Bartleby: Cultural challenge

文章导读

新冠疫情席卷全球，对全球经济造成重创。然而随着中国经济的缓慢复苏，越来越多的外籍员工选择加入中国企业。但他们想要真正融入其中，还需要克服种种文化差异。让我们跟着《经济学人》这篇专栏文章来了解一下外籍“打工人”在中国工作中面临的困境。

文章结构

第一部分：

提出问题，即外籍员工在中国工作困难重重。

第二部分：

列举具体问题（如任务不明、朝令夕改、工作生活界限不清、不被接纳、晋升困难、演讲风格迥异等），分析原因（文化差异如集体主义，上下级界限分明等）并提出对策（如灵活主动、不要直接否定老板的想法、参加单位聚餐、教同事英语、跳槽等）。

第三部分：

尽管差异多多困难重重，外国人为了职业发展还是会选择来中国工作。此外，中国的一些企业也在为外籍员工尽快适应而做出努力。

1、正文

A guide for foreign workers at Chinese companies

（1）THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic has led to some testy moments in diplomatic relations（外交关系） between China and the democratic world. But in the long run, China’s economic power）（经济实力） is likely to increase and that means more foreigners may end up working for Chinese corporations.

（2）In a fascinating and detailed book, “Barriers to Entry: Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Breakthroughs in a Chinese Workplace”, Paul Ross, an executive who has worked in China, describes some of the difficulties workers face. There is plenty of scope for misunderstandings. A common complaint of foreign employees working for Chinese firms is that they do not always understand what is expected from them nor do they find the guidance they receive from Chinese managers satisfactory.

（3）That may be down to（归因于） differences in corporate culture. Sociological studies show that Chinese culture is more collectivist（集体主义的） and displays a greater respect for authority than elsewhere (although a nation of 1.4bn people will not have a uniform mindset). Mr Ross says Chinese workers rely on informal communication for information and guidance, obviating（消除） the need for more formal definitions of their duties. As a result, one American who worked for a Chinese group concluded that the ideal Western candidate was someone who was comfortable with uncertainty, rapid and unexpected change, and taking the initiative（自动自发） to find their own direction.

（4）Workers cannot count on getting lots of positive feedback either. But Mr. Ross counsels that Chinese bosses who come across as（看上去好像） too critical may just be struggling to（努力） find their footing（立足之处）.

（5）The relationship between manager and staff is more hierarchical （等级分明的）than Western workers might expect, the author says. Chinese managers occasionally ask staff to run errands（跑腿） or do small, personal jobs. Challenging the boss is not a good idea. Mr Ross says employees should never shoot down（否决） a boss’s idea directly. If there is a difficulty in implementing（执行） the plan, they should blame it on（归咎于） outside factors.

（6）Working long hours seems to be a way of expressing group solidarity（团结） in Chinese companies even though it is not always the most efficient use of time. Reviews by Western employees on Glassdoor, a website where workers can write about their companies, suggest that a lack of work-life balance is the most negative factor. In particular, employees are expected to attend after-work functions（社交聚会） as a way of showing team spirit. Chinese companies spend a lot of money on events that are designed to bring workers together. Mr. Ross says that such shindigs（盛大狂欢会） are an important way of transmitting the corporate culture（企业文化） to their staff. So recruits（新成员） need to take part.

（7）Even so, foreign workers may struggle to be accepted. One person who worked at the Belgian outpost of ZTE, a telecoms-equipment provider（电信设备供应商）, recalled that the Chinese staff sat in a large open space in the middle of the office while the local staff occupied a small office at the end of the hall. Mr Ross suggests offering to teach colleagues English as a way to establish relationships, leading to collaboration（合作） in other areas.

（8）Another problem is that foreign employees can find it hard to work their way up the career ladder. One game developer at Tencent concluded that leaving the company for a competitor and then rejoining at a higher level was the best way of getting promoted.

（9）A further cultural difference is in the style of presentations. Chinese executives don’t reveal anywhere near as many personal details in their speeches as Western CEOs. Presenters don’t tend to make eye contact with the audience but read the text off a laptop they bring on stage. Slides（幻灯片） tend to be packed with detail as a way of imparting （传递）information. Western-style slides with lots of space are seen as lacking useful content.

（10）Despite all these differences, the trend for foreign workers to join Chinese companies is likely to continue, even if businesses from the People’s Republic are barred from（被禁止） making acquisitions abroad（国外收购）. Many foreigners want to work for a Chinese firm because they think it will enable them to develop skills and knowledge that would help their careers.

（11）Furthermore, Chinese companies want to employ foreign staff to deal with overseas clients, because of the cultural sensitivity and linguistic ability they bring. A number of Chinese companies now provide “onboarding” programmes（入职培训计划） to help overseas recruits adjust. To update Horace Greeley’s 19th-century motto（箴言）, the advice for the future might be “Go east, young man”.

2、背景知识

1. Bartleby（title）

Bartleby是《经济学人》的专栏名，据专栏作者称Bartleby这个名字来自Herman Melville的短篇小说Bartleby the Scrivener，余光中先生曾把它译为《录事巴托比》。这个故事中的Bartleby在华尔街为一位律师工作。他话不多，本分老实，活儿干得也很漂亮。不过突然有一天，他开始拒绝做老板给他安排的任务，后来甚至就在办公室里呆着，拒绝任何工作。他拒绝的方式也很奇葩，软硬不吃，每次都幽幽地、语调乏力地说：I would prefer not to （恕难从命）。作者认为这个故事可以反映出两件事。一是老板对员工的管理有问题，二是员工对工作本身的态度有问题。这样看来Bartleby作为专栏on life at work的名字再合适不过了。《经济学人》在给专栏命名时一直很花心思。比如2009年4月，《经济学人》推出亚洲事务专栏Banyan。他们认为banyan这种树最能代表泛亚形象，是亚洲精神文明和物质文明的双重象征。例如佛教的菩提树（Bodhi）又名banyan；印度商人会在banyan树下做交易。

2. Horace Greeley（P.11）

美国著名报人。在一份1865年7月13日的出版物上，他发出了著名的号召“小伙子们，到西部去(Go West, young man)，和你们的国家一起成长”，吸引了成千上万人行动起来。在本文末尾，作者将他的这句口号改为“Go east, young man”。east在这里特指中国，意为强调中国是全球经济发展的出路，是个人发展的希望之地。

3、重点词语

1. be down to （P.3）

（1）to be caused by a particular person or thing由…引起（造成）

文中例句：

That may be down to differences in corporate culture.

这可能归因于企业文化的差异。

（2）to have only a little money left只剩下（一点钱）

例：

I am down to my last dollar.

我只剩下最后一块钱了。

2. come across as （P.4）看上去好像是…

文中例句：

But Mr Ross counsels that Chinese bosses who come across as too critical may just be struggling to find their footing.

但罗斯先生认为，那些看上去爱批评人的中国老板，可能只是在努力寻找他们的立足之处。

例：

If you come across as a known-it all, it really pushes people away.

如果你看上去像是个百事通，那真的会使人们疏远你。

3. impart（P.9）

（1）to pass information,knowledge to other people传授，告知

文中例句：

Slides tend to be packed with detail as a way of imparting information.

幻灯片往往带有细节，作为传递信息的一种方式。

例：

The ability to impart knowledge and command respect is the essential qualification for teachers.

传授知识并博得尊敬的能力对老师们来说是基本的条件。

（2）to give a particular quality to sth 把（某性质）赋予…

例：

The spice imparts an eastern flavour to the dish.

这种调味品会给菜肴添加一种东方风味。

She managed to impart great elegance to the plain dress she was wearing.

她努力为自己朴素的衣着增添几分优雅。

4、熟词僻义

function（P.6）

In particular, employees are expected to attend after-work functions as a way of showing team spirit.本句中的function常译为“功能”，在这里表示“大型聚会；仪式；典礼”，英文释义为 a large party or official event.

本句表示，员工应该参加下班后的活动，以展示团队精神。

例：

This room may be hired for weddings and other functions.

这个房间可以租来举办婚礼或其他活动。

完

内容 | 陈虹

编辑 | 彭茜

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