经济学人17:整改还是整容 Doctor or decorator

 　　Business;Face value;

　　商业；价值人物；

　　Doctor or decorator?

　　整改还是整容？

　　Stéphane Richard, the new boss of France Telecom, wants to overhaul¹ its strategy as well as its offices;

　　法国电信新任CEO Stéphane Richard 准备大举革新经营战略，办公环境也待旧貌换新颜;

　　When Stéphane Richard appeared recently in Paris Match, a celebrity² and news magazine, lightly tanned in an open-necked shirt and leaning jauntily³ against the corporate⁴ logo of his new firm, France Telecom, he raised eyebrows⁵ in the buttoned-down world of French telecoms. Mr Richard did not attend the elite⁶ engineering school which produces almost all of France’s senior telecoms executives, including his predecessor⁷ at France Telecom, Didier Lombard, and the boss of Vivendi, a rival. Instead, he is a political operator who has made a fortune in property. He is a friend of Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s president, and worked until recently as chief of staff to the finance minister. He became boss of France Telecom last month with the immediate⁸ task of responding to a wave of suicides among employees which had prompted a political outcry.

　　最近，Stéphane Richard的照片登上了名人新闻杂志《巴黎竞赛画报》，他穿着敞领衬衫，肤色微黑，背靠着公司的标志，看起来很时尚。他新执掌的公司法国电信相当传统，这一举动也让全公司吃了一惊。法国电信业的绝大部分高管都出身著名工程院校，包括Stéphane Richard的前任Didier Lombard，还有法国电信对头公司威望迪集团的老总。和这些人背景不同，Stéphane Richard是个政治活动家，靠房地产起家。他是萨科奇的好友，直到最近还是财政部的办公厅主任。上个月他成为法国电信的首席执行长，上任后立即着手处理公司员工自杀潮。此前，法国电信员工的连续自杀曾引发政治抗议。

　　Since 2008 over 30 France Telecom employees have killed themselves, some explicitly⁹ blaming the company. Even though the firm’s suicide rate is in line with the national average, France Telecom says that it was partly to blame. Because of the group’s former status as part of government, 66,000 or 65% of its employees are classed as civil servants, with guaranteed tenure¹⁰. Unable to fire them, France Telecom instead subjected them to a system called “Time to Move”, in which they were obliged to change offices and jobs abruptly¹¹ every few years.

　　仅2008年中，就有30名员工自杀，对其中一些自杀事件，很明显公司难辞其咎。尽管公司的自杀率和全国平均自杀率一样高，法国电信坚称只负有部分责任。法国电信集团前身属于政府部门，66000名员工（占总数65%）划定为公务员，享有固定工作年限。由于无法解雇这批人，公司实施了名为“定时重组”的措施，每隔几年，强令安于其位的员工换办公室或调职。

　　“The former management needed to change the nature of peoples’ jobs due to technological¹² change and increased competition,” says Mr Richard, “but the company underestimated the consequences.” For the first time in 15 years, he has promised, France Telecom will expand its workforce¹³. Job and office moves will become voluntary, and up to 30% of the variable pay of the firm’s top 1,100 managers will be tied to their “social” performance. Other measures include making France Telecom’s numerous offices more pleasant: the company will renovate¹⁴ 800 of its buildings and create 270 new “conviviality spaces” for employees.

　　Richard说：“科技日益更新，竞争也日渐激烈，所以以前的公司管理才要求不断变动工作性质。但是管理层显然低估了这样做的后果。”他承诺公司会增加雇员，这是法国电信15年来第一次增员。今后，员工调职和换办公室必须出于自愿，1100名高层经理30%的薪水根据社会绩效调整。其他措施包括重新装修800幢办公楼，新增270处员工休闲场所，创造让员工身心愉快的办公环境。

　　Mr Richard, a former board member, joined the firm in 2009 as heir apparent to Mr Lombard, with the blessing¹⁵ of the government, which still holds a 27% stake. He was not due to take over until next year, but the handover was accelerated in the midst of the crisis. In an unusual outburst last week, Louis-Pierre Wenes, the group’s former deputy chief executive, who resigned under pressure last year, told a British website that “external stakeholders” in France Telecom had taken advantage of the suicides to advance their agenda. Mr Lombard was not close to the current administration, whereas Mr Richard is.

　　2009年Richard以董事身份加入电信集团，政府指定他接任Lombard的位置，现在他仍有27%的股份。他本打算明年接手公司，不料自杀潮造成的危机促成了权力交接。去年，前任副总裁Louis-Pierre Wenes迫于压力辞职 ，他在上周向一家英国网站披露了不寻常的内幕：法国电信的某位股东，利用自杀事件夺取公司管理权。现在Richard所在的管理层将Lombard排除在外。

　　Minority shareholders¹⁶ are now waiting to hear in detail what Mr Richard plans for the business beyond improving morale¹⁷. He is a talented communicator, but some foreign investors¹⁸ grumble¹⁹ that despite having been at the firm for over six months, he tends to turn to other executives when asked for precise details on France Telecom’s financial performance. But Mr Richard clearly has lots of business nous. The grandson of a shepherd, he made his fortune from a leveraged²⁰ buy-out of a property developer, Nexity, in 2000-01. He is likely to push France Telecom into behaving like a private firm, and further away from its past as a public monopoly.

　　小股东希望听到Richard有更详尽的商业规划，而不仅仅是提升士气。他处事圆熟，一些外国投资者仍然指责他：尽管执掌公司已六月有余，一旦面对公司财务状况详情的质询，就推诿给其他高管。但是毋庸置疑的是，Richard颇有商业头脑。2000年1月，这个牧羊人的孙子用杠杆收购的方法得到了一家房地产开发公司，自此起家。他想让法国电信按私有企业的方式运作，进而完全脱离国有控制。

　　“Stéphane Richard is far more attuned²¹ to the market than Didier Lombard,” says Xavier Niel, founder²² of Iliad, a young telecoms firm which has upended the French broadband market. “Under his management France Telecom will become a more dangerous competitor for us.” Already, while at the finance ministry²³, Mr Richard demonstrated a strong belief in the beneficial effects of competition by helping²⁴ Iliad obtain a mobile licence in the face of fierce resistance from the incumbents²⁵ and their political allies.

　　Xavier Niel是伊里亚特公司的创建者。这家公司成立时间不长，却逆转性地掌握了法国的宽带业务。Xavier Niel这样评价Richard：“在把握市场这方面，Didier Lombard远逊于Stéphane Richard。在他的领导下，法国电信会成长为更具威胁性的对手。”当Richard还在财政部供职时，曾协力伊里亚特公司取得3G牌照，尽管面对当局和政治同盟的重重阻力，Richard仍公开表示支持，他深信这样做有利于市场竞争。

　　In the past, says Mr Richard, France Telecom, having recruited most of the graduates of the X-Corps des Telecoms, the most elite stream of telecoms students, “thought there were few skills or knowledge on telecoms outside France Telecom”. Engineers still tend to call the shots, rather than marketing²⁶ types. Whereas Iliad offers just one kind of set-top box, he points out, the equivalent product from France Telecom appears in 140 different types and generations, resulting in far too much complexity²⁷ for users. “We must not lose our superiority in technology, research and development and innovation,” he says, “but we need to be more marketing-oriented and mindful of customers”.

　　Richard指出，法国电信过去一直聘用名门院校的通信高材生，“认为在技术智能方面，除了法国电信，再无业界翘楚。”公司管理由技术人员而非营销人员主导。他以机顶盒举例，伊里亚特推出的产品只有一种类型，法国电信的同类产品竟有140种类型，每种类型还有换代产品，大大增加了操作的难度。“我们必须牢牢掌控技术优势，同时需要适应市场导向，满足顾客需求。”

　　With its premium²⁸ products and pricing in France, which provides two-thirds of its cashflow, France Telecom’s market share and profits are being eroded²⁹ by newcomers such as Iliad, which will launch its new mobile service in 2012. The firm’s shares performed far worse than those of its European peers in 2009, says Antoine Pradayrol of Exane BNP Paribas, a brokerage. Investors want to know how Mr Richard will fend³⁰ off France Telecom’s rivals as well as how he will cheer up its staff.

　　凭着优质的产品和有竞争力的价格，法国电信在国内的收入占到运作资金的2/3。然而，外来者正在蚕食国内市场份额和利润，比如伊里亚特就将在2012年推出新的3G服务。法巴银行证券部门的股票交易人Antoine Pradayrol 说，2009年法国电信的股票表现十分甚差，远逊于欧洲同行。投资者迫切想知道Richard如何击败竞争对手，重振公司士气。

1 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

2 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

3 jauntily   

adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地

参考例句：

• His straw hat stuck jauntily on the side of his head. 他那顶草帽时髦地斜扣在头上。 来自辞典例句
• He returned frowning, his face obstinate but whistling jauntily. 他回来时皱眉蹙额，板着脸，嘴上却快活地吹着口哨。 来自辞典例句

4 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

5 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

6 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

7 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 explicitly   

ad.明确地，显然地

参考例句：

• The plan does not explicitly endorse the private ownership of land. 该计划没有明确地支持土地私有制。
• SARA amended section 113 to provide explicitly for a right to contribution. 《最高基金修正与再授权法案》修正了第123条，清楚地规定了分配权。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

10 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

11 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

12 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

13 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

14 renovate   

vt.更新，革新，刷新

参考例句：

• The couple spent thousands renovating the house.这对夫妇花了几千元来翻新房子。
• They are going to renovate the old furniture.他们准备将旧家具整修一番。

15 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

16 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

17 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

18 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

19 grumble   

vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声

参考例句：

• I don't want to hear another grumble from you.我不愿再听到你的抱怨。
• He could do nothing but grumble over the situation.他除了埋怨局势之外别无他法。

20 leveraged   

促使…改变( leverage的过去式和过去分词 )； [美国英语]杠杆式投机，（使）举债经营，（使）利用贷款进行投机

参考例句：

• Chrysler has traditionally been a highly leveraged company. 克莱斯勒一向是一家周转十分灵活的公司。
• Leveraged recaps have become popular for a number of reasons. 杠杆资本重组的大行其道有好几个原因。

21 attuned   

v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音

参考例句：

• She wasn't yet attuned to her baby's needs. 她还没有熟悉她宝宝的需要。
• Women attuned to sensitive men found Vincent Lord attractive. 偏爱敏感男子的女人，觉得文森特·洛德具有魅力。 来自辞典例句

22 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

23 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

24 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

25 incumbents   

教区牧师( incumbent的名词复数 )； 教会中的任职者

参考例句：

• In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being reelected. 通常现任官员有94%的几率会再次当选。
• This arangement yields a wonderful gain to incumbents. 这种安排为在职人员提供了意外的得益。

26 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

27 complexity   

n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物

参考例句：

• Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
• The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。

28 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

29 eroded   

adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
• The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

30 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。