Customer Involvement

Wang: You know our management has decided to get our customers involved in our range and quality of products.
Zhang: That＇s a very good idea. Customers＇ opinions are really important to us if we want to stay ahead in the market. But how to get their opinions?
Wang: It＇s certainly not easy. I think we can do that through the Internet. We can invite our customers to email us their opinions about our products whenever they have any.
Zhang: But not all the customers have access to the Internet.
Wang: No, of course not. I bet we can take advantage of our helpline service.
Zhang: Yes. And we can also design a questionnaire for this purpose. And give it to our customers when they buy our products,
Wang: Good. But then, how can we make use of their opinions when we have got them?
Zhang: We can pass them on to R&D and QC. I think it＇s mostly their job to diversify our products and improve their quality.
Wang: Yes. I think R&D can take into consideration the feedback from the customers when they try to upgrade our products or develop new products.
Zhang: And QC can have a better idea as to how to ensure our quality or how to make it even better.
Factory Site
Wang: You know, ABC & Co. Ltd, one of our clients in the UK, is considering building a factory in Shanghai.
Zhang: Yes. I think it＇s a wise decision. More and more multinational corporations are coming here to invest.
Wang: They want to know where to build their factory. Have you got anything in mind?
Zhang: Well, I think they could build their factory in Pu Dong High-Tech & Development area.
Wang: Yeah. It＇s a very nice place, with a very friendly investment environment.
Zhang: You said it. They provide first-rate service for foreign investors. And the traffic there is really convenient.
Wang: And there are quite a lot of preferential policies for foreign investors.
Zhang: But the fee for land use is a bit too high there.
Wang: Yeah. That＇s about the only thing some of the foreign investors complain about.
Zhang: I hear some of the development areas around Shanghai, like those in Kunshan and Suzhou, are also good and they charge a much lower fee for land use.
Wang: So ABC & Co. Ltd could also invest in those cities.
Zhang: I think so. And what do you think the company need to know about work practices in our country?
Wang: There＇s quite a number of things, I think.
Zhang: Like what?
Wang: I think they should get to know if there is any restriction on the employment of the local people.
Zhang: And especially the policies in relation to the overtime and paid holidays.
Wang: That＇s right.
Language Audit
Zhang: You know we are going to make a survey of all our staff members in terms of their foreign language skills..
Wang: Good idea. This will be beneficial to both the management and the staff members themselves.
Zhang: Yes, that makes sense. But how can we convince the staff members that the survey would be beneficial to them?
Wang: I don＇t think it＇s difficult. Just let them know that we are running a series of training classes for them. A survey of their skills in foreign language will help us place them in a class appropriate for them.
Zhang: And I think that we should also get across to them that we are thinking of assigning some sales reps to the States. Those whose English is better than the others have a better chance to be chosen.
Wang: I think that will be convincing enough. And we＇ve actually touched upon the question of how to put into use the survey results.
Zhang: Yeah. And I think there＇s more uses that we can put the results into. For example, some of our staff members have been complaining about our foreign language textbook being too difficult. This way, we shall be able to compile books appropriate for them.
Wang: Good. And it also helps us in placing our staff members. You know, some of the positions need people with better foreign language skills than others.
Zhang: Yes, indeed.
Job sharing
Wang: You know our company is considering a job sharing system.
Zhang: Yeah, a system that allows some jobs to be shared by two staff members.
Wang: So if we introduce this scheme, which types of job do you think it would be suitable for?
Zhang: Not many, I am afraid. Obviously most of the managers cannot work on a job-sharing basis.
Wang: That makes sense. It would be difficult to split a managerial task between two managers.
Zhang: But I think this scheme would be perfectly suitable for some clerical work. For example, two clerks can share a typing task.
Wang: Then what kind of people do you think would be most suited to sharing jobs?
Zhang: Mostly working mothers, who need to take care of their babies while working with a company.
Wang: And also employees who hope to pursue a higher degree.
Zhang: Yeah, they can share a job with a colleague so that they can afford some time to attend lectures in colleges or universities.
Wang: Anyway, do you think this scheme should be introduced in our company?
Zhang: Well, there are quite a lot of young people in our company, who＇re thinking of a higher degree, an MBA or something. If they are allowed to share their jobs with others, they can have more flexibility in arranging their time schedule.
Wang: And there they＇ll have more chances to get a higher degree.
Zhang: Right