Innovo的一種針對(duì)小學(xué)生課程的學(xué)習(xí)software(軟件)在北方地區(qū)銷售了一個(gè)月之后,最近不斷接到顧客的complaint(投訴)電話,反映該軟件在使用過程中經(jīng)常會(huì)引起電腦運(yùn)行速度極其緩慢甚至突然死機(jī)的情況。
After-sales Department把顧客的投訴情況直接反映給R & D Department(研發(fā)部),要求他們盡快找到問題的原因。否則對(duì)市場的negative influence(負(fù)面影響)會(huì)迅速expand(蔓延),到時(shí)候局勢就不好挽回了。R & D Department在仔細(xì)test(測試)研究之后,發(fā)現(xiàn)顧客所反映的現(xiàn)象是由于這種學(xué)習(xí)軟件在Windows Vista系統(tǒng)中install(安裝)了某些應(yīng)用程序之后所產(chǎn)生的不兼容所致。
現(xiàn)在問題的根源找到了,就必須立即尋求解決辦法。否則公司的public image(公眾形象)和產(chǎn)品的reputation都會(huì)受到很大damage(損害)。但是另一方面,公司之前已經(jīng)生產(chǎn)了300萬張學(xué)習(xí)軟件,并且已經(jīng)和distributor(分銷商)簽訂了供貨contract(合同),如果現(xiàn)在單方面毀約并停止供貨,分銷商肯定是不會(huì)輕易答應(yīng)的,弄不好,會(huì)給公司造成巨大的經(jīng)濟(jì)損失。
眼前的這種embarrassing situation(窘境)使領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層心急如焚。是否要先take back(收回)產(chǎn)品成為迫在眉睫的問題。Johnson作為業(yè)務(wù)負(fù)責(zé)人有更多的顧慮,他擔(dān)心order cancellation(撤單)會(huì)造成銷售額的大幅下滑,影響到中國區(qū)的年度業(yè)績,總部那邊追究起來,不好解釋。有些同事站在Johnson的一邊,建議就這樣先不動(dòng)聲色地遮掩過去,隨著時(shí)間的推移,事態(tài)的嚴(yán)重性慢慢會(huì)消退。Nancy卻認(rèn)為,公司要look at the bigger picture(把眼光放長遠(yuǎn)),必須要立即把產(chǎn)品收回,cancel(取消)訂單,才能控制住對(duì)企業(yè)不利的影響,挽回聲譽(yù),為以后其他產(chǎn)品的推廣做鋪墊。所以今天的討論顯得異常激烈。
You know, we don't have to pick either of the two options. We could just continue selling our products. After all, it's not really our fault. We did all the research anyone could do.
I appreciate your point of view, but maybe we should look at the larger picture. Maybe no judge would say it's our fault. But people would feel we were wrong, and would stop buying our products. I know the options will cost a lot, but doing nothing could break the bank.
We've only been talking about money here; we should be talking about people. Is it OK to save the money if we know some people are going to get hurt?
I guess not. But we just can't take the software off the market. You know what will happen. Profits will go down quickly. The shareholders will get angry. Management in headquarter will have to blame someone. You know who that will be, US!
I'm sorry, but I have reservations about that. We have to make the best of a bad situation. But I can't agree with leaving the products on the market just to save our profits.
Then what do we do?
We bite the bullet, and take the products off the market. But there is a way to have the best of both alternatives. We try immediately to see if we can easily find out a patch to fix it. If it will be too expensive and time-consuming, we never sell them there again; we pack it in. This will be my decision.
今天討論的話題既重要又sensitive(敏感),Nancy覺察到VP的態(tài)度有些ambiguous(模糊),這是可以理解的:如果收回產(chǎn)品,Innovo今年的sales volume(銷售額)會(huì)受到重創(chuàng),損失巨大,總部那邊也會(huì)不滿;但如果就這樣裝聾作啞,無動(dòng)于衷,Innovo 今后在中國市場的reputation就大打折扣了。如果這個(gè)時(shí)候她不堅(jiān)定地站出來提出自己的見解,公司未來的發(fā)展一定會(huì)受到很大的影響。但是如何以VP可以接受的方式讓他聽取自己的意見呢?Nancy在用詞上很是斟酌了一番。她遵循了下面的這些原則:
Listen to what your boss says and try to understand his situation.
Be polite and persistent, but not arrogant.
Make your advice with attitude and standpoint acceptable to others.
最重要的是,Nancy現(xiàn)在應(yīng)該為公司想出一個(gè)可以一試的solution。
test 測試
install 安裝
embarrassing situation 窘境
order cancellation 撤單
pick option 選擇兩者之一
fault 過錯(cuò),過失
look at the larger picture 從大局考慮,從長遠(yuǎn)考慮
judge 法官
break the bank 破產(chǎn),一文不名
reservation 保留意見
make the best of 妥善處理
bite the bullet 咬緊牙關(guān),忍痛硬撐
have the best of both alternatives 兩全其美
patch (電腦應(yīng)用程序的)補(bǔ)丁
time-consuming 費(fèi)時(shí)的
pack it in 放棄,停止
sensitive 敏感的
ambiguous 模棱兩可的
Nancy的職場筆記本
在關(guān)鍵時(shí)刻,Nancy勇于表達(dá)自己的想法。因?yàn)樗溃绻麤]有人適時(shí)地站出來幫助Johnson解決問題,公司的發(fā)展恐怕會(huì)前途未卜。她對(duì)自己今天的表現(xiàn)非常滿意,也在筆記中寫下自己的總結(jié):
1.關(guān)鍵時(shí)刻,即使與上司觀點(diǎn)不同,在關(guān)系公司重大利益的問題上,也要勇于闡明自己的立場,但要注意采用易被接受的態(tài)度和方法。比如在表達(dá)與上級(jí)的不同意見時(shí),自己所用的連接句有:
I appreciate your point of view, but maybe we should....
I'm sorry, but I have reservations about that.
But there is a way to have the best of both alternatives.
2.企業(yè)遇到自身問題或產(chǎn)品出現(xiàn)問題都是不可避免的,關(guān)鍵是看以什么樣的方法和態(tài)度解決問題,從而化解危機(jī)。
3.要有長遠(yuǎn)的戰(zhàn)略眼光,有時(shí)候要以犧牲暫時(shí)的利益為代價(jià)。