2020商务英语（BEC）初级口语冲刺训练：国际物流

　　Developing logistics strategies 制定物流策略需要考虑哪些要点?

　　l Customer service levels 客户服务水平

　　l Information management 信息管理

　　l

　　Well, you see, customer service is actually where supply chain management or logistics starts. Customer service sets the specification for logistics system design. Because next to product quality, customer service is another important factor why customers decide to do business with you. You have to know exactly the needs and expectations of your customers, so that you can design the logistics system necessary to deliver the required level of service.

　　Logistics is about managing the flow of materials and the flow of information. Decisions cannot be made without having appropriate information. And information is also important in tracking product flow through the logistics pipelines. So designing and implementing information systems to support the logistics network is critical.

　　To ensure logistics success, you also need to consider other factors like order-processing, warehouse management, inventory and material management, procurement, transportation, etc.

　　你看，客户服务确实是供应链管理或者物流的开始。客户服务设置了物流系统设计的规范。因为除了产品质量，客户服务是客户决定和你做生意的另一个重要因素。你必须确切的知道客户的需要和期望，因此你能够设计物流系统提供必要的服务要求的水平。

　　物流是关于管理材料和信息的流程。没有确切的信息就不能做决定。而且信息对于通过跟踪物流产品的管道也是十分重要的。因此设计和实施信息系统来支持物流网络也是至关重要的。

　　为了确保物流的成功，你也需要考虑其他的因素诸如订单流程、仓库管理、库存、物料管理、采购、运输等等。

　　PART THREE: Discussion

　　Cultural issues in global logistics

　　The company you work for is relocating some logistics managers abroad and is designing a training course for them on cultural issues in logistics. You have been asked to advise on this training course. Discuss the situation together, and decide:

　　l how important it is to consider cultural differences in the logistics process

　　l what cultural aspects should be included in the training course

　　国际物流中的文化问题

　　你们公司拟调派一些物流经理到国外工作，现正在就物流中的文化问题为他们设计培训课程。请你们为这一培训课程提出建议。讨论并决定：

　　l 物流过程中考虑文化差异的重要性

　　l 培训课程中应包含哪些文化因素

　　A： when doing business internationally, it’s very easy to take a misstep if you don’t understand the culture of the target market.

　　B: Yes. Culture difference can add layers of challenges to global logistics and supply chain management. If companies aim to become competent globally, they have to take cultural difference into consideration. Logistics managers must understand the cultural make-up of the customers that comprise the markets.

　　A: Yes. Cultural differences have impact on different areas of logistics. For example, people from different cultural backgrounds have different working styles, and in going global, you need to learn their ways of looking at things and their ways of interpreting business relationships.

　　B: Yes. Understanding the needs of customers in each market is essential in logistics success. But we can’t just throw our logistics experts into another country without training them. You see, no matter how smart they are, they will make all sorts of mistakes unless they become sensitive to cultural differences.

　　A: Certainly. We should focus our training programme on promoting the global mindset, being open-minded and tolerant of a different culture is the most important thing.

　　B: We should include training items on thought patterns, buyer-seller relationships, shopping habits, etc.

　　A: Of course, logistics system can’t clash with the culture of the target market and respect for the native culture is extremely important. So we also need to consider cultural taboos. For example, in countries like Japan and China, customers don’t like goods packed in four together, as “four” is regarded as an unlucky number.

　　B: You’re right. Different shopping habits should also be included in our training programme. In some countries, people rely on public transportation, so goods must come in small packages that can be easily carried on the bus. But in countries where people rely on personal automobiles, goods in large packages are more attractive.

　　A: Besides that, we should also acquaint our logistics professionals with differences in language , laws and social customs.

　　A：在做国际业务时，如果你不了解目标市场的文化，是很容易犯错误的。

　　B：是的，不同文化对全球的物流以及供应链管理增加了深层次的挑战性。如果公司目标是全球化发展，他们就必须考虑文化差异。物流经理必须了解市场所包含的客户的文化构成。

　　A：是的。文化差异已经影响了不同领域的物流。例如，来自不同文化背景的人具有不同的工作方式。你需要学习他们看待事物的方法以及解释业务关系的方式。

　　B：是的。理解每个市场的客户需求是物流取得成功的重点。但是我们不能没有培训而只是把我们的物流专家扔在另一个城市。你知道，无论他们有多么聪明，他们也会犯各种错误除非变得对文化差异敏感。

　　A:确实是的。我们应该重点推进全球思维的训练计划。最重要一点是具有开阔的胸襟以及对不同文化的包容。

　　B：我们的培训项目包括：思想模式、买方和卖房的关系，购物习惯等

　　A：当然，不冲击目标市场的文化以及尊重本土文化对物流系统极其重要。因此我们需要考虑文化禁忌。例如，有一些国家例如日本和中国，客户不喜欢四个货物打成一个包装。就像4被认为是一个不吉利的数字。

　　B：你是对的，不同的购物习惯也应该包括在培训项目中。在一些国家，人们倾向于公共交通，因此货物必须用小包装这样容易在公车上携带。但是在另一些城市人们倾向于私家车，大包装的货物更加具有吸引力。

　　A：持此之外，我们应该熟悉不同语言的物流专业人士，法律和社会习俗。

　　(1) Is it a good idea for companies to provide cultural training courses to their employees?(Why?/Why not?)

　　公司为其雇员提供文化方面的培训课程好不好?(为什么?)

　　Yes. Cultural training courses can help employees find out differences among people, including cultural, historical, language, laws and social values. Understanding differences can enhance mutual trust. It’s important in promoting business abroad.

　　(2) Is it important for companies to anticipate cultural barriers in their services?(Why?/Why not)

　　公司在服务中预想到文化障碍的存在是否重要?(为什么?)

　　Sure. If companies are sensitive to cultural differences and can anticipate cultural barriers in international business, they would be more prepared for any possible difficulties and would certainly become globally competent.

　　(3) Do you think that in future English will become the official language of the business world?(Why?/Why not?)

　　你认为今后英语是否会成为商界的正式通用语言?(为什么?)

　　I think it will. As a matter of fact, more and more multinational companies use English as their official corporate language nowadays. English has become an international language.

　　(4) How important is it for employees in multinational companies to learn a foreign language?

　　跨国公司的员工学习外语有何重要性?

　　Learning a foreign language enables people to be more open-minded, to see things in the perspectives of other people. And that would enhance cultural exchange and promote mutual understanding.

　　(5) What should companies do to improve staff awareness of cultural differences?

　　公司采用什么方法来提高员工的文化差异意识?

　　Companies can offer cultural training courses or foreign language courses to their employees. Or they can also design some exchange programmes, or relocate some of their employees to work abroad.

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