第一篇:商务英语4课文翻译Raising Finance
Raising Finance--翻译
Raising Finance 融资
When a company is growing rapidly, for example whencontemplating investment in capital equipment or an acquisition, its currentfinancial resources may be inadequate.当一家公司迅速成长时,例如考虑投资固定设备或进行收购时,它的资金流(current financialresources翻译不准)可能不够充足。
Few growing companies are ableto finance their expansion plans from cash flow alone.很少有成长中的公司能够仅通过现金流为他们的扩张计划融资。
They will therefore need toconsider raising finance from other external sources.因此,他们需要考虑从其他外部来源进行融资。
In addition, managers who arelooking to buy-in to a business(‘managementbuy-in’ or ‘MBI’)or buy-out(‘management buy-out’or ‘MBO’)abusiness from its owners, may not have the resources to acquire the company.此外,正准备从公司所有者手中对公司进行外部管理层收购或企业内部管理层收购的管理者们可能没有财力收购该公司。
They will need to raise financeto achieve their objectives.他们需要筹集资金以达到他们的目标。
There are a number of potentialsources of finance to meet the needs of a growing business or to finance an MBIor MBO: 有很多潜在的资金来源,可以满足成长中的企业或为外部管理层收购或企业内部管理层收购融资。
-Existing shareholders anddirectors funds 现有股东和董事基金
-Family and friends 家庭和朋友
-Business angels 天使投资者
-Clearing banks(overdrafts,short or medium term loans)清算银行(透支,中短期贷款)
-Invoicediscounting 发票贴现
-Hire purchaseand leasing 分期付款购买和租赁
-Merchant banks(medium to longer term loans)商业银行(中长期贷款)
-Venturecapital 风险资本
A key consideration in choosing the source of newbusiness finance is to strike a balance between equity and debt to ensure thefunding structure suits the business.平衡权益和负债以保证融资结构适合企业是选择新企业融资来源的一个重要考虑因素。
The main differences between borrowed money(debt)and equity are that,with debt, bankers request interest payments and capital repayments, andthe borrowed money is usually secured on business assets or the personal assetsof shareholders and/or directors.借来的钱(负债)和权益的主要区别在于:对于负债,银行家请求支付利息和偿还资本,借来的钱通常用企业的资产或股东或董事的个人资产进行担保。
A bank also has the power to place a business into administration orbankruptcy if it defaults on debt interest or repayments or its prospectsdecline.如果企业拖欠债务、利息或还款或它的前景下降(预期下降),银行也有能力将企业置于行政管制或破产。(placea business into administration 翻译不确定)
In contrast, equity investors take the risk of failure like othershareholders, whilst they will benefit through participation in increasinglevels of profits and on the eventual sale of their stake.相反,股票投资者像其他股东一样承担(投资)失败的风险,同时,他们能在利润增长和最终销售股票时获益。
The overall objective in raisingfinance for a company is to avoid exposing the business to excessive highborrowings, but without unnecessarily diluting the share capital.一个公司的总体融资目标是避免企业曝露于过高的借款风险,没有不必要的稀释股权资本。
This will ensure that the financialrisk of the company is kept at an optimal level.这将确保公司的财务风险保持在一个最优水平。
Raising finance is dependent on a good business plan which demonstratesthat the management is aware of all the risks involved.融资依赖于一个好的商业计划,该计划表明管理层知道所有涉及的风险。
Types of Finance 融资类型
Venture capital 风险资本
Venture capital is a general term to describe a rangeof ordinary and preference shares where the investing institution acquires ashare in the business.风险资本是一个描述投资机构取得企业一系列普通股和优先股的总括术语,Venture capital is intended for higher risks such as start-up situationsand development capital for more mature investments.风险资本用于像新建企业的高风险投资和更为成熟的开发资金投资。(本句有问题)
There are also certain large industrial companies which have fundsavailable to invest in growing businesses and this 'corporate venturing' is anadditional source of equity finance.也有一些大型工业企业有基金可用于投资成长型企业,这种公司风险投资是股权融资的另一个来源。
Grants 政府拨款
Government,local authorities and local development agencies are the major sources ofgrants(政府拨款).政府、地方当局和地方发展机构是政府拨款的主要来源。
Grants are normally made tofacilitate the purchase of assets and either the generation of jobs or thetraining of employees.政府拨款通常用于帮助购买资产、为某代人提供就业岗位或培训员工。
InvoiceDiscounting 发票贴现
Finance can beraised against debts due from customers via invoice discounting, thus improvingcash flow.资金可以通过对客户所欠债务进行发票贴现筹集,从而改善现金流。
Debtors are used as the primesecurity for the lender and the borrower may obtain up to about 80 per cent ofapproved debts.债务人是放款人的主要抵押品(primesecurity翻不准),借款人可能获得高达80%的核准债务。
Hire Purchaseand Leasing 分期付款购买和租赁 Hire purchase(分期付款购货信贷)agreementsand leasing(租赁)providefinance for the acquisition of specific assets such as cars, equipment andmachinery involving a deposit and repayments over, typically, three to tenyears.租购(分期付款购货信贷)协议和租赁为获得诸如汽车、设备和机械等特定资产筹措资金,包括定金和典型的三到十年的还款。
Loans 贷款
Medium termloans(up to seven years)and long term loans(including commercial mortgages)are provided for specific purposes such as acquiring an asset, business orshares.中期贷款(多达七年)和长期贷款(包括商业抵押贷款)为诸如资产收购、公司收购或股票收购等特定目的而提供。
The loan is normally secured onthe asset or assets and the interest rate may be variable or fixed.贷款通常用一项资产或多项资产担保,利息可能是浮动的或变动的。
Bank Overdraft 银行透支
An overdraft is an agreed sum bywhich a customer can overdraw their current account.透支是一个约定的金额,在此额度内,客户可以透支他们的现金账户。
It is normally secured oncurrent assets, repayable on demand and used for short term working capitalfluctuations.它通常是以流动资产担保,立即付款,用于应对短期营运资金波动。
The interest cost is normallyvariable and linked to the bank base rate.利息费用通常是浮动的,与银行基本利率相联系。
Completing theFinance-raising 完成资金筹集
Raising financeis often a complex process.融资通常是一个复杂的过程。
Business management needs to assess several alternatives and then negotiate terms which are acceptable to the finance provider.企业管理层需要评估几种方案,然后协商哪些条款金融提供者能够接受。
The main negotiating points areoften as follows: 主要的谈判点通常如下:
-Whether equity investors takea seat on the board 股权投资者是否在董事会占有席位
-Votes ascribed to equity investors 股权投资者所持票数
-Level of warranties and indemnities provided by the directors 担保水平和董事提供的保障(赔偿)
-Financier's fees and costs 投资家(金融家)的费用和成本
-Who bears costs of duediligence.谁承担尽职调查的费用。
第二篇:商务英语第一课课文翻译参考
打印机旁的玄机
一直以来,社会学家认为一项规模小于200人的事业,可以通过成员间自由的信息沟通而正常运转。一旦人数超过这一数字,无论如何,都要建立一套层级架构或流程管理体系,以避免无效沟通而导致的混乱。然而建立这种架构是需要成本的:第一,因为只有确定的个人之间才会经常性联系,所以信息也只能在特定渠道中流通;第二,范而不专的沟通意味着每个人不清楚自己的义务所在,致使工作只能小范围内“原地打转”。明确信息交换对象,立即反馈,而不是将信息看作一种公共义务,只有这样组织才会得益。组织规模越大,沟通灵活性越小。
解决上述问题的一个行之有效的办法,就是将大的组织划分成若干能够凝聚在一起工作的小规模单位。通过小单位之间的相互协作,更大的组织才得以建立。然而,仅仅划分若干小单位,比如说150个,并不是解决组织面临此类问题时的万能药。还需要内部员工之间建立直接的私人关系。若想让信息传达顺畅,就需要员工间的自然沟通,太正式的关系结构必然阻碍这一系统的正常运行。
几年前一位电视制片人让我意识到了这种沟通方式的重要性。她所在的工作团队负责某家电视台全部教育节目的制作。不知是存数巧合还是刻意设计,这一团队几乎正好有150人,多年来他们作为一个组织,运做得非常顺畅,直到搬入一处专门修建的办公场所。从此,不知不觉中,所有的一切却变得糟糕起来,工作感觉越来越难做,更不要说让团队成员满意了。
找到问题症结花了一段时间,原来,建筑师在设计新办公室时,考虑到员工平时午餐时间用来吃三明治的咖啡厅过于奢侈且没必要,故将其省略。逻辑上貌似,如果员工在各自办公桌上吃午餐,那么他们将把更多精力投入到工作中,并且也减少了无所事事的走动。而这么做,也无意间破坏了给整个团队带来动力的,密切的社交关系网。显而易见,原来员工们随意聚到咖啡厅吃三明治时,一些有用的信息便会在不经意间交流。如果哪位员工遇到问题无法解决,他便会在午饭时与其他部门的朋友讨论,或者这位朋友知道谁能解决这一问题,或者其他同事恰巧听到,要么提供一些建议,要么之后撞上某人而知道了答案,只要一个电话,问题便迎刃而解。此外,一些随意的评论或许还能激发灵感,带来一项新的计划。
这便是咖啡厅里,围着打印机闲聊的玄机所在。也正是一个成功组织与不成功组织的区别所在。
第三篇:体验商务英语4的翻译
Unit 1
一直以来,社会学家认为一项规模小于 200 人的事业,可以通过成员间自由的信息沟通而正 常运转。一旦人数超过这一数字,无论如何,都要建立一套层级架构或流程管理体系,以避 免无效沟通而导致的混乱。然而建立这种架构是需要成本的:第一,因为只有确定的个人之 间才会经常性联系,所以信息也只能在特定渠道中流通;第二,范而不专的沟通意味着每个 人不清楚自己的义务所在,致使工作只能小范围内“原地打转”。明确信息交换对象,立即 反馈,而不是将信息看作一种公共义务,只有这样组织才会得益。组织规模越大,沟通灵活 性越小。解决上述问题的一个行之有效的办法,就是将大的组织划分成若干能够凝聚在一起工作 的小规模单位。通过小单位之间的相互协作,更大的组织才得以建立。然而,仅仅划分若干 小单位,比如说 150 个,并不是解决组织面临此类问题时的万能药。还需要内部员工之间建 立直接的私人关系。若想让信息传达顺畅,就需要员工间的自然沟通,太正式的关系结构必 然阻碍这一系统的正常运行。几年前一位电视制片人让我意识到了这种沟通方式的重要性。她所在的工作团队负责某 家电视台全部教育节目的制作。不知是存数巧合还是刻意设计,这一团队几乎正好有 150 人,多年来他们作为一个组织,运做得非常顺畅,直到搬入一处专门修建的办公场所。从此,不知不觉中,所有的一切却变得糟糕起来,工作感觉越来越难做,更不要说让团队成员满意 了。找到问题症结花了一段时间,原来,建筑师在设计新办公室时,考虑到员工平时午餐时 间用来吃三明治的咖啡厅过于奢侈且没必要,故将其省略。逻辑上貌似,如果员工在各自办 公桌上吃午餐,那么他们将把更多精力投入到工作中,并且也减少了无所事事的走动。而这 么做,也无意间破坏了给整个团队带来动力的,密切的社交关系网。显而易见,原来员工们 随意聚到咖啡厅吃三明治时,一些有用的信息便会在不经意间交流。如果哪位员工遇到问题 无法解决,他便会在午饭时与其他部门的朋友讨论,或者这位朋友知道谁能解决这一问题,或者其他同事恰巧听到,要么提供一些建议,要么之后撞上某人而知道了答案,只要一个电 话,问题便迎刃而解。此外,一些随意的评论或许还能激发灵感,带来一项新的计划。这便是咖啡厅里,围着打印机闲聊的玄机所在。也正是一个成功组织与不成功组织的区 别所在。
Unit 2
在当今全球一体化不断深化的过程中,很多商人面对的任务更多的不再是新的市场开 拓而是在不同的国际市场中进行营销组合管理。问题是进行标准化经营还是力求使营销适 应不同市场,哪个才是更好的选择呢? 北美、英国、德国、意大利、日本和印度这些国家的消费者对车的品味是截然不同的。一个 没有区分国别特征的“世界性”的车是没有市场的。因此生产者试图寻找为每个市场单独设 计车型与为所有市场设计同种车型之间的平衡,而第一种方式是耗资巨大的。尼桑是这个领 域的先行者,它为了适应 75 个不同的国际市场需求,把汽车的底盘设计样式从 40 种减少到 了 8 种。但是,一些公司未考虑当地的喜好,为不同市场生产了同种产品。比如凯洛格公司就成 功得改变了消费模式。早餐麦片在 20 多年前的法国是不为人知的,而在今天非常普遍。凯 洛格当初未采纳麦片在法国没有销路的调查报告。与之相反的是可口可乐公司为了迎合当地 消费者的口味而改变了软饮料的配方,使其在美国、英国及印度的口味都不尽相同。因此是有一系列的新产品开发战略的。企业有时为每个市场定制同一种产品,有时为所 有市场提供一种规范化的产品,还有些时候他们折中而选择两者之间。新产品的开发加上国内市场的同心协力带来了更好的商品和服务。但是一般来说,对于 那些只在一个国家运作的公司或刚刚进驻新的国家的公司是不易获得这些机会的。因特网及公司内部互联网的出现有可能加速了挖掘市场的相关信息和新产品的特征的进 程。联合利华公司有 4 个全球研究实验室在为全球产品投入的同时,用来为不同市场开发产 品。这些实验室协力来寻找融合不同国家产品理念的可能性。摩托罗拉软件开发建设旨在从 事同一个项目的不同模块。不同的国家的公司开发产品的方式也截然不同。比如说,日本公司倾向于相信把新产品 投入市场然后测试它们的反响。产品本身的研发可能已经参照当前和潜在客户的意见而不是 传统的市场调研。另一方面,美国公司更倾向于使用更正式的市场调研方法。而德国公司则 更注重产品开发进度。显然公司针对不同种类的产品运用不同的投放策略。东芝将 DVD 投放市场的时间在日本 是 1996 年 11 月,在美国是 1997 年 3 月,而在欧洲是 1997 年秋天。然而,英特尔公司将它 的最新电脑芯片投放市场事实上在全球是同时进行的。市场投放决策也包含了市场营销组合 决策。花旗银行将它的信用卡业务按一定的顺序投放入亚太地区市场,并针对每个国家制定 个性化产品以保持其首选定位。它的促销,价格和分销策略也是因国家而异的。作为一个对比,真正的劳力士手表在世界上所有地方都是通过精密认证的;它的定位即 优雅的成功人士的腕表,它的广告信息在全球都是一致的。你总会在一个高档商品零售店发 现价格不菲的劳力士手表。或者考虑下联合利华的“救生圈”肥皂,在印度和东非市场有着 不同的成份。但是,联合利华在两个市场有着相同的定位,即做为一种便宜的日用肥皂并且 有着杀菌和保健成份。
Unit 3
在商业界的每个人都知道,成功在于如何吸引和留住客户。这听起来是如此令人宽慰的简单并且是可以完成的。但是,在现实中,至理名言很快就会被人遗忘。一旦公司已经吸引 了顾客,他们常常忽略了后面的反应。在令人兴奋的击败对手、价格谈判、获得订单、产品 交货过程中,经理尝尝忘乎所以。他们忘记了生意被认为单调的一面是什么——确保顾客仍 然还是顾客。未能专注于保持吸引顾客每年会花费企业企业大量的成本。据估计,公司为他们的顾客 每年平均要花费10%到30%。在不断变化的市场,这是不足为奇的。令人惊讶的事实是,一些 公司对于他们失去了多少顾客没有任何想法。知道现在,组织才开始认识到这些失去的机会和计算财务的含义。一个公司减少顾客的 数量将使它的业绩产生根本的差别。研究发现,在美国,每减少5%的不忠诚的客户,可增加 25%到85%的利润。Rank Xerox公司如此认真的对待留住顾客的问题,它是公司奖金方案的重要组成部分。在美国,多米诺披萨公司估计,在过去的十年里,他们的老估计价值超过5000美元。如果一 名顾客在第一次光临的时候,收到了质量低劣产品或服务,结果就是他们再也不会光顾,这 将损失公司数千美元的潜在收入(此外,还好考虑这其中有多少人可能将把他们不好的经历 讲述给其他人)
培育顾客忠诚度背后的逻辑是不可能质疑的。“在实践中,反驳大多数公司的营销努力都集 中在获取客户,而很少注重保留客户”,Cornfield University’s 的管理学院、《服务营销 本质》的作者 Adrian Payne 提出。“研究表明,顾客维系和盈利能力之间有高度的相关性。可以预测的是,建立客户关系倾向于购买更多的,而且通常比新客户花费更少的服务。此外,他们的价格敏感性往往更低,并可能提供免费的口碑广告和推荐。保持顾客同时也能够增加 竞争者进入市场的难度或增加他们的市场份额。” Payne指出了培养客户的忠诚度的阶梯。第一阶,预期。他们首先成为顾客,然后是客 户,然后是支持者,最后,如果这段关系是成功的,就会变成说服其他顾客的提倡者。开发 客户的道路上要有理念,长期的承诺和投资,这样才能培养顾客的忠诚度。
Unit 5
Is there a place for time in corporate utopia? 理想化的公司里有闲暇时间的一席之地吗? SAS 研究院的雇员们生活在一个员工的乌托邦之中。位于北卡罗来纳州的树木繁茂的 公司园区拥有一个人所需要的一切:医生、牙医、儿童现场看护、按摩师…… SAS 公司刚刚被《财富》杂志评选为美国最适宜工作的公司之一。如同所选出的其他 99 个公司那样,SAS 公司并不满足于仅仅用一张薪水支票回馈员工,公司还努力致力于使 他们的生活更轻松。事实上,这些最佳雇主们几乎没有人不设法去减轻员工们肩上的负担。他们有的提供管 家补贴,有的在傍晚将烹饪好的美食送至员工的府上,其余的提供美发、免费伟哥、减价寿 司、免费人体工学座椅。一家公司甚至提供 10000 美元(6070 英镑)的孩子的抚养费用提 供。有些雇主并不满足于上述这些,他们还帮助员工打发闲暇的时光。很多雇主提供游泳池 和健身中心,有的安排吉他课程或提供庭园修葺,更有甚者安排公司假日,让员工们和他们 的搭档轻松离岗去豪华岛屿度假。而这还不是全部:有些公司还为员工的个人生活设置了遵循的标准。在田纳西州,如果 员工按照指定的 10 条健康行为模式坚持锻炼,他们将得到 130 美元的现金奖励。对于这些有远见的雇主来说,工作/生活间的平衡这个伤脑筋的问题——假定是我们所面 对的最大的职场问题之一——神奇地消失了。这些公司连员工的生活也一并买断,其结果是平衡的问题不再凸现。而且在这些公司里,几乎没有人离职,这也许就意味着公司的每个人都非常愉快的工作。或许也表明,把一个人的全部生活和雇主分离开的工作前景太可怕了,所以看上去人们更容 易选择留在公司。在所有这些优厚福利中,只有一样东西是这些公司都不提供的——那就是时间。如果雇 主们真的想要显示他们在帮助雇员平衡他们的生活的话,答案并非是替他们购物、帮他们医 治牙齿以及给他们发放手提电脑好让他们“灵活地”通宵工作,而是要确保人们不要太辛苦地 工作。将其纳入公司的企业文化,从而没有人会被要求超时工作,比方说平均一周 40 小时。并由首席执行官以身作则。当然这并不容易,可能也并不便宜。但是一个解决了超时工作文化制度的雇主将会搞定 那些在世上免费美发、伟哥以及吉他课程从来也搞不定的部分。
第四篇:新编剑桥商务英语(中级)课文翻译
新编剑桥商务英语(中级)课文翻译 BEC课文翻译
1、We wanna hold your hand 我们愿与你携手创业
带着浓厚的经营意识,加上一些进取精神,再来瞧瞧,哈!你拥有了一家连锁店!如果想自己开店、大展身手却又苦于缺乏经验,同时又不想在这个充满风险的昙花一现的独立法人世界中立足,那么开家连锁店不失为一个明智之举。然而你必须明白自己将从事何种性质的经营,这是至关重要的。特许经营就是由一方(授予特许经营者)授权允许另一方(加盟特许经营者)使用其商标或商号,并使用其一揽子经营理念。
那么特许经营背后所隐藏的主要理念是否结合了自己独立开店和为公司打工这两种理念?英国特许经营协会会长丹·阿齐尔回答说:“绝非如此,这是一种可笑的过于简单的看法。其实这还是由你来经营自己的公司,但是避免了一些风险,同时增加了别人的支持。”他指出,相比大多数遭受失败的独立经营者,只有0.9%的特许经营店以失败告终。
尽管如此,成为特许经销商不可能使那些极具冒险精神的人感到满足。它不适合那些不想循规蹈矩的人。达美乐比萨特许经销店的销售经理威廉姆·尤班克这样说道:“如果你充满开创冒险的精神,这种形式不适合于你。它是一种原则规约,一个必须遵守规则的俱乐部。虽说有一定的独立性——我们的特许经销商可以自己制定价格表,但我们对菜单的内容要求非常严格。这是在帮助下经营公司。”
阿丝特丽德·帕狄尔刚刚成为达美乐比萨店的特许经营者,她告别了律师生涯,和她的丈夫合开一家特许经营店。“与其把所有的时间和精力倾注到为别人卖命的工作中,不如投入于自己的公司中。”帕狄尔三十一岁时放弃了薪水可观、受人尊敬的律师职业,转而经营这家比萨店,并获得回报。公司收益颇丰,业务出现了增长。
当然如果你下定决心,白手起家地单干,你随时可以从总店分离出去,另立门户,发展特许经营店。
阿齐尔说,想要设立特许经营店的新公司数目与日俱增。“加入这个队伍的人数多得令人难以置信,他们年龄越来越小,投资越来越少,他们获得回报后进行更大的风险投资。”如果能够募集到起步经费,开设自己的特许经营店,就为冒险家一展身手提供了理想机会
2、Not sold on sales
“你好!我在销售部工作。” 这话来自一个不善于开场白的人。不是吗?至少听起来不像战斗机飞行员或是无国界医师组织的理事那么神气。不幸的是,在销售部门工作总是摆脱不了乏味的形象,并与无商不奸的概念紧紧相联。这些也是毕业生求职问题之所在。另一方面,营销——一种不那么直接的销售方式,作为职业选择更受青睐,而且在晚餐会上听起来也更体面。原因何在?东芝电器公司的人力资源部经理苏珊·史蒂文斯认为:营销工作“显得很风光”,并且毕业生们“期待从事创造性的活动,参加公关活动,经常旅行,享受免费的娱乐”。然而
相比之下,销售则意味着挨家挨户推销,进行不期而至的拜访或拨打不期而至的电话。不过这完全是误导人的印象。在英国,从事销售职业的人数比营销人员多出大约20万人。其中部分原因是那些投身销售工作的人们意识到销售工作根本不像传言中说的那么可怕。
史蒂文斯经理说东芝公司最近不得不在毕业生招聘计划中,把销售和营销项目捆绑推向市场,因为“我们知道光有销售项目吸引不了毕业生。”这种投机做法奏效了。去年,多数招进来的员工选择了销售,包括营销专业的毕业生罗斯·斯诺登。“与营销不同的是,销售更具体实在。销售对公司的业绩有直接影响,所从事的工作是与人接触,与性格不同的人打交道。”毕业生们对销售工作不感兴趣,其部分原因是人们不把从事销售看成体面的职业。克拉莉萨·珍特曾是一名化学专业的毕业生,如今是一家虚拟主机IT公司Rackspace Managed Hosting的销售经理。她说:“就业部门未对销售工作进行宣传,对销售所能选择的各个工作层次缺乏宣传教育。我向来以为营销工作看起来更诱人,事实上它不是我原先所想象的那样充满生机。后来我通过和销售部的人们交谈,才明白销售工作同样可以充满激情。很快我清楚了,销售工作远比其他工作更适合我。现在我每天和顾客交谈,目标明确,充满激情。真是妙不可言!”
宝洁公司的销售总监汤姆·穆迪说:“销售工作有可能是一桩掌控着几百万英镑,同时确保顾客满意的生意。它的回报率超出了人们的想象。”这是我听到的最令人信服的推销口才!
要点解析:
(1)shake off its unglamorous image摆脱其乏味的形象。shake off摆脱,例如:shakeoff responsibility摆脱责任。
(2)associations with something rather dishonest本意为“和某种不诚实守信的因素紧紧相联”,在这个语境中可以翻译为“与无商不奸的概念紧紧相联”。unglamorous单调的,乏味的,例如:unglamorous environment单调的环境。(3)retain an air of glamour 显得很风光,retain an air of 带着„„的样子,例如retain an air of cheerfulness保持一种欢喜的样子。
(4)sales means door-to-door work and cold calling销售意味着挨家挨户推销,进行不期而至的拜访或拨打不期而至的电话。mean„意味着„„,例如Getting promoted means more responsibilities and higher salary.得到提拔意味着更多的责任和更高的薪水。
(5)The gamble paid off.这种投机做法奏效了。gamble赌博,投机。这里指该公司为了广纳人才,迎合毕业生青睐营销轻视销售的想法,把招聘计划投机地命名为 “营销和销售”,先把毕业生吸引进来,然后再逐渐把他们吸引到销售部门来。短语pay off意为“成功”,例如„The advertisement paid off‟.广告取
3、How Madonna mannged success
麦当娜如何奋力打造威功
麦当娜是一位充满活力的职业女性,在竞争激烈的唱片业成就骄人。麦当娜是如何取得成功的?我们又为什么要关心此事?这么说吧,如果我们想在商界获得成功,可以在五个方面从她的成功策略中获益。怀抱梦想
从中学时代起,麦当娜就为自己定下了明确目标:成为世界头号女演员。要不是从一开始就怀揣这一梦想,成功绝不可能降临。企业也一样,要有梦想和愿景,明确自己的目标,知道怎么去加以实现。同样,职业目标不明确的经理人往往会错失良机。了解行业需求
麦当娜是世界上最早把专题调查会的方式引入音乐行业的艺术家之一。2005年6、7月间,她与自己的DJ兼制作商斯图尔德·普莱斯(Stuart Price)一道在全欧洲的夜总会巡回进行试音(不演唱)。伴舞者对舞曲的反应被拍成胶片,用来确定《舞池告白》中的舞曲。同样,经理人也必须调查研究,深入了解客户需求。开发潜能,克服弱点
麦当娜获得成功的另一重要因素是她对自己的能力和弱点有清楚认识。刚出道时麦当娜就意识到,不论是自己的舞或歌单独来看都不算强项。她知道,只要能够找到合适的人一起合作,比如像麦克尔·杰克逊的经纪人弗莱迪·德·曼恩那样的,她就有信心填补空白。同样,公司和经理人也需要建立有用的人脉关系。持之以恒
麦当娜并非哪个唱片公司包装的产品——她的成就归功于她本人脚踏实地的勤奋努力。她的大多数娱乐兴趣都是由她自己的公司拥有或经营的。同样,在企业界,规划和制定策略不难,难的是经理们如何将其付诸实施。不断创新麦当娜在演唱风格和音响效果方面的不断变化创新,反映出她对随着快速变化的唱片业而不断在改变的演唱风格、社会准则和态度有一种敏锐意识。同样,不断追求创新的公司或经理人比起不求创新的那些更能够持久。
要点解析:
(1)high school不可按字面理解为“高中”。在英文里,high school指“中学”,初中为junior high school;高中为senior high school。
(2)set out为多义短语,主要有“出发,开始,打算”等义。如:Setting out inbusiness is no easy job.经商伊始事业不易。She set out as an actress with the help of a director.在一位导演的帮助下她开始当演员。
(3)DJ唱片骑师。全称disc jockey,缩略为disc jock或DJ,指电台音乐节目主持人或唱片音乐节目制作人。出自骑马术语。在现代英语中,jockey(骑师)一词的意思很丰富。在它当动词使用时,还有控制、操纵或影响的含义。于是,一 些对事物发展具有一定影响力的人,统统被称做骑师。例如,球场长凳(bench)上的拉拉队,就是bench jockey(板凳骑师)。从事硬件制作或销售的电脑公司员工被称为chip-jockey(芯片骑师)。迪斯科舞场里的disco jockey,被人们称为“打碟”的灵魂。音乐节目的播音员或唱片音乐节目的主持人,通过节目的选择和介绍,影响听众的情绪或倾向,同时在节目中巧妙地穿插一些广告或评论,可谓引导听众的绝妙骑师。
(4)team up(使)结成一队,(使)合作,(使)配合。如:They teamed up to write a novel.他们合作写一部小说。
(5)focus group一种相对比较随意,收集有关观点和态度方面数据的方法(amethod of data collection, a somewhat informal technique that can help you assess user needs and feelings),通过组织六至九位或十二位参与者针对某特定问题(focus)进行开放式的讨论。多用在市场学调研中。根据有关资料,在发展中国家,调查者通常使用这一方法来获得当地居民对计划生育、新技术引进等问题的看法;而在发达国家,越来越多的卫生促进和临床领域的调查报告基于这一方法。
该新词的译文五花八门:有“焦点小组”、“小组座谈会”、“小组讨论会”、“专项小组”甚至“头脑风暴”等。实际上,根据其内涵,意译为“专题调研会”似较合适
第五篇:商务英语部分课文翻译[小编推荐]
Hard work doesn’t always pay
Does it ever make sense to contribute your labour free of charge? Matthew Lewis, then an out-of-work masters graduate, decided it did.Sadly, the introductions to employers promised in lieu of a salary never materialised.Instead, he spent six months interning at a business development consultancy making sales calls without pay or commission.“I did the same job as the guys who hired me – but they were salaried and I wasn’t,” he says.付出劳动但不收取报酬有任何意义吗?当时正处于失业状态的硕士毕业生马修?刘易斯(Matthew Lewis)曾经断定,这么做确实有意义。遗憾的是,不付薪水但向用人单位推荐的承诺从未兑现。相反,他在一家商业发展咨询公司实习了6个月,做着打推销电话的工作,却未得到薪水或佣金。他说,“我和雇用我的人做着相同的工作,但他们领工资,我却没有工资。”
His is not an isolated case.Reports abound of unfair practices.In February, a BBC documentary, Who Gets the Best Jobs, highlighted the prevalence of unpaid internships in the world of fashion PR.More recently, HSBC’s legal division was accused of nepotism and bolstering social inequality when a senior employee implied that his department limited work experience to the offspring of its own executives.In April, Nick Clegg, the UK deputy prime minister, said Whitehall would ban informal internships as part of a drive to improve social mobility.马修的经历并非个例。有关不公平做法的报道数不胜数。2月份,英国广播公司(BBC)一部名为《谁得到了最好的工作》(Who Gets the Best Jobs)的纪录片着重介绍了时尚公关领域无薪实习盛行的状况。最近,汇丰(HSBC)法律部被指支持裙带关系和助长社会不公,因为一位高级职员暗示他的部门把实习机会留给部门高管的子女。4月份,英国副首相尼克?克莱格(Nick Clegg)表示,作为改善社会流动性举措的一部分,白厅(Whitehall)将禁止非正式的实习生制度。
Now the controversy has been stoked further by former intern Ross Perlin.In an exposé of questionable practices, Intern Nation: How to Earn Nothing and Learn Little in the Brave New Economy, he estimates there are 500,000 unpaid interns in the US, subsidising corporate America to the tune of $2bn a year.眼下,前实习生罗斯?波林(Ross Perlin)又为这场争议火上浇油。他在《实习生之国:如何在美丽新经济中分文不赚并所学甚少》(Intern Nation: How to Earn Nothing and Learn Little in the Brave New Economy)一书中揭露了一些成问题的做法。据他估计,美国有50万名无薪实习生,他们每年为美国公司节约费用高达20亿美元。
However, stories of employers in fashion, politics, advertising and the media giving a leg-up to sons and daughters of acquaintances, or taking advantage of jobless graduates desperate for an inside track, paint a partial picture.For every alleged abuse there are also companies using internships to spot outstanding potential and beat competitors in the annual scramble for the best students.“For us, internships are an investment,” says Fran?ois de Wazières, international recruitment director at L’Oréal, which recruits 3,400 interns worldwide – and pays them.He says they receive an average of about £1,500($2,400)in the UK and ¢1,400($2,000)in France.但是,时尚、政界、广告和媒体业的雇主向熟人的子女提供帮助,或者对那些还没找到工作、迫切希望获得有利地位的毕业生大加利用,这些报道仅描绘出了部分真相。尽管有多种陋习受到指责,也有公司利用实习生制度物色杰出人才,在每年一度的优等生争夺战中击败对手。欧莱雅(L’Oréal)在全球招聘3400名实习生,并向他们支付薪水。欧莱雅全球招聘总监弗朗索瓦?德瓦兹耶赫(Fran?ois de Wazières)表示:“对于我们来说,招聘实习生是一笔投资。”他表示,实习生在英国的平均薪水为1500英镑(合2400美元),在法国是1400英镑(合2000美元)。
Some interns at other companies receive non-financial rewards such as a phone after working on a campaign for a mobile phone brand.More important perhaps, practical experience can be a crucial springboard into employment as employers often see it as vital way to spot talent.The creative industries have a tradition of doing this.Like many agencies, marketing group Iris Worldwide hosts unpaid students and encourages them to brainstorm and work up ideas.“The thing [students] need most is experience and access to people in the industry,” says Ian Millner, the chief executive 也有些公司的实习生会收到非财务性奖励,比如参加某手机品牌活动的相关工作之后可获得一部手机。或许更为重要的是,实际经验可能成为日后就业的关键跳板,因为用人单位经常把实习视为发现人才的一条重要途径。各种创意性行业都有这么做的传统。像许多机构一样,营销集团艾睿思环球(Iris Worldwide)免费招聘学生前来实习,鼓励他们进行头脑风暴,发掘出种种创意。该公司首席执行官伊恩?米尔纳(Ian Millner)表示,“(学生们)最需要的是获取工作经验并结识行业内人士”。
The counter-argument is that giving employers a free ride with un-paid labour props up companies that would otherwise go out of business, depresses wages and limits the career options for students who cannot afford to work free.Mr Perlin also argues that internships take away opportunities from regular workers.反对的观点则认为,允许用人单位搭乘无偿劳动的便车,让一些原本会倒闭的公司得以维续。这么做也使企业得以压低工资,并限制了学生的职业选择——他们的经济状况不允许他们免费劳动。波林还认为,实习生制度剥夺了正式员工的机会。
When does give and take tip over into exploitation? In the UK, it boils down to whether an individual falls within one of four exemptions to the National Minimum Wage Act: volunteers;voluntary workers;work-shadowing/work experience;and students on course placements.Simply labelling someone an intern is not a get-out, says Alison Clements of Lewis Silkin, the law firm.What matters is whether “they are performing real work” and are obliged to work fixed hours.这种“一个愿打、一个愿挨”的做法何时会变质成为剥削?在英国,判断标准就是实习生是否属于《全国最低工资法案》(National Minimum Wage Act)中规定的四种例外情况:志愿者、义务工作人员、工作观摩/工作实践和课程实习生。简单地给某人贴上“实习生”标签不是解决办法,Lewis Silkin法律事务所的艾莉森?克莱门茨(Alison Clements)表示。重要的是,他们“是否从事真正的工作”,以及工作时间是否是固定的。
Adam Foreman, a partner at Littler Mendelson, the law firm, says US law that guarantees interns a minimum wage is often ignored.Because “the interns are hoping to turn their internships into full-time jobs”, he says, transgressors are rarely hauled before the courts.利特勒?门德尔松律师事务所(Littler Mendelson)的合伙人亚当?福尔曼(Adam Foreman)表示,美国法律规定应向实习生支付最低工资,但这常常被忽略。他表示,因为“实习生们希望通过实习经历成为正式员工”,所以犯规者很少被起诉至法庭。
In Intern Nation, Mr Perlin dissects the employment practices of some of the world’s biggest corporations, inc-luding Disney, which he accuses of replacing “well-trained, decently compensated full-timers” with an army of low-paid interns.But for employers that approach recruitment strategically, internships are typically a cost – albeit one they hope will pay off in better, happier recruits.在《实习生之国》一书中,波林剖析了一些全球知名大公司的招聘惯例,比如他指责迪斯尼(Disney)用大量低薪实习生取代了“训练有素、薪酬可观的正式员工”。但是,对于那些以战略性眼光对待招聘事宜的雇主而言,实习制度通常是一项成本——只不过,他们希望这项付出未来有所回报,令他们招到更好、更满意的员工。
By September this year, the UK division of PwC, the professional services firm, will have recruited about a third of its 2012 graduate intake from its summer vacation interns.Over the coming weeks, the group – selected through open competition – will be paid a graduate starting salary, meet clients, receive training and tackle a project.“Our recruitment tools can tell us whether a candidate is right for us,” says Richard Irwin, head of student recruitment.But without this kind of hands-on experience, “what the candidate might not know is whether we are right for them”.到今年9月,专业会计师事务所普华永道(PwC)的英国分部将已经招募到其2012年毕业生总录用人数的三分之一,这些人都来自该公司的暑假实习生计划。在接下来的几周内,这批在公开竞争胜出的实习生将开始领取毕业生起薪,会见客户,接受培训并接手项目。“我们的招聘工具能够告诉我们,某一位候选人是否适合我们,”校园招聘负责人理查德?欧文(Richard Irwin)表示,但是,若没有这种实践经验,“候选人可能不清楚我们是否适合他们”。
All too often, says Rajeeb Dey, founder of Enternships, which arranges work placements in smaller businesses, employers fail to think through “what it means to have another person inside the company” and interns end up “running random errands”.They leave with a negative perception of the business that they may pass on to fellow students, including via websites such as Interns Anonymous.Enternships是一家负责安排在小型公司工作实习的机构,其创始人拉杰卜?戴伊(Rajeeb Dey)表示,非常普遍的情况是,用人单位并没有认真思考“公司里多进一个人有什么意义”,结果是让实习生们“干些零散的杂活儿”。他们带着对公司的负面印象离开之后,有可能通过Interns Anonymous等网站把这种印象传递给他们的同学们。
Allowing interns “quality time away from their desks” so they can explore the organisation is important, says Jennifer Cook, a graduate rec-ruitment adviser at Linklaters, the law firm.For John Cordrey, a 2010 PwC tax intern, networking with other functions led to a change in his career plans.He is now set to join PwC’s corporate finance team instead of the tax division of a rival, whose internship was “less flexible”, he says.年利达律师事务所(Linklaters)的毕业生招聘顾问詹尼弗?库克(Jennifer Cook)表示,让实习生“获得一些工作之外的宝贵时间”,从而能够了解他们所实习的公司,这一点很重要。对于普华永道2010年税务部门实习生约翰?科德雷(John Cordrey)来说,和其他职能部门的接触让他调整了职业规划。他表示,现在他即将加入普华永道的公司财务团队,而不是一家竞争对手的税务部门,那里的实习生制度“没这么灵活”。
As the expectations of students change, so must internships.Mr de Wazières says L’Oréal “sells” its international careers to graduates.Until 2009, all interns did their placements in their home country, which for internationally minded high-fliers was frustrating.“For the current generation of students, early international experience has a much bigger appeal.” 随着学生们的预期发生变化,实习生制度也必须相应调整。德瓦兹耶赫表示,欧莱雅正在向毕业生“推销”国际职业发展机会。在2009年之前,所有实习生都是在本国完成实习的,令那些具有国际头脑的佼佼者们感到沮丧。“对于当前这一代学生来说,早一点获得国际经验具有更大的吸引力。”
....................................................................................................Do’s and don’ts for interns 实习生注意事项
● Check out your chances.Ask how many interns are made permanent.If the answer is very few, this may indicate that interns are seen as a cheap expedient, rather than as future employees.● 判明你的机会。询问一下一般有多少实习生最后成为了正式员工。如果答案是“非常少”,可能说明,公司把实习生视为降低成本的权宜之计,而并非未来的员工。
● Establish the ratio of interns to staff.A high ratio can be a sign that the employer’s business model is unsustainable.● 了解实习生与正式员工的人数比例。比例高可能表明,该公司的商业模式无法维持。
● Check the work will be relevant.Also check what training you will receive and who will manage you.● 确保你从事的工作与公司核心业务相关。也要了解你将接受哪些培训以及谁负责实习生的管理。
● Decide if the internship will develop your skills.Is it merely a job someone else would have to do? Ben Lyons, co-director of campaigners Intern Aware, says he has come across advertisements for “intern receptionists and cooks”.● 判定实习是否会增进你的技能。这只是一项其他人也必须做的工作吗?Intern Aware运动副总监本?莱昂斯(Ben Lyons)表示,他就曾遇到过招聘“前台实习生和厨师实习生”的广告。
● Don’t be lured into working set hours without pay.Working flat-out can leave you no time to search for salaried employment.● 不要被引诱接受工作时间固定但不付薪水的实习工作。一直忙工作可能使你没有时间去物色支付薪水的工作。
● Don’t be afraid to look at other options.Becky Heath, co-founder of campaign group Internocracy, says that volunteering may teach you more than a business that treats interns as free labour.● 不要害怕看看其他机会。运动组织Internocracy的联合创始人贝基?希思(Becky Heath)表示,和一家把实习生当免费劳力对待的公司相比,志愿者活动可能会教会你更多东西。
People, meet the parents
When Procter & Gamble took to British televisions this month to “recognise, celebrate and thank” mothers it had one particular parent in mind: itself.The real purpose behind the print and TV campaign was to showcase the US consumer goods group as parent to 50 household brands, such as Ariel detergent and Duracell batteries.本月初,当宝洁公司(Procter & Gamble)在英国推出以“认识、赞美和感谢”母亲为主题的电视广告时,该公司心里想的是一位特殊的“母亲”——它自己。这家美国消费品集团此番平面及电视宣传攻势的真实意图,在于向世人展现其作为50个家居品牌的“母亲”的形象——其中包括碧浪(Ariel)洗涤产品和金霸王(Duracell)电池。
It marks the first time P&G has linked its corporate name to its brands in the UK, making it something of a laggard.Nestlé, the world’s biggest food group by sales, has been using its name across its 6,000 brands for more than 20 years.Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch consumer group, has been banging the corporate drum for almost a decade.这是宝洁首次在英国将企业名称与旗下品牌联系在一起,这让它多少有些“迟来”的味道。作为全球销售额最大的食品公司,雀巢(Nestlé)20多年来一直在旗下6000多个品牌上使用公司名称。而英荷消费品集团联合利华(Unilever)着力推广企业品牌形象也有近10年之久。
Corporate branding, say its proponents, is a means of transferring all the good qualities of trust and reliability across an entire portfolio, be it from chocolate bars to cat-food or stock cubes to face creams.倡导者们表示,企业品牌推广是一种将信任与信赖的良好品质传递到整个产品组合的方式,无论是巧克力、猫粮,还是固态汤料乃至面霜等各类商品。
This is what Petraea Heynike, Nestlé’s head of marketing and sales, calls the company’s “seal of guarantee”.Not everyone at the Swiss group bought into the concept at first, she says: “We had to explain that it’s not about a brand’s one-to-one relationship with the consumer, but about who is making the product.”
这正是雀巢营销与销售总监珀特赖亚?海奈克(Petraea Heynike)所说的公司“品质保证”。她表示,起初,这家瑞士公司并非所有人都认同这一理念:“我们不得不解释说,企业品牌推广无关某个具体品牌与客户之间一对一的关系,而是要表明谁生产了这种产品。”
These advantages spill over beyond relationships with consumers to retailers and even employees, as Paul Nevett, vice-president of Unilever Brand explains: “Consumers prefer to buy products from a company that they know and trust.Employees want to feel proud of what they do and talented people prefer to work for companies that are respected and trusted.”
这些优势从与消费者的关系蔓延到与零售商、甚至企业员工之间的关系,联合利华品牌副总裁保罗?纳维特(Paul Nevett)这样解释道:“消费者更愿意从一家自己熟悉和信赖的公司购买产品。员工们希望自己从事的工作能带来自豪感,而有才华的人乐于效力于受人尊敬和信赖的公司。”
Howard Robinson, a manager at customer insights agency Engage Research, goes one step further.“Overtly going out with a corporate ad is really talking to a different market place,” he says.“That’s talking to the retailer;I think it’s talking to the financial market, to analysts and shareholders.And there it’s about expressing power, might, influence and credibility.”
消费者研究机构Engage Research的经理霍华德?罗宾逊(Howard Robinson)说得更进了一步,“我认为,公开打出企业广告,实际上就是向市场的不同领域发出声音,这是在告诉零售商,也是在告诉金融市场、分析师和股东们。广告的目的是展示公司的实力、份量、影响力和公信力。”
Stuart Wood, executive creative director at Fitch, the design and branding consultancy, believes much of it is aimed at retailers.If a company can show it “owns” a category – by having a few of the top-selling yoghurts, say – it is a powerful negotiating tool with shops.“You can approach retailers and say: ‘As Mr Unilever or Danone I can help elevate your entire yoghurt aisle because I have three or four big brands.’ You can negotiate a better environment for all these brands within that category and, because you are the leader, you will gain more than anyone else.”
品牌设计咨询机构费奇(Fitch)执行创意总监斯图尔特?伍德(Stuart Wood)表示,企业品牌推广主要针对的是零售商。如果一家公司能够表明自己“拥有”一个门类的产品——比如说好几种热卖的酸奶——这是一种与商家谈判时的强大武器。“你可以接洽一家零售商,告诉他:‘我们联合利华(或达能(Danone))拥有三四个大品牌,能够帮你们提升整个酸奶货品区的档次。’你能够为该门类的所有品牌争取到更好的环境;而且,由于你是市场领军者,你还能得到比任何其他公司更好的条件。”
Moreover, the reassurance these ads provide to consumers is also aimed higher up the food chain since happy consumers buy more, which means investors, retailers and so on will be happier with the parent company.此外,宝洁企业品牌广告对消费者作出的保证,还旨在提升宝洁在“食物链”中所处的位置:因为心满意足的消费者会买更多东西,这意味着投资者、零售商及其他相关方将对母公司更加满意。
P&G’s own research in other markets would certainly appear to bear this out.It claims that similar corporate branding ads in the US, China, France and Brazil helped consumers understand the link between P&G and its individual brands and as a result increased their propensity to buy its products.(The measurement used is proprietary, the group says, and cannot be disclosed.)
宝洁自己在其他市场的研究,似乎注定会证实这一点。研究结果称,宝洁在美国、中国、法国和巴西市场投放的类似企业品牌广告,对于消费者认识宝洁与各子品牌之间的联系有所帮助,并从而提升了他们购买宝洁产品的倾向性。(宝洁称,相关测算方法为该公司专有,不便对外透露。)
But, warns Don Williams, chief executive of Pi global, the branding agency, it can just so easily backfire and tarnish the whole portfolio if something goes wrong as happened with Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker by sales, when it suffered a mass recall last year.但是,品牌咨询机构Pi global首席执行官唐?威廉姆斯(Don Williams)警告称,企业品牌推广同样也很容易事与愿违,如果某些地方出了差错,可能会损害整个产品组合的声誉。去年,全球销量第一的汽车厂商丰田(Toyota)就遇到了这种情况,当时该公司出现了大规模召回。
“Toyota has a strong halo effect,” he says.“But the minute they do [something amiss] it really has a detrimental effect on all their cars, because the halo effect can work both ways.” It is not for nothing, he says, that Toyota brands its luxury division separately under the Lexus name.“丰田有着很强的光环效应,”他说,“但是,这种效应是一把双刃剑,一旦做错了(某件事),也肯定会损害到公司的所有车型。”他表示,丰田将豪华车业务独立出来,置于雷克萨斯(Lexus)品牌之下,也不是没有原因的。
However, Ms Heynike says that transparency and dealing with issues immediately and head-on, goes a long way to mitigating this.“In today’s world of social media you cannot hide,” she adds.然而,海奈克表示,靠透明度和迅即、正面地处理问题,还远不能减轻这种伤害。“在社交媒体发达的当今,你无法隐瞒,”她补充道。
Equally, as Nestlé and its peers put increasing effort into corporate responsibility and sustainability, they want consumers to know about these efforts.While some, such as Fairtrade accreditation, can be slapped on to packets, others are more amorphous – linking back to the corporate rather than individual brands.同样,雀巢和及其同行在企业责任和可持续性发展方面不断加大投入,为的就是让消费者了解他们所付出的努力。尽管有些东西,比如公平贸易(Fairtrade)认证,可以找到具体的品牌,但有一些则难以归类——只能和企业自身、而非具体品牌联系在一起。
Agencies say a corporate brand is the best platform to help monetise more touchy-feely initiatives, be it sustainable sourcing, helping farmers in emerging markets or donating part of profits to clean water supplies in Africa.Unilever’s Mr Nevett says: “From our consumer research we know that people’s number one priority when choosing brands is, and always will be, to choose brands that are best for themselves and their families – consumers don’t compromise on functionality.However, people increasingly want to know that the brands they choose are not only good for them but also good for others and good for the planet.”
一些机构指出,企业品牌是有助于将那些更为煽情的举措货币化的最佳平台——无论是可持续采购、帮助新兴市场国家的农民,还是捐出部分利润、用于非洲的清洁供水。联合利华的纳维特说道:“我们通过消费者调查了解到,人们在选择品牌时考虑的首要因素(永远都将)是,选择那些最适合自己和家人的品牌——消费者不会在功能性上妥协。不过,人们越来越愿意了解到,他们选择的品牌不仅适合自己,而且有益于他人和整个地球。”
He adds that when Unilever launched its worthy but hardly sexy Sustainable Living Plan – what the company calls its project to be a more environmentally sustainable business – last November, it provoked a few hundred tweets: “This shows the engagement that one can generate with increased corporate visibility.”
他补充称,去年11月,联合利华推出了令人尊敬、但难言“诱人”的可持续生活计划(Sustainable Living Plan)——该公司称之为更环保的生意,这招致了数百条推特发言:“这表明,增加公司曝光度能够提升与公众的互动效果。”
Ms Heynike concurs.Communication of some of Nestlé’s activities, from supplying sustainable cocoa plants to farmers in Africa to saving the American honey bee, is aimed at opinion leaders.But the message, she adds, is one that runs across both the developed and the developing world.“If anything, in the emerging markets where they have less money, they need to have that faith and trust [in the manufacturer] to an even greater degree,” she says.“For example, in China [where there have been several food safety scares] you need to really believe you can trust the company.”
海奈特也赞同这一观点。雀巢对某些活动——从为非洲农民提供可持续性的可可作物、到拯救美洲蜜蜂等一系列活动——的宣传,都意在影响意见领袖。但她补充说,其中传递的讯息是同时面向发达国家和发展中国家的。“如果有什么不同的话,那就是在消费者收入较低的发展中国家,他们更需要(生产商提供的)信心和信任,”她说,“比如说,在(发生过多次食品安全恐慌的)中国,你必须确定你能够信任那家公司。”
In P&G’s case, the corporate branding is tied to its Olympics sponsorship and follows a similar campaign in Canada during the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010.Irwin Lee, general manager and vice-president for P&G UK and Ireland, says the group’s global partnership with the International Olympic Committee for the next five Olympics provides an “opportunity and platform” to talk about the company behind the household brands.拿宝洁来说,企业品牌推广与其奥运会赞助商身份相关;且此前在2010年温哥华冬奥会期间,该公司已在加拿大发起过一次类似的推广活动。宝洁英国和爱尔兰业务总经理兼副总裁欧文?李(Irwin Lee)表示,在未来5届奥运会中,宝洁将与国际奥委会展开全球合作,这是一个宣传该公司作为诸多家居品牌所有者形象的一个“机会和平台”。
Other consumer goods companies use corporate branding to target specific markets rather than specific events, as was the case for Unilever in Brazil.The company had been building its brand there since 2004 and a promotion five years later to celebrate Unilever Brazil’s 80th anniversary made Unilever the third most searched word online in the country.也有些消费品公司将企业品牌推广瞄准特定市场、而非特定活动,联合利华在巴西的推广就属于这种情况。自2004年以来,该公司一直在巴西市场塑造其品牌,5年后又举办了联合利华巴西公司80周年庆典活动,使“联合利华”成为巴西第三大在线搜索关键词。
Corporate branding also allows groups to deliver broader messages and cross-product information to consumers.Ms Heynike offers the following example: “More than 1bn Nestlé packs a day are being picked up, and if consumers flick to the back of the pack they get to Nestlé’s nutritional compass, with tips on healthy living.”
企业品牌推广还使各公司得以向消费者传递更广泛的、跨越产品的信息。海奈克提供了下面的例子:“雀巢每天售出逾10亿袋产品;如果消费者翻到包装袋的背面,就能看到雀巢营养指南和几条健康生活提示。”
All of which may, please those mothers who – in P&G’s words – “for more than 80 years in the UK have been our boss at P&G.They have driven our product innovation and our marketing communications.”.And who, it hopes, will keep buying more of its products.所有这些,或许都会取悦母亲们——用宝洁的话说,“80年多来,英国的母亲们一直是宝洁的老板。她们推动了宝洁的产品创新和营销沟通”。而宝洁希望,这些母亲们会购买更多的本公司产品。
员工消极对抗,老板如何接招?
During a month-long household move, Patty Shore, director of marketing at Creative Energy Options, asked to bring her dog to the consulting firm's White Haven, Pa.offices.Everyone at the company expressed enthusiasm, president Sylvia Lafair recalls, but before long, one employee began complaining that the dog, a mixed-breed collie named Mr.Ray, hovered outside her office and wouldn't leave her alone.咨询公司Creative Energy Options的营销总监帕蒂•肖尔搬家需要花一个月的时间,所以,她申请将宠物狗带到公司位于宾夕法尼亚州怀特港的办公室。公司总裁西尔维娅•拉斐尔回忆说,当时,大家都非常热心。但没过多久,就有一名员工开始抱怨,称那只名为雷的混血柯利牧羊犬总是在她办公室门口转悠,让她不得安宁。
Shore tried to restrict Mr.Ray to the other end of the office, but couldn't keep the pup away from the complainer.“Finally, two people came to me and said, 'She has dog biscuits in the drawer of her desk and feeds the dog when nobody is looking,'” says Lafair.“It was very devious.” 肖尔试着把雷限制在办公室的另外一边,但它却总是缠着那名员工。拉斐尔说:“后来,有两名员工告诉我:‘她抽屉里有宠物饼干,而且总是趁人不注意的时候,用饼干喂狗。’这可真够阴险的。”
Lafair confronted the employee about her passive aggressive behavior and received a wide-eyed response: she just felt sorry for the dog.After a few more incidents of underhanded behavior and performance issues, Lafair had to fire the problem employee.针对她的消极对抗行为,拉斐尔与她当面对质,但得到的回答却让她瞠目结舌:她说她只不过是同情这只狗。之后,这名员工又做了些不够光明磊落的事,另外也是由于绩效问题,拉斐尔最终不得不把这名问题员工辞退。
“Passive aggressive people will say yes to your face and stab you in the back,” she says.“Sometimes you can't help....They need to be asked to leave.” 她说:“消极对抗型的人当面同意你的观点,却可能在背后给你一刀。有时候,这样的员工确实让人无计可施„„只能请他们走人。”
Passive-aggressive employees present one of the toughest workplace challenges to both managers and coworkers.The behavior can be difficult to identify, and even tougher to change.Left unaddressed, passive-aggressive actions can spread to other employees and create a culture of heel dragging and mute rebellion.消极对抗的员工对于上司和同事而言都是最严峻的挑战。他们的行为难以识别,要想改变更是难上加难。但如果不解决问题,消极对抗的行为可能会蔓延开来,在公司内形成一种阳奉阴违、沉默对抗的氛围。
“The passive aggressive stuff is like a cancer.It's insidious and if you walk by it, you're saying it's acceptable and it will spread to others,” says George Bradt, a consultant and author of The New Leader's 100 Day Action Plan.“The prescription is, head it off at the pass.” 乔治•布莱特是一名顾问,并著有《新官上任百日行动计划》(The New Leader's 100 Day Action Plan)一书。他说:“消极对抗就像癌症一样,非常隐蔽。如果你对它视而不见,那就意味着默许,之后就会传染到其他人。处方很简单,在它发作之前就把它消除掉。
Spotting the symptoms 发现症状
An employee who shows up late to meetings, sits in the back of the room, and mutters to colleagues is displaying some of the classic signs of passive aggressive behavior.Most telling is when a person misses an important milestone and claims that he was attending to something more important, such as meeting with clients.开会迟到,还坐在后排跟同事窃窃私语,这都是典型的消极对抗行为。其中更典型的是,某位员工错过了一件大事,结果却声称那是因为自己有更重要的事情要办,比如要去见客户等等。
“They're saying, 'What I committed to you, to the team to do, I really didn't mean I was going to do it, because you are less important than someone else,'” Bradt says.布莱特认为:“他们的意思其实是说:‘我确实跟你和团队承诺过的一些事情,但我并没有真地打算去做,因为还有比你们更重要的人。’”
Sometimes, you can't spot the behavior because it's so passive and under the surface.“Look for a disturbance in the force,” advises Peter Handal, chairman and chief executive of leadership consulting firm Dale Carnegie & Associates.“If this team isn't working right, what's the problem? Sometimes it might be somebody who, on the surface, looks very agreeable but underneath isn't being productive.” 有时候,这种行为很难被发现,因为它们非常消极,并且隐藏在表面之下。领导力咨询公司戴尔•卡耐基公司(Dale Carnegie & Associates)的董事长兼首席执行官彼得•韩铎建议:“找出是什么在干扰员工。如果整个团队出现了问题,是什么原因?有时候可能就是那些表面惟命是从,但实际却无所作为的员工。”
You may need to resort to “skip-level meetings,” in which you meet directly with the problem employee's subordinates.This technique alerted Bradt to one situation in which his direct report was agreeing to certain work goals to his face but then telling his staff to work on different priorities.“I found out he was blocking all my communication to his team,” he recalls.或许,老板应该采取“越级会谈”的形式,也就是说,老板直接与问题员工的下属会谈。这种方法使布莱特想起了另外一种情况:他的直接下属当着他的面非常赞同某些工作目标,但之后又会给手下的人优先安排其他任务。他回忆道:“我发现,他阻断了我与他的团队之间的沟通。”
Potential treatments 如何根治?
For the brave souls who try to rehabilitate a passive-aggressive employee, it's important to understand what is driving the behavior.“People who are behaving passive aggressively are trying to do one of two things: Gain control in a situation where they don't have it, or avoid conflict,” says Terry R.Bacon, a scholar in residence at the Korn/Ferry Institute and author of The Elements of Power and Elements of Influence.如果有人有足够的勇气,尝试改造消极对抗的员工,那么,弄清楚造成这种情况的原因非常重要。特里•R•培根表示:“消极对抗的人其实是要试图实现一个目的:要么是在他掌控的局面中获得控制权,要么是为了避免冲突。”特里•R•培根是光辉学院(Korn/Ferry Institute)的驻校学者,其著作包括《权力的要素》(The Elements of Power)与《影响力的要素》(Elements of Influence)等。
The first step is to try to bring the conflict or dispute out into the open, gently.If you hear that someone is pooh-poohing your ideas behind your back, say something like, “When I presented that idea in the meeting, I thought it was a pretty good idea at the time, but I wonder if there would be some alternatives that would be better.What do you think?” Bacon suggests.首先要用温和的方式把冲突或争议公开化。培根建议,如果老板听到员工在背后对自己的点子嗤之以鼻,可以这样说:“当时在会上提出来的时候,我认为这是一个很棒的点子,不过我想知道有没有更好的替代方案。你们对此有什么想法?”
“Try to get them to problem solve so they will tell you what it is they are objecting to,” Bacon says.If you still encounter resistance and denial, you could say, “I know you said you supported it, but I got the sense that you were uncomfortable about it in some way.I really would like to understand how you really feel.” 培根表示:“把问题抛给他们,他们就会明说自己到底为何存在异议。如果依然遇到反抗和拒绝,老板可以说:‘我知道,虽然你当时支持这个想法,但我感觉你还是认为有些不妥。我非常想知道你们真实的想法。’”
If you can get the other person to acknowledge that there is an issue, you'll have already won half the battle.Next, turn them into an ally for your cause by giving them some measure of control.“Use confrontation as a last resort,” Bacon advises.如果老板能让对方意识到出问题了,那代表老板已经成功了一半。接下来,给他们一定的控制权,把他们转变成自己的盟友。培根建议:“不到万不得已,不要发生正面冲突。”
Bradt recommends that you give problem employees your full support in every way, but then watch to see whether their attitude turns around.If the individual doesn't declare a change of heart within six to eight weeks, he's probably a lost cause.布莱特建议,要从各个方面给问题员工全力的支持,但与此同时,要观察他们的态度是否发生了转变。如果问题员工在六到八个星期内,依然没有改邪归正,可能只能放弃他了。
If you have someone who's dragging their feet on projects, add a chaperone to the mix and make public whatever promises they give to get work done.For instance, if a passive aggressive worker promises to get you data by a specific date, confirm that commitment with the employee in front of someone who needs that data.如果有员工在项目中出工不出力,可以在他的团队里安排一名专门负责监督的员工,并且把他们的承诺公布于众。例如,如果有消极对抗的员工允诺会在某个日期之前提供数据,那就在需要这些数据的人面前跟这个员工确认他的承诺.“When you make the agreement public like that, it's harder for the person to duck it,” Bacon says.培根表示:“像这样,公开与他达成协议,他就很难再有借口逃避。”
If these first efforts fail to stop the passive aggressive behavior, you can try to impose consequences when they don't meet their goals.Refuse to recap meetings for someone who arrives late, which both encourages those who showed up on time and penalizes those who dawdled.And if someone makes excuses for missing a deadline, consider saying, “you must have too much on your plate,” and look to others to take on additional assignments.If this seems like a passive aggressive response, well, you may have to fight fire with fire.如果初步的努力未能阻止员工的消极对抗行为,老板可以在他们未能实现目标的时候施加影响。如果有人开会迟到,不要特地为他们回述会议要点,这既能鼓励及时出席的员工,又惩罚了那些拖拖拉拉的人。如果员工总是找各种借口为自己错过了最终期限开脱,老板可以说:“你的工作负担可能太重了。”然后把他的业务分配给其他的员工。这种反制措施看起来也有点类似消极对抗,但有时候,以毒攻毒也是不得已而为之。
When it's time to throw in the towel 该放弃时就放弃
Ultimately, you may have to acknowledge that you've done all you can do and either transfer that person to another department or fire them.最后,你或许不得不承认,自己已经尽了全力,只能把问题员工转到其他部门,或者把他解雇。
At Voices.com, a marketplace for voiceover talent based in London, Ontario, all 20 staff members attend a mandatory daily “huddle” that lasts 15 minutes, says David Ciccarelli, the company's president and CEO.When one department head started to show up late, leave early, or just skip the meeting altogether, Ciccarelli knew there was a problem.Voice.com是位于安大略省伦敦市的一个配音人才交流平台。公司总裁兼CEO戴维•茨卡瑞利表示,公司全体20名员工每天都必须参加长约15分钟的“碰头会”。后来,有一个部门的主管开始迟到早退,或者干脆缺席,茨卡瑞利意识到肯定出问题了。
“It's my health check,” he says of the huddle.“If someone's withdrawing constantly from that, I know there's a deeper issue because they don't want to be seen by other people in the company.” 他说:“碰头会的目的是发现公司的问题。如果有人总是缺席,不想在公司其他同事面前露面,我就知道肯定有更深层的问题。”
This particular employee also made disparaging remarks about Voices.com customers who had problems or complaints.Ciccarelli met with the person and asked for an attitude improvement, but the problem only grew worse and he had to fire the employee.而且,曾有些客户遇到麻烦,或对Voice.com提出投诉,此人却恶语相向。茨卡瑞利找他谈了话,希望他能改变态度,没想到却适得其反,最后,他只得把他辞退。
“Everybody saw it coming,” he says.“It was starting to wear on other people.”他说:“所有人都知道最后会是这样的收场。因为他的所作所为早已让大家厌烦。”