The Danish electronics manufacturer, Oticon, is a leader inthe move towards the paperless office, In their cafeteria a hugeglass pipe runs from ceiling to floor. When the mail comes in, it isimmediately scanned into the computer, shredded, and throwndown the tube to the general cheers of the employees. (0)Having all mail and memos available only as computer files to beread on the screen makes it easy to dispense with large physical storage spaces for people whowork at desks (9)
Changing over to the paperless office required a rapid increase in computer literacy, but ratherthan set up a corporate training programme they turned the problem over to employees. Eightmonths before the system was installed , they offered each employee a powerful personalcomputer for use at home in exchange for training themselves to use it. (10)
The big change was not the move from paper memos to computer messages. Oticon realisedthat the more radical transformation is from written to verbal communication.(11) that adds up toa large number of face-to-face exchanges, a big improvement over memos and the occasionalmulti-hour sit-down consultation typical of the old culture. People do not send each other memos,they talk. As the CEO puts it, “ We have jumped through the memo wall and gone right toaction.”
On the eighth of August 1991 , the company left their old wood-panelled offices .(12) Sincethen they have cut in half the “ time to market” on new products. The following year, sales andprofits grew more than ever before. (13) in fact, despite a downsizing of 15 per cent employeesatisfaction is hitting record highs.
Oticon has created an organizational pattern that supports great freedom iof action forindividuals and terms. They have tied it together with a minimum hierarchy. The first clear resultsto show up were in the greater efficiencies generated by the fact that less time needed to be spenton management activities . (14) they also have some investment in the success of the projectthey choose. Oticon has succeeded in breaking the mould mould and taking a lead in non-bureaucratic organizational design.
A This saving was possible because when people have real choice in the nature of their jobs,they commit themselves to being responsible for their areas of choice.
B They were headed for a new building and a new era in communication.
C Instead, they have large private areas on their hard disks for their correspondence.
D In spite of this, the physical office layout at Oticon is one of its most charming features.
E Over 90 per cent accepted , and they organized a club to help one another learn.
F To facilitate this, the on-site coffee bars have now become the venue for about twentymeetings a day, averaging ten minutes and 2.7 participants each.
G So, are people happy with the change?
H Only about ten documents a day, items like legal contracts, escape this treatment.
参考答案及解析
《Beyond paperwork》,一个公司为paperless office所做的努力。
第九题,在一段话的最后填写一个句子。第一段就是介绍这个公司的基本情况,当有邮件进来时,立马传到电脑上,然后传给每个员工。最后一空前面的句子说,让所有的邮件、备忘录等等只以电脑文件的形式在屏幕上被读取有利于为办公桌旁边的人省出空间。后面要填入的是本段的最后一个句子,所以内容是紧跟上面的内容说的。前面说省出办公桌旁边的空间,是好处,那么后面应该还是关于这种computer files的好处,C选项最符合这个条件:在硬盘上有足够大的私人通信区域。
第十题,也是这段的最后一个句子,紧承上文就是了。这段讲的就是这个计算机邮件系统建立了之后,怎么解决员工的适应问题。员工要想适应纯电脑通讯,还需要学习。第十空的前面说的是给每个员工一个个人电脑家用(这文章是不是很早了,收发个电脑邮件还要专门学习??),而不是对他们进行培训。后面的内容应该紧跟着也是关于这个学习的。可能是这种学习方式的好处,可能是对这种学习方式的进一步说明。E选项最符合这个条件,其他的都对不上。因为没有专门的培训,是让每个人自己琢磨,方式特殊。E说的是90%的人接受了这个方式,同时还建立了一个俱乐部让每个人互相帮助学习。
第十一题,这段是关于具体的转变的实现。最大的变化不是由纸上向电脑转变,而是由书面交流向口头交流的转变。要填对这一空,关键得看后面的一句:那大幅度增加了面对面交流的次数。从后面这个句子中的that可以看出,前面的空应该填入的是要实现从书面交流向口头交流转变的措施,实行了什么措施,才会增加face-to-face communication。选F:一天20次会议,一次10分钟,供人交流。
第十二题,这题答案是最明显的。前面说办公室搬迁。后面接着就该说搬到哪里去了,选B,headed for是非常明显的暗示。搬到了一个新建筑,同时也搬进了一个沟通的新时代。
第十三题,空格前面说公司利润在增长。空格后面说员工满意度创纪录了。中间要填入一个过渡句,因为并不是钱多了幸福指数就会上升的。选G,公司的一系列员工对这些change是否满意?然后后文揭示答案,满意度创了记录。
第十四题,最后一段全是夸这个公司的,在组织模式上给了个人和组织很大的自由。这一空的前面介绍的是这种自由给组织带来的第一个好处(first clear results),说在管理活动上所花的时间少了,效率因此提高了。空格后面是第二个好处(also),那么空格的内容就应该是对第一个好处的进一步说明。选A,this savings是很明显的,指前面花的时间比较少。A介绍的是能这么节省的原因。
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