Those affected by the financial crisis may be divided into three: those who brought it on themselves (banks, financial experts, tax dodgers and lazy-minded manufacturers), ordinary folk advised by experts and who got reamed (the majority of us) and those who did everything possible to avoid the situation (yet still got reamed). A word of sympathy for the latter group.
While I was still working my magazine carried a story researched by my assistant editor about Nissan’s UK operation. How different it seemed from so many British enterprises. A new factory with a parent prepared to accept losses for a decade, huge and continuing investment in technology and systems, management based on weekly if not daily consultation with the workforce, a reward for anyone whose suggestion helped improve efficiency, training that meant something and involvement in the local community.
Yesterday, Nissan UK laid off a quarter of its workforce. I’m gutted for all those who have suffered but as an observer of industry I’m particularly heart-slufted (a special angoisse experienced only in the West Riding) by this one. It’s enough for me to consider – at least for a nano-second – the possibility of compensation in an after-life.
WRITING: CRAFT NOT ART
While I was still working my magazine carried a story researched by my assistant editor about Nissan’s UK operation. How different it seemed from so many British enterprises. A new factory with a parent prepared to accept losses for a decade, huge and continuing investment in technology and systems, management based on weekly if not daily consultation with the workforce, a reward for anyone whose suggestion helped improve efficiency, training that meant something and involvement in the local community.
Yesterday, Nissan UK laid off a quarter of its workforce. I’m gutted for all those who have suffered but as an observer of industry I’m particularly heart-slufted (a special angoisse experienced only in the West Riding) by this one. It’s enough for me to consider – at least for a nano-second – the possibility of compensation in an after-life.
WRITING: CRAFT NOT ART
Eclogue 27e. Distrust adjectives, adverbs, related phrases and excess.
Before: “Please, please,” she said in a voice that carried a note of entreaty, “reconsider your reckless driving and pull into that safe layby.”
After: “Stop!” she implored.
Note: Eclogue still misused.
Before: “Please, please,” she said in a voice that carried a note of entreaty, “reconsider your reckless driving and pull into that safe layby.”
After: “Stop!” she implored.
Note: Eclogue still misused.
2 comments:
It is always the little guy who receives the aggregate effect of an economic downturn.
I admire Nissan as well. I have owned one of their trucks built in Smyrna TN since 1989 (and 'Flakb8' still runs very well).Somehow I cannot see those good 'ol boys exercising before starting The Line and wearing those snappy white hats. Nissan's 6 cylinder engine is excellent. Nissan (back then, "Datsun") got a toehold in CA over 30 years ago by selling their small (4 cyl. then, wish they'd bring 'em back) pickups to the many Japanese gardeners -- word-of-mouth and sound business (and management) practices built on the initial success.
Enjoy your eclogues, misused or no. I find them helpful. May I request an eclogue on semi-colon use? I like and use 'em, though it seems they are endangered in the mainstream.
RR: When Nissan opened their new plant (in Tyne and Wear, a deprived area in the north-east) they were still called Datsun. I too wondered about the British equivalent of the good ol' boys required to exercise, etc, but my impression is they took the company on trust and did so. I was glad to read your comment as a satisfied customer.
As to semi-colons, well... You're asking me to come up out of the trench wearing my officer's jodphurs, a Webley revolver attached to my belt, a map case dangling from my neck, and a swagger cane under my arm and walk straight into a cluster of machine-guns operated by what I suspect will turn out to be a huge group of the most opinionated linguistic SOBs on earth. Never mind, you once called one of my posts "clear and concise" so you're entitled to call in the debt.
Post a Comment