere people stay the longest and communicate the most.

how semiconductor manufacturing sites are chosen. The

Communities, groups, creative spaces, and exhibition spaces

composition of the air, especially the ratio of oxygen (20.8%),

have become places where users interact with each other.

is important to humans, and even the slightest change in

Therefore, we would like to consider the value (=goodness) of

this ratio can lead to illnesses such as altitude sickness andthe infosphere that such <places> possess.

carbon monoxide poisoning and can even endanger lives. In©2023 Digital Hollywood University

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the same way, the content of the communication infrastructure

forcing us to make decisions about our actions and the objects

can be compared to the stability of society: urgent messages,of right and wrong, and the number of such experiences maypractical communication, entertainment and chatter, andgenerate numerous virtuous or immoral events and mental

malicious information such as fake news and scams. However,ups and downs, depending on the person, creating a kindexcessive bias can cause social chaos. The value of air andof wave in the infosphere, and creating a kind of harmonic

its limiting nature can also be better understood by counting

or dissonant noise in concert with others. The number ofthe number of times it is used. We breathe 20,000 to 30,000

experiences may generate several virtuous or vicious events

times a day and breathe air 700 to 800 million times in ourand ups and downs of mental images and may generate a kind

lifetime. Similarly, the value of goodness in the infosphere canof wave in the infosphere, creating chords in harmony with

only be maintained through sustained breathing and smoothothers, or noise in dissonance. The characteristic feature offlow of information in the infosphere.

the social norm of information ethics that becomes clear here

For example, Lao Tzu compares the highest good (summum

is that the individual infospheres are somehow connected, andbonum) to water in the phrase "the highest good is like water."through their interaction, this wave is transmitted, synthesized,

If the highest good could be compared to anything, it would

amplified, or attenuated, and interrupts the "thought world"

be water. Water itself does not seek to benefit itself. On theof the infosphere of others. In other words, there is as muchcontrary, it stays in the low places that everyone avoids,

noise in the home of the infosphere as in the real world, andunobtrusively enriching all things and obeying the laws of

its ups and downs include not only differences of opinion, butnature. Satisfied with his place, quiet as a clear abyss, merciful

also moral differences, defamation, privacy, politics, religion,

to his friends, trusting in his word, and righteous in government,

and all kinds of quarrels. A recent symbolic event is what is

he will not seek to gain any profit for himself, but to enrich all

called "Selective News Avoidance". In short, the public's

things, and to follow the laws of nature. Work is done efficiently

tolerance for viewing large amounts of depressing incidents,

and time is not wasted. Great waters are in harmony with allaccidents, and unfortunate news is weakening. Alternatively,

things, there is no conflict, and no one is to be blamed.［6］the scope of active information regulations can no longer keep

These words not only express how the properties of water

up with the processing capacity of the information demanded,

represent the state of human virtue, but also make explicit

and this flood of information is no longer a good for thethat the ethics of the entire informational sphere is like water,

infosphere.

or air. They are abundant before our eyes, but in a sense,

Information was originally created based on the workings

they are invisible and transparent. The air (liveliness, security,of man's being placed in the world and becoming the focus

cleanliness, etc.) that is indispensable to everyone, yet flowsof the world's self-forming action at each moment, in a way

as a lubricant in the world for the benefit of the whole, andthat is causally and materially limited and limits itself to anenriches the human body and mind, is the very social norm inobjectivistic concept." ［9］the infosphere.

It is desirable to have "social norms in the infosphere" as anNow, to make this norm more <concrete>, I would like

acceptable range of calm and stormy waves, musical chords,

to calculate backwards from the amount of information thatand noises. While there is a need for security information

can be input to humans from the outside world to see how

simply for self-preservation, for a better way of life, at the very

many decisions and how much time we have in our lives. To

least, it is the "peace" of humankind to have quiet in one's

begin with, the amount of information that humans receive

infosphere and to avoid needless ruffling of feathers. If mostfrom the outside world through their sensory organs is saidof the Internet's business is in the business of excessively

to be about 11 million bits per second, mainly images anddemanding other people's attention and forcing uselesssounds. However, the amount of information that reaches

information on them, then restructuring the media of the

our consciousness through our nerves is only 126 bits per

infosphere should be one of the most important priorities.

second, and the difference in information that we can perceive
is limited to 1/18 of a second. In other words, within the limit

5. The Virtuous Cycle in "PatientLikeMe"of 126 bits per second and the resolution of active action of, the RTP model operates repeatedly,

PatientsLikeMe(https://www.patientslikeme.com/) is a freeand human civilization (cultural creation) and humanservice that combines real-name public social media with acivilization are opened up. Compared to the abundance andcollective knowledge database to share the nursing process ofpermanence of air and water, how limited life is!

patients with incurable diseases and their caregivers and families.

［7］

1/18th of a second

Man is placed in a world of his own, and as he limits

In this advanced web service, the older brother Jamie

himself, limited by it, he is in irreplaceable uniqueness. In(Moral Agent), a computer science student at MIT, took hiseach moment of limiting himself while being limited by it -younger brother Stephen (Target), who is suffering from ALS

where man is in irreplaceable uniqueness with others - man is in(Resource), out to the pool (Product), where Stephen, who is

face-to-face contact with God, and these moments are passing

paralyzed from the head down, was The feeling of happiness

into the next, and the world, in this moment-to-moment

felt by Stephen, who is paralyzed from the head down, can betransition, is moving forward creatively and continuously

recorded as data in the infosphere. The figure below shows

toward so-called civilization through the medium of man's

the expression of negative emotions when the trial of lithium
administration, which was expected to prolong ALS patients'［8］

limited-immediate-perpetual-limited work."

lives, failed to show results. It is a community that does notThat is to say, within the constraints of this world, every

impose itself on anyone.

event in our lives demands immediate moral judgment of us,©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023

Note that (Figure 4) is an extended and modified version of
the RTP model to represent the emotional connection, which
the auther refer to here as the "Virtuous Cycle" diagram. Whatis interesting about this system is that it is an interface anddatabase that allows us to understand (empathize with) thepatient's "right to self-determination" and "informed consent"
regarding what kind of treatment to receive, as well as thepatient's level of happiness regarding "treatment" and "care"that cannot be provided unless the doctor or nurse has a
special feeling for them, not by numbers or their statistics,
but with background information. The database is an interface
and database that allows us to understand (empathize) withbackground information, rather than numbers and statistics.
The auther envision building a system like "PatientsLikeMe"that facilitates the sharing of knowledge about caring for andcaring for others, even without special expertise in the field.
However, a new social media platform (a digital twin linked
to the real world) is needed to address a number of social
issues that are currently covering the world. The "smart
city" is a non-physical smart city that aims to solve issues
such as regional revitalization and the aging of society withfewer children, as well as a foundation model for a crossdisciplinary, specialized community.

Figure4. Virtuous Cycle Diagram"PatientsLikeMe"

6. Implementation of Information EthicalPrincipled Knowledge

small act of consideration between friends or family members
is an altruistic act, such as giving directions to someone who

Altruistic algorithms are aimed at two directions of machineasks for directions or giving up your seat to an elderly person.

learning recommendation engines, i.e., organic (similar

The "altruistic algorithm" here is a mechanism of collective

to the kindness and compassion with which moral humanknowledge that provides Steven-like (another patient with abeings behave in the real world) rather than either partial orcommon background) with necessary information with muchtotal optimization. Jamie invited Steven to the pool because

sympathy and empathy. What the auther is aiming for is ahe wanted to make Steven feel as if he were floating in themechanism to share know-how, successes, failures, news, andpool water of his own volition, as if he could no longer moveother relevant information arising from cases of all kinds ofhis body from the neck down. This is one of those ideas

social problems, as well as information that fits a specific target

that altruistic algorithms output, an idea of casual kindness(persona) and background information (context). In addition,and love that has been vetted for the benefit of others. But

by linking with the community, the "altruistic algorithm" is not

sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't; Steven may

just a recommendation engine, but also combines human

cry because he has bitter or sweet memories of the pool, or"reasoned" context and "empathetic information" and uses

he may be devastated that his body will never be able to swim

the algorithm as an adjunct to a recommendation engine byagain. Therefore, let this case be a special success story.

human hands in a way that was considered difficult in machine

However, altruistic acts need not always be inspiring. Even alearning.

©2023 Digital Hollywood University

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The algorithm is not complex but is based on the Socratic
principle of (information-ethical) subjectivism, which statesthat the more information available, the more morally correct
the decision. If humans can increase the accuracy of
information through the multiple perspectives accumulatedon the platform, and if they have creative perspectives whileremaining confined to the limited world of what Whiteheadcalls "seeing with the eyes," the resolution of the world will
become more precise, humans will acquire previously unseen
information, and better social norms will be fostered. We
can do this. I believe, as does Whitehead, that humans arecapable of doing just that. In the next chapter, I will describe
this concept and examine its versatility and availability.

7. Technology that raises the resolution of theworld and fosters norms
The most distinctive research result of this paper is that the

Figure6. Virtuous Cycle “World Resolution”
MAEDA,Kunihiro

unidirectional nature of Floridi's RTP model is crossed withthe sustainable circular community model and multi-layered,bringing it closer to the realization of a“virtuous cycle" withFor example, a young person about to become a parent fora multi-loop "world resolution" that goes beyond "seeing withthe first time will see a children's clothing brand or a toy store,

the eyes" rather than subjectivity as an individual moral vieweven if he or she is walking down the same shopping street as

The "virtuous cycle" is in the following.

the former you say and will see things from a perspective that
did not catch his or her eye before, such as the height andstride of the child. This perspective will also look at children
from a third-party perspective (poverty-stricken children inother countries or the world situation surrounding refugee
children fleeing the ravages of war). This diversification ofperspectives and expansion of horizons, which we refer tohere as "world resolution," encourages people to connect
their actions to the "ethical good".
Specifically, these abilities are refined with each experience,and by concentrating on specific knowledge in library andInternet searches, peripheral and specialized information
becomes easier to see (and obtain). Furthermore, this ability
is further refined through intellectual exchanges with third

Figure5. Virtuous Cycle& FlyWheel
Amazon.com

parties, which mutually enlighten and enlighten each other,and deepen the relationship of empathy and trust. Theseexperiences, accompanied by various feelings and emotions,

Coincidentally, the Virtuous Cycle is the name of thefamous business model of Amazon[10]

accumulate in the collective knowledge as the stories and, one of the world's

know-how of a completely different third party. This is the way

leading high-tech companies. However, its meaning is "theto verify "truth (scientific and accurate knowledge, justicecycle of good (booming business)," not "the cycle of virtue.

without prejudice or misunderstanding)" for what Whitehead

Nevertheless, the goods that are distributed are still the foodcalls "civilization," and only when a correct view of things isof life, be it human virtue, food, or water, and if human are

established can truth, goodness, and beauty be recognized.

to make the Infosphere a better place, we should refer to theresults of this highly efficient circulation model. The beauty of

8. Normative Theory in the Infospheremodeling lies in its availability, its scalability, and its ability to

Earlier the auther mentioned that the ethos of the infospherebe tried and tested even when goals change.

is like water and air. In the early days of the Internet, thespirit of autonomy, decentralization, and collaboration createdserendipity and supported the foundation of the Internet.
The spirit of open source played a role in smoothing therelationship of human ethics (altruism), as people tookpleasure in knowledge and emergence that was useful toothers in a shady way as their own. Today, however, theinfosphere is dominated by the capitalist market, wherepreviously free assets (users' public content) are used almost
for free to train search engines and artificial intelligence, and©2023 Digital Hollywood University

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everyone (even judges) use those tools daily, even companies

And Whitehead gives only one example of an ethicaland services that are subject to monopolistic regulation. Whilemeans. It is the need for "adventure. He says that it is

not questioning here the legitimacy of its enormous revenues

ethical to die to self and live to others, and that it is theand market oligopoly, Hayek pointed out the imperfections ofadventurous act of doing so for the sake of others that is

this digital capitalist market, defending the three shortcomings

ethical. This is one of the five necessary elements of humanpointed out by David Hume "A Treatise of Human Nature", as"civilization," and it is here that the ethical good is realized. ［13］follows.

9. Natural law of the infosphere(a) Individuals are different human values and beliefs of

Natural law, which has its roots in Greek philosophy andlimited toleration (Limited toleration), which differ fromis separate from actual law, holds that the basic principles

person to person and society to society, and therefore,of morality and justice are inherent in nature, as in all otherrespect for individual diversity and a tolerant society arelife, and that man can attain these laws through the power

important elements that support a free market economy.

of his reason. It has been reinterpreted in modern times
by many philosophers, including Grotius, Hobbes, Locke,(b) Imperfect knowledge and desires (Imperfect knowledge

Hume, and Kant.

and desires) also stated that people do not have perfect

Later, universal content was incorporated into constitutions,information about the market, making it difficult for them topractical rules became substantive and customary law, andmake appropriate economic decisions, and that it is bestwith the establishment of parliamentary democracy, the legal

to leave the decision-making to the spontaneous decisions

basis faded away, being transformed into a philosophy ofof individuals with individual knowledge.

law, natural law theory. However, The Natural Law suddenly
made its presence felt at the Nuremberg Tribunal and at the(c) Scarcity of means to end, He pointed out the need toTokyo Trials as "Higher Law," where it became the basis forassume that economic activities and decisions will always

the establishment of "crimes against peace," "crimes against

be subject to scarcity because of the constraints on thehumanity," and "war crimes" by appealing to the past. In thismeans and resources people must achieve their respective

sense, a "legal vacuum" regarding crimes of an unforeseen

desires.

war scale would be a possible problem, especially in theinfosphere (e.g., artificial intelligence weapons).

To resolve these issues, the economist Hayek, although a

For example, the economist Frederick Hayek worked in later

proponent of capitalism and liberalism, believed that economic

years to conceive and test the concept of an "autogenous

theory could not solve these problems. He interpretedorder" based on his own interpretation of the Natural Law tonatural law in his own way, and from the perspective of social

protect democracy from corruption. This concept seems anphilosophy, he proposed a bottom-up legal order, which heideal approach in that it is compatible with Internet culture,

called "autogenous order," to ensure equality and equity inreforms the dysfunction of international law across the realsociety. Whitehead also offered harsh criticism of the evils of

law of nations, and democratically prevents the corruption ofindividual and social conventions.

authority. Of course, we know that it has the same limitations
as the United Nations, the Security Council, and international

I. Good people of narrow sympathies - A.N.

Whiteheadlaw, but could we not see the infosphere as a "Leviathan"Successful in certain fields, comfortable in a stable world,

and apply it to the control of specific cybercrimes that haveself-righteous with narrow sympathies, obsessed with self-

significant common interests across political systems?

preservation, intolerant, and extremely evil.［11］Hobbes' Leviathan attempts a modernized clarificationof natural law, which dates back to Greek times and is

II. Change with a great society, not a great man."- A.N.

separated from religion, with the most famous principle of self-

Whitehead

preservation as its first section. Most of the content of natural

The harshness (poverty and inequality) of civilized society

law in only 11 chapters is also applicable to the right to thebrought about by liberal beliefs requires, under democratic

pursuit of happiness, which is guaranteed in international

principles, mitigating measures such as welfare policies andhuman rights law and other international laws and in thesocial programs. The question then, which civilized society

constitutions of various countries. Leviathan is described as anwants to address, is how to produce a great society, not how

artificial state with strong authority, but what exactly it refers

to produce a great people.

to is not noted by Hobbes. Because of its ambiguity, it was
the subject of an inquisition by the kingly national church andIII. Cross-disciplinary collaboration and cross-interest

condemned by parliament as a defense of absolute monarchy.

communication - A.N. Whitehead

Yet it is this multifaceted, intangible, and immense power that

The challenge is to construct a worldview that includes

seems to be the new Leviathan, filling the legal vacuum in the"elements such as awe and order" and is "grounded in

informational sphere and making the rule of law a reality. It isunyielding rationality" for various people with different

also a milestone in the re-modernization of natural law thatspecialties to collaborate and achieve a deeper level ofdeserves to be the catalyst for a change in the status quo

communication that transcends their personal interests. ［12］of international law, which is considered ineffective, because
otherwise the legal order of the networked globe would admit©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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of a gradual regression by the decentralization of its authority.

vision by a great individual. It is the establishment of social

Specifically, private companies have recently been issuing

platforms (socialization and knowledge exchange) in the true

unique IDs on the Internet by means of iris recognition.

sense of the word.

Basically, the purpose is to verify if a person is a real person

It is important to note that as man is placed in his own

or not through a camera when accessed remotely, but suchworld, and as he limits himself while being limited bya function could be converted into an oath or voting function

it - where man is in irreplaceable uniqueness - man isfor a strong artificial Leviathan in the infosphere. If the United

constantly moving forward creatively in these moment-

Nations fails to reach consensus on a permanent Security

to-moment transitions. In other words, the limits of life

Council, and if the relevant countries exercise their veto

are given as destiny, a creative opportunity for self-

power, we will have a situation in which the nuclear powers willtransformation and self-identity.［14］not be able to avoid war, and we will again be unable to avoid

In this sense, the worldview of artificial intelligence, which

what Whitehead worried about a hundred years ago (the use

relates entities in the world in a <probabilistic statistical>of nuclear weapons, which Russell and Einstein blamed onmanner, is incompatible with a metaphysical worldview that

the United States after the war). We will not be able to avoid

cannot be described by mathematical formulas, and withagain what Whitehead worried about a hundred years ago.

Actual Entity, which has a meaningful relationship witheverything in the world. Therefore, the challenge of our time

1 0 . C o n c l u s i o n : To w a r d t h e R e a l i z a t i o n o f
Social Norms in the Inforsphereis not to realize the "good" as it is by advancing information
technology, but to "re-create and redefine the worldview" byAs we have already seen, Whitehead envisioned theviewing the infosphere as a new world, and the reconstruction

realization of a dual structure in which man is placed in hisof a moral platform as a social norm should be given theown world by the "philosophy of organism" and createshighest priority.
In this paper, the authernewness in a way that limits himself while being limited byhave examined a model that

it, thereby acquiring "truth (scientific knowledge)," "art (thesupports the realization of human creative activity and ethicalability to express true beauty)," "ethics (ethical goodness

good by improving "world resolution" so as to climb one more

= altruistic adventure)," and " He envisioned the realization

step further and further up the civilization of humanity and theof a dual structure that would produce new creations in theworld that Whitehead aimed for. Given the many crises (i.e.,

world in a limited, immediate, and capable manner. In otherapocalypse) that humanity is currently facing, it is imperative

words, he dreamed of the civilization of mankind and thethat the Infosphere become more ethical and build a sharedworld through the cyclic re-creation of mankind and the world,social norm that transcends nation, race, and religion.

which would evolve without the use of war. 100 years later,in the current international political climate, which once again

Acknowledgments

looks like the eve of World War II, it is clear that the dream ofThis paper is based on the findings of a client with whomthe "world" is not only for scientists, but also for all people,

the author collaborated on the development of "Interest

our task remains the same: "to re-create and redefine aSpace," a service conceived in Japan in 2001 and operated

worldview thoroughly grounded in unyielding rationality,

in collaboration with staff and users for the next 14 years as

containing elements of piety and order without whicha pioneering example of social media. I would like to take thissociety would be in chaos."

opportunity to express my gratitude to all parties involved.

Whitehead equated these intellectual endeavors with what
Plato calls virtue, but it would be difficult to make a modern

References

person understand this scheme as Greek-era virtue ethics.

[1] Alfred. North. Whitehead: "Science and the Modern

Whitehead, moreover, called the smallest unit of entity

World"(1925), New York: Free Press, 1967, 99p(information), the basic premise of his understanding, Actual[2] Plato: “Timaeus/Critias", KISHIMI Ichiro, Hakutaku-sha,

Entity, and sought a worldview in metaphysics that went

2015

beyond scientific explanation. Although it took 2,000 years[3] Alfred. North. Whitehead: "Process and Reality"(1929),

to establish parliamentary democracy, we are now forced to

New York: Free Press, 1978

imagine a new stage of humanity to avoid more misfortunes,[4] Luciano Floridi: "INFORMATION: A VERY SHORT

to establish the habits of "co-creation, collaboration, andI N T R O D U C T I O N ( i n J a p a n e s e ) . " , Ke i s o s h o b o, O x f o r denjoyment" in addition to civilization through "persuasion,"

University Press, 2010

and to construct new international conventions and social[5] Martin Heidegger: "Martin Heidegger Gesamtausgabe7.",

norms in the transnational infosphere.

Vittorio Klostermann (2000) p.150

The auther believe that this concept can be implemented[6] Lao Tzu: " Lao Tzu Dao Ching Kamen 8."(1997), Osamu

i n s o c i e t y w i t h t h e " V i r t u o u s Cy c l e " c o n c e p t t o r a i s e

Kanaya, Kodansha-Gakujyutsu-Bunko(in Japanese), 35p

the "resolution of the world" in the infosphere. In the[7] The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size(in"PatientsLikeMe" case study, the options for treatment andJapanese), 1999/8/1 Tor Norretranders,182p

nursing care are increasing. Automation will be dramatically[8] YAMAMOTO Seisaku: "Whitehead and the Modern World（inincreased in the future. And its promotion, says Whitehead,

Japanese）" 1991, Afterword, p216, Hozokan

should be based on education, enlightenment, exchange,[9] YAMAMOTO Seisaku: "Whitehead and the Modern World（inwelfare, and its foundation by a great society, not a social

Japanese）" 1991, Chapter6, p.162", Hozokan©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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[10] Amazon Flywheel Model: the Approach that Leads to
Success - AMZ Expert
https://amz-expert.pro/amazon-flywheel-model-the-approachthat-leads-to-success[11] A.N. Whitehead: "Religion in the Making" 1926. New
York: Fordham University Press,1996. p.98
[12] A.N. Whitehead: "Science and the Modern World."
1925.
New York: Free Press, 1967. p.205[13] A.N. Whitehead: "Adventures of Ideas." 1926. New
York: Fordham University Press,1967. p.99
[14］YAMAMOTO Seisaku: "Whitehead and the Modern World（in Japanese）" 1991, Chapter6, Hozokan, p.177©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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Research Notes

Comprehensive Survey of Requisites and Trends of Language
Training in the COVID-19 Era
KANNARI Taro

YAMAZAKI Atsuko

OTC Inc.

Digital Hollywood University, Graduate School,
Specially Appointed Professor

This study examined the evolving need for language instruction in the commercial sector during the global
pandemic. Having surveyed over 300 Japanese professionals, we discovered that 72.6% used AI/Web services
to improve their language skills and 74.5% reported a significant decline in linguistic challenges. Notably, 60% of
the respondents were satisfied with their current corporate language programs, but the majority expressed a desire
to expand the programs for specific business-related language skills in their organizations. The results indicateda variation in the perceived importance of language training in specific skills based on age group. This finding
highlighted the necessity of tailoring training programs to the specific skills required by different age groups, rather
than offering generic training programs based solely on proficiency levels. This finding also emphasized the increasing
significance of AI in language services and the critical need for advanced English communication skills in thebusiness sector.

1. Introduction

2. The purpose and hypothesis of this study
2-1. Purpose

The global pandemic has deeply affected work patterns
and business communication. Traditionally, expatriates took

Considering the pandemic’s impact on work methodologies

time to build trusting relationships with their counterparts

and the swift integration of communication tools, this study

and functioned as hubs to bridge the gap between theiraims to reassess language training methodologies in line withdomestic teams and overseas offices. For many companies,changes in business efficiency and linguistic interactions.

the number of visits and the time spent on entertainment2-2. Hypothesis

are considered important. However, business cannot besuspended because of travel restrictions or difficulties

AI and Web services offer limited assistance for global

with face-to-face communication due to the pandemic.

assignments. Nonetheless, technological solutions that

The Japanese government's endorsement of remote work,

address specific shortcomings will further propel business.

bolstered by subsidies, has prompted companies to invest

Underlying language training demands differ among age

in online meeting technologies [1] . Previously, only a few

demographics, and customizing training modules based on

employees had engaged in international projects. Currently,

age can amplify cost benefits.

even new employees engage in remote meetings with global
colleagues and clients [2]. This has shifted communication

2-3. Method

to digital platforms such as online meetings and email.

We conducted an online survey from September 30, 2021 toThis transition led to and necessitated the distribution of

October 8, 2021, using a questionnaire consisting of 20

agendas and documents beforehand, thereby facilitating lucid

questions to validate the hypotheses of this study. We reachedcommunication. This transition challenges the earlier notions

54,149 people based on the following three conditions:that, by working on-site, language barriers would naturally(1) they worked for companies or organizations with overdissipate, and that showing Japanese hospitality and pairing

300 personnel; (2) they worked remotely; and (3) they had

communication with entertainment would be adequate.

knowledge of overseas work activities in their workplace. In
total, 8,734 respondents qualified for the survey.

For businesses with vast international operations, ceasing

To avoid

operations due to the pandemic is not workable. Although

age and gender bias, we set equal numbers of age groups in

hiring interpreters is not feasible for all companies, firms arewhich the genders were equally distributed. Those aged 18

adjusting by recruiting multilingual personnel and using AI

to 19 years and over 50 years were eliminated because theand automated translation solutions [3] . This study delves

gender distribution differs from other age groups. As a result, a

into the changing language training requirements during thegroup of 355 respondents was selected by dividing them into

COVID-19 pandemic, the equilibrium between personal andeight age groups ranging from 20 to 50 years old in 5-year

group sessions, and the efficacy of language assistance tools,

increments. This study included 351 valid respondents.

including AI.

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3. Results and analysis

3-2. Evolution of Business Operations and Hurdles
A 2019 IIBC poll revealed that 61% of the TOEIC

3-1. Shifts in International Business Practices Owing

exam participants employed English when collaborating

to Remote Work Integration

on international projects. This percentage is projected to

The escalation of remote work has intensified English
interaction in global ventures. According to our survey,

be 38.8% in the next three years [5] . The impact of themore than 62.7% of enterprises have integrated online

pandemic has accelerated the transition to more frequentconferencing tools for international interaction. Major

online negotiations, agreements, presentations, and email

corporations, particularly those with high headcounts andcommunications. However, challenges persist in speaking andlarge staff, have incorporated online conference solutions tocomprehension (See Figure 3).

counteract business interruptions (See Figure 1).

Figure 3. Difficulties found in online meetings.
Figure 1：Trends in communicating with overseas
following the pandemic

While online conference tools can transcribe discussions,
meeting participants often misinterpret non-native English.
This situation emphasizes the need for training in initial

The swift adoption rate of virtual meeting platforms, such as

listening and comprehension skills (See Figure 4).

Microsoft Teams and Zoom, indicates this trend. The broad
acceptance of these instruments has transformed businessdiscussions and infiltrated domains such as education [4] .
What changes have led to the expansion of remote work inoperations? As shown in Figure 2, the number of tasks related
to meetings increased, including online meetings (65.2%),
responding to e-mails (56.8%), and writing reports (53.8%).
This confirms that, even during the period when overseas
travel was restricted, respondents continued to perform
international business tasks (See Figure 2).

Figure 4.1 Most respondents wanted corporate language
training programs,
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e s u r v e y r e s u l t s, “ B u s i n e s s E n g l i s hConversation”ranked first overall, with 62.1% of respondents
wanting to see it added to training programs within theirorganizations. The second was “Presentations" at 50.5%,
and third was“Negotiation”at 40%. The difference between
the first- and third-place items was approximately 22%.
With the increase in participation in online meetings, there
Figure 2. Changes in the need to perform specificinternational business tasks.

is a high demand for programs related to skills, such aspresentations and meetings, which are directly related towork. Interestingly, many companies had been offering the

In many cases, owing to rapid changes, it is not possible

above programs before the pandemic, but this survey item lists

to develop language skills over time. To accomplish this,the programs that they would like to see in addition to theirchanges in thinking and methods are required. For example,

existing curricula.

by changing from an individual-based system to a teambased system, we can reduce individual workload while
creating results through collaboration. By making the best useof available tools and resources, respondents were able toovercome these difficulties.

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Figure.4.2 Most respondents wanted corporate language
training programs organized by age group.
Figure 5. Utility of AI and web-based language assistancein reducing language barriers at work

As Figure 4.2 shows, there is strong demand for business
English across all age groups, while other skills such

Responses to the survey highlighted specific difficulties in

as facilitation, debate, technical guidance, and projecttranslating specialized terms, with 78 respondents expressing

dissemination were dominant only for certain age groups.

this concern. The comments indicated a deficiency in

Reflecting on active participation in online business activities

vocabulary related to industry-specific, legal, and association

for those aged 20 to 29, results showed interest in writing

terms. The accuracy of the translation remains a significant

emails, taking minutes, and negotiating Business English.

issue, with a notable demand for tools that can capture andNew employees and those in the early stages of theirrepresent nuances, particularly in Japan.

business careers in business typically take CEFR-based

As we reviewed the responses, it became apparent that

Business English training programs that focus on situationalan overreliance on literal translations has resulted in thebusiness communication in general. However, they often findmistranslation of industrial jargon and technical terms,

themselves regularly arranging online meetings with agendas

with consistent feedback suggesting a lack of contextual

and minutes attached to emails as well.

understanding of the tool. There is a need for the tool to be

Those in middle management, aged between 30 andmore human-like in its understanding and interpretation of40, aim to acquire Business English as their primary skill.

content, especially in negotiations and with colloquial terms.

However, their responses also show a competitive demand forSome users reported the tool taking liberties with translations

presentation and meeting skills over Business English. Middle

withoutmanagers require practical Business English skills, such as thetheir command, leading to unintended translations.

The survey results also indicated that 40% of respondents

ability to engage in complex and lengthy discussions that buildused free translation tools, suggesting room for improvementon their knowledge of human resources and management.

if more specialized or paid tools are used. However, further

This indicates that a simple scene-by-scene study like a

improvements in translation accuracy are still expected, as

traditional coursebook would be insufficient. Therefore, thehighlighted (See Figure 6).

language education programs that are now being sought after
are those that focus on skills for analyzing issues encounteredin modern work situations, accurately interpreting messages,
and sending messages that effectively communicate thelearners’intentions.
Based on the available data, it can be inferred that theexisting business English courses are effective in teachingfundamental language skills in professional settings. However,to further enhance the practicality of the learners' experience,
it is crucial to explore the most effective methods of cateringto their needs and preferences.

3-3. AI/Web Services Utilization
Figure 6. Preferences for AI and web-based automation
tools on the job/at work

Advanced linguistic competencies are crucial in digital
discourse. To mitigate language proficiency deficiencies,
72.6% resorted to AI or Internet-based language aids, with

While these tools are appreciated for their current

74.5% confirming a decline in language obstructions (Seefunctionality, there is considerable scope for improvement,

Figure 5).

especially in terms of specialized terminology and nuance.
Addressing these areas will greatly benefit users and enhancetheir experience. Thus, it is imperative to remember that, forthe foreseeable future, human beings must evaluate and refine
the output of AI based on their respective expertise.

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4. Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a paradigm
shift in business operations and heightened the demand forindustry-specific language proficiency. Our research indicatesthat Japanese professionals are increasingly utilizing artificial
intelligence (AI) and web-based language tools to enhancetheir communication skills. As AI linguistic models advance andspecialized vocabulary expands, their commercial utilization
will become more widespread. Therefore, customized business
English training that is tailored to the age and proficiency
levels of individuals is crucial. Specifically, individuals in their
twenties may benefit from training in email communicationand minute-taking, while those in their thirties may focus onpresentations and negotiations. Proper customization basedon needs analysis can lead to increased cost efficiency for
language training and better business outcomes.
Furthermore, as the role of AI in global communication
continues to expand, it is increasingly critical to understandcultural nuances and value intercultural communicative
expertise. While AI can assist in overcoming linguistic barriers,
individuals must also rely on their intellect and specializedbusiness communication knowledge to avoid an over-relianceon AI.

Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Mr. Edward Tanksley (OTC Inc.)and Mr.Ryan Van de Kamp (OTC Inc.) for the reviews andsuggestions on an earlier version of this study report.
References[1] EU-Japan Centre. (n.d.). DIGITAL TRANSFORMATIONIN JAPAN: Assessing business opportunities for EU SME.
Retrieved August 31, 2023, from https://www.eu-japan.eu/
sites/default/files/publications/docs/Digital-TransformationJapan-Assessing-opportunities-forEU-SMEs.pdf[2] Caitlin Ferreira, Jeandri Robertson, Leyland Pitt: Business(un)usual: Critical skills for the next normal, Thunderbird Int.
Bus. Rev. 65:39–47, 2023; DOI: 10.1002/tie.22276[3] D. Eleanor Westney, Rebecca Piekkari, Kaisa Koskinen,
Susanne Tietze: Crossing borders and boundaries: Translation
ecosystems in international business, International Business
Review, Vol. 31, Issue 5, October 2022, 102030, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2022.102030[4] Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. (n.d.).
2021 WHITE PAPER. Retrieved August 14, 2023, fromhttps://www.soumu.go.jp/johotsusintokei/whitepaper/ja/r03/
html/nd123440.html[5] IIBC. (n.d.). English Language Utilization Survey 2019
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official_data/lr/katsuyo_2019/pdf/katsuyo_2019_corpo.pdf©︎2023 Digital Hollywood University

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DHU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Vol.01 2023
Research Bulletin of Digital Hollywood University
Edited by Research Bulletin Editorial Team of Digital Hollywood University
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Rev.02.001
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