- Published on
中层管理者的潜力和困境(上)
- Authors
没有什么比相互冲突的激励更能激起管理理论家的兴趣了。(如果想到兴奋的管理理论家让你吃早餐时没了胃口，那么在此说句对不起。)
双语精读
Overloaded overseers: A new paper illuminates the potential and the plight of middle managers
不堪重负的管理者：一篇新论文阐明了中层管理者的潜力和困境
Nothing turns on management theorists more than conflicting incentives. (If the idea of an aroused management theorist has ruined your breakfast, sorry.)
没有什么比相互冲突的激励更能激起管理理论家的兴趣了。(如果想到兴奋的管理理论家让你吃早餐时没了胃口，那么在此说句对不起。)
They ruminate on financial motives-the adverse impact that individual bonus schemes might have on team collaboration, say. They churn out studies and books on the competing interests of shareholders and the executives who act on their behalf.
他们会认真思考财务上的动机，比如个人奖金机制可能会对团队合作产生不利影响。他们发表许多研究和书籍，论述股东和代表股东行事的高管之间的利益冲突。
A new paper, published by Achyuta Adhvaryu of the University of California, San Diego, and Emir Murathanoglu and Anant Nyshadham of the University of Michigan, casts fresh light on the problem.
加州大学圣地亚哥分校的阿曲塔·阿德瓦律以及密歇根大学的埃米尔·木拉塔纳古和阿南特·纳沙德姆发表的一篇新论文，对这个问题提出了新的见解。
It shows that clashing incentives are not always financial, and that conflicts can occur even between different levels of management. In the process it underlines that a much-mocked group deserves to be taken far more seriously.
论文表明，相互冲突的激励并不总是财务上的，而且在不同的管理层之间也可能出现这种冲突。在论述过程中，论文强调，一个备受嘲笑的群体应该得到更严肃的对待。
The authors examined the decisions of middle managers at Shahi Exports, one of India's largest garment-makers. The firm has about 70 factories, where multiple teams of cutters, sewers and finishers produce clothing.
作者调查了印度最大的服装制造商之一沙希出口公司的中层管理人员的决策。该公司拥有约70家工厂，工厂中有负责裁剪、缝制和整理的多个团队来生产服装。
In their study the academics tracked which team supervisors were being recommended for soft-skills training by their own managers, and then looked at the effect of that training on productivity and retention.
在他们的研究中，学者们跟踪了哪些团队主管被自己的经理推荐，去接受软技能培训，然后考察了培训对工作效率和留任率的影响。
What they found was curious. On average the training worked. Teams whose supervisors had been through the course saw big productivity gains compared with control groups.
他们的发现非常奇特。平均而言，培训奏效了。与对照组相比，那些接受过培训课程的主管，其团队的工作效率有了很大提高。
But these advances were distributed unevenly. Teams whose supervisors were most highly recommended by middle managers for training experienced no productivity gains; the benefits were concentrated on supervisors who were less recommended.
但这些提高的分布并不均匀。那些最受中层经理推荐进行培训的主管，其团队的工作效率没有提升，效率提升的好处集中在那些不太受推荐的主管身上。
The pattern for retention was the reverse: there was a big drop in subsequent quit rates among supervisors who had been highly recommended by their managers, and little change among less recommended ones.
留任模式则与之相反：在经理强烈推荐的主管中，其随后的离职率大幅下降，而在不太受推荐的主管中，离职率几乎没有变化。
Mr Adhvaryu et al look at a variety of explanations for this strange pattern and conclude that it reflects a deliberate calculation: managers were nominating those supervisors whom they regarded as flight risks.
阿德瓦律等人研究了对这种奇怪模式的各种解释，并得出结论，这反映了一种刻意的计算：经理们提名了那些他们认为有离职风险的主管参加培训。
That did not necessarily suit the interests of the company's senior leaders. But it did suit the interests of middle managers, who bear the burden of filling in for missing supervisors and training new ones.
这并不一定符合该公司高层领导的利益。但这确实符合中层管理人员的利益，他们承担着主管离职后补缺和培训新主管的重担。
Losing workers, in short, makes their lives a lot harder. Retention matters more to them than productivity.
简而言之，失去员工会让他们的日子更难过。对他们来说，留住员工比提高工作效率更重要。
词汇预习
individual [高考]
美[ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl] | 英[ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl]
adj. 单独的；一个人的；独有的 n. 个人；个体
financial [高考]
美[faɪˈnænʃl] | 英[faɪˈnænʃl]
adj. 金融的；财政的；[非正式]有钱的
impact [高考]
美[ˈɪmpækt , ɪmˈpækt] | 英[ˈɪmpækt , ɪmˈpækt]
n. 影响；冲击力；撞击 vt. 挤入；压紧；撞击；对 ... 发生影响 vi. 冲击；撞击；产生影响
deliberate [高考]
美[dɪˈlɪbərət , dɪˈlɪbəreɪt] | 英[dɪˈlɪbərət , dɪˈlɪbəreɪt]
adj. 深思熟虑的；故意的；从容不迫的 v. 仔细考虑；研讨
productivity [高考]
美[ˌprɑːdʌkˈtɪvəti] | 英[ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti]
n. 生产率；生产力
multiple [高考]
美[ˈmʌltɪpl] | 英[ˈmʌltɪpl]
adj. 多种多样的；许多的 n. 倍数；并联
calculation [高考]
美[ˌkælkjuˈleɪʃn] | 英[ˌkælkjuˈleɪʃn]
n. 计算；估计；深思熟虑
reverse [高考]
美[rɪˈvɜːrs] | 英[rɪˈvɜːs]
v. 逆转；倒退；互换；改变 adj. 相反的；反面的；颠倒的 n. 相反；背面；失败；倒档
potential [高考]
美[pəˈtenʃl] | 英[pəˈtenʃl]
adj. 潜在的；可能的 n. 潜力；潜能 n. 电位；电势
occur [高考]
美[əˈkɜːr] | 英[əˈkɜː(r)]
vi. 发生；存在；出现；想到
variety [高考]
美[vəˈraɪəti] | 英[vəˈraɪəti]
n. 多样；种类；多样化 n. 杂耍
curious [高考]
美[ˈkjʊriəs] | 英[ˈkjʊəriəs]
adj. 好奇的；奇特的
conclude [高考]
美[kənˈkluːd] | 英[kənˈkluːd]
vt. 推断出；缔结；使结束 vi. 结束；总结；作决定；作协议
quit [高考]
美[kwɪt] | 英[kwɪt]
v. 停止；离开；退出；辞职 n. 离开；[计] 退出 adj. 摆脱了…的；已经了结的
bonus [高考]
美[ˈboʊnəs] | 英[ˈbəʊnəs]
n. 红利；意外所得之物；奖金；【篮】追加罚篮
behalf [高考]
美[bɪˈhæf] | 英[bɪˈhɑːf]
n. 代表；利益；方面
garment [高考]
美[ˈɡɑːrmənt] | 英[ˈɡɑːmənt]
n. 衣服 vt. 给 ... 披上衣服；覆上 ...
a variety of [高考]
美[e vəˈraɪɪti ʌv] | 英[ə vəˈraiəti ɔv]
种种； 多种多样
in short [高考]
美[ɪn ʃɔːrt] | 英[ɪn ʃɔːt]
总之； 简言之
drop in [高考]
美['drɑːpˌɪn] | 英['drɒpˌɪn]
顺便走访(某人)
subsequent [高考]
美[ˈsʌbsɪkwənt] | 英[ˈsʌbsɪkwənt]
adj. 随后的；后来的
where [高考]
美[wer] | 英[weə(r)]
adv. 在哪里；在那个地方 conj. 在 ... 地方
necessarily [四级]
美[ˌnesəˈserəli] | 英[ˌnesəˈserəli]
adv. 必然地；必定地；必需地
collaboration [四级]
美[kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃn] | 英[kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃn]
n. 合作；通敌
look at [四级]
美[lʊk æt] | 英[lʊk æt]
（仔细地）看；着眼，考虑
not necessarily [四级]
美[nɑt ˌnɛsɪˈsɛrəli] | 英[nɔt ˈnesisərili]
adv. 未必；不一定
act on [四级]
美[ækt ɑːn] | 英[ækt ɒn]
v. 对…起作用；按照…行事
experienced [四级]
美[ɪkˈspɪriənst] | 英[ɪkˈspɪəriənst]
adj. 有经验的
adverse [六级]
美[ədˈvɜːrs] | 英[ˈædvɜːs]
adj. 不利的；逆向的；有害的
saw [专八]
美[sɔː] | 英[sɔː]
n. 锯；谚语，格言 v. 锯，用锯割开；看见，明白（see的过去式）
plight [专八]
美[plaɪt] | 英[plaɪt]
n. 困境；苦境 n. 誓约 vt. 宣誓；订婚
retention [考研]
美[rɪˈtenʃn] | 英[rɪˈtenʃn]
n. 保留物；保存；保持(力)；记忆力
unevenly [托福]
美[ʌnˈivənlɪ] | 英[ʌn'i:vnlɪ]
adv. 不平坦地；不均衡地
重点讲解
Overloaded overseers: A new paper illuminates the potential and the plight of middle managers
不堪重负的管理者：一篇新论文阐明了中层管理者的潜力和困境
plight n. 困境，苦境
【例】the plight of the homeless 无家可归者的艰难困苦
turn on
1. 使性兴奋；使感兴趣
【例】Jazz has never really turned me on.
我对爵士乐从未真正产生过兴趣。
2. 接通（电流、水等）；打开（电视机、电灯等）
【例】I'll turn the television on.
我来打开电视机。
3. （用暴力或恶毒语言）突然攻击某人
【例】Why are you all turning on me?
你们怎么突然都冲我来了？
4. 依靠；取决于
【例】As usual, everything turned on how much money was available.
照例，一切都取决于有多少钱可以用。
Nothing turns on management theorists more than conflicting incentives. (If the idea of an aroused management theorist has ruined your breakfast, sorry.)
没有什么比相互冲突的激励更能激起管理理论家的兴趣了。(如果想到兴奋的管理理论家让你吃早餐时没了胃口，那么在此说句对不起。)
plight n. 困境，苦境
【例】the plight of the homeless 无家可归者的艰难困苦
turn on
1. 使性兴奋；使感兴趣
【例】Jazz has never really turned me on.
我对爵士乐从未真正产生过兴趣。
2. 接通（电流、水等）；打开（电视机、电灯等）
【例】I'll turn the television on.
我来打开电视机。
3. （用暴力或恶毒语言）突然攻击某人
【例】Why are you all turning on me?
你们怎么突然都冲我来了？
4. 依靠；取决于
【例】As usual, everything turned on how much money was available.
照例，一切都取决于有多少钱可以用。
They ruminate on financial motives—the adverse impact that individual bonus schemes might have on team collaboration, say. They churn out studies and books on the competing interests of shareholders and the executives who act on their behalf.
他们会认真思考财务上的动机，比如个人奖金机制可能会对团队合作产生不利影响。他们发表许多研究和书籍，论述股东和代表股东行事的高管之间的利益冲突。
scheme n. & v.
1. 作名词
（1）计划；体制
【例】a training scheme 培训方案
（2）阴谋；诡计
【例】a get-rich-quick scheme 快速致富的手段
2. 作动词：密谋；图谋
【例】She seemed to feel that we were all scheming against her.
她似乎觉得我们都在算计她。
on sb’s behalf / on behalf of sb 代表（或代替）某人
【例】On behalf of the department I would like to thank you all.
我谨代表全系感谢大家。
A new paper, published by Achyuta Adhvaryu of the University of California, San Diego, and Emir Murathanoglu and Anant Nyshadham of the University of Michigan, casts fresh light on the problem.
加州大学圣地亚哥分校的阿曲塔·阿德瓦律以及密歇根大学的埃米尔·木拉塔纳古和阿南特·纳沙德姆发表的一篇新论文，对这个问题提出了新的见解。
cast/shed/throw light on something 使了解某事；阐明某事
【例】research findings that cast new light on the origin of our universe
使我们进一步了解宇宙起源的研究发现
【拓展】cast doubt(s) on something 使怀疑某事，使不确信某事
【例】This latest evidence casts serious doubt on his version of events.
最新的证据使人们十分怀疑他对事件的说法。
underline v.
1. 在（词语等下）画线
【例】Underline the sentence.
在这个句子下面画线。
2. 强调；突出
【例】Her question underlined how little she understood him.
她的问题表明她多么不了解他。
It shows that clashing incentives are not always financial, and that conflicts can occur even between different levels of management. In the process it underlines that a much-mocked group deserves to be taken far more seriously.
论文表明，相互冲突的激励并不总是财务上的，而且在不同的管理层之间也可能出现这种冲突。在论述过程中，论文强调，一个备受嘲笑的群体应该得到更严肃的对待。
cast/shed/throw light on something 使了解某事；阐明某事
【例】research findings that cast new light on the origin of our universe
使我们进一步了解宇宙起源的研究发现
【拓展】cast doubt(s) on something 使怀疑某事，使不确信某事
【例】This latest evidence casts serious doubt on his version of events.
最新的证据使人们十分怀疑他对事件的说法。
underline v.
1. 在（词语等下）画线
【例】Underline the sentence.
在这个句子下面画线。
2. 强调；突出
【例】Her question underlined how little she understood him.
她的问题表明她多么不了解他。
The authors examined**** the decisions of**** middle**** managers**** at**** Shahi Exports,**** one of**** India’s largest garment-makers****.**** The firm**** has about 70**** factories,**** where multiple**** teams of**** cutters,**** sewers**** and finishers produce clothing****.****
作者调查了印度最大的服装制造商之一沙希出口公司的中层管理人员的决策。该公司拥有约70家工厂，工厂中有负责裁剪、缝制和整理的多个团队来生产服装。
In**** their study the academics tracked which team**** supervisors were**** being recommended for soft****-skills**** training**** by**** their own managers****,**** and then**** looked**** at**** the effect**** of**** that**** training**** on**** productivity**** and retention.****
在他们的研究中，学者们跟踪了哪些团队主管被自己的经理推荐，去接受软技能培训，然后考察了培训对工作效率和留任率的影响。
What they found was curious. On average the training worked. Teams whose supervisors had been through the course saw big productivity gains compared with control groups.
他们的发现非常奇特。平均而言，培训奏效了。与对照组相比，那些接受过培训课程的主管，其团队的工作效率有了很大提高。
curious a.
1. 求知欲强的；好奇的
【例】I was curious to find out what she had said.
我真想弄清楚她说了些什么。
2. 奇特；不寻常
【例】It was a curious feeling, as though we were floating on air.
那是一种奇特的感觉，我们仿佛在空中飘浮。
But these advances were distributed unevenly. Teams whose supervisors were most highly recommended by middle managers for training experienced no productivity gains; the benefits were concentrated on supervisors who were less recommended.
但这些提高的分布并不均匀。那些最受中层经理推荐进行培训的主管，其团队的工作效率没有提升，效率提升的好处集中在那些不太受推荐的主管身上。
advance n. & v.
1. 作名词
（1）前进，行进
【例】the enemy’s advance on St. Petersburg 敌军向圣彼得堡推进
（2）进步；进展
【例】recent advances in medical science 医学的最新进展
（3）（价格、价值的）上涨，提高
【例】Share prices showed significant advances.
股票价格大幅上涨。
2. 作动词
（1）前进，行进
【例】The troops were finally given the order to advance.
部队终于接到前进的命令。
（2）（知识、技术等）发展，进步；促进
【例】This research has done much to advance our understanding of language learning.
这项研究大大提高了我们对语言学习的认识。
（3）提出（想法、理论、计划）
【例】The article advances a new theory to explain changes in the climate.
这篇文章提出了一个解释气候变化的新理论。
The pattern for retention was the reverse: there was a big drop in subsequent quit rates among supervisors who had been highly recommended by their managers, and little change among less recommended ones.
留任模式则与之相反：在经理强烈推荐的主管中，其随后的离职率大幅下降，而在不太受推荐的主管中，离职率几乎没有变化。
et al ad. 等人，等物（尤置于名称后）
【例】research by West et al, 2012
韦斯特等人 2012 年所做的研究
deliberate a. & v.
1. 作形容词
（1）故意的；蓄意的
【例】The speech was a deliberate attempt to embarrass the government.
这一发言蓄意使政府难堪。
（2）不慌不忙的；小心翼翼的
【例】She spoke in a slow and deliberate way.
她说话慢条斯理不慌不忙。
2. 作动词：仔细考虑，反复思考
【例】The jury deliberated for five days before finding him guilty.
陪审团认真讨论了五天才裁定他有罪。
Mr Adhvaryu et al look at a variety of explanations for this strange pattern and conclude that it reflects a deliberate calculation: managers were nominating those supervisors whom they regarded as flight risks.
阿德瓦律等人研究了对这种奇怪模式的各种解释，并得出结论，这反映了一种刻意的计算：经理们提名了那些他们认为有离职风险的主管参加培训。
et al ad. 等人，等物（尤置于名称后）
【例】research by West et al, 2012
韦斯特等人 2012 年所做的研究
deliberate a. & v.
1. 作形容词
（1）故意的；蓄意的
【例】The speech was a deliberate attempt to embarrass the government.
这一发言蓄意使政府难堪。
（2）不慌不忙的；小心翼翼的
【例】She spoke in a slow and deliberate way.
她说话慢条斯理不慌不忙。
2. 作动词：仔细考虑，反复思考
【例】The jury deliberated for five days before finding him guilty.
陪审团认真讨论了五天才裁定他有罪。
That did not necessarily suit the interests of the company’s senior leaders. But it did suit the interests of middle managers, who bear the burden of filling in for missing supervisors and training new ones.
这并不一定符合该公司高层领导的利益。但这确实符合中层管理人员的利益，他们承担着主管离职后补缺和培训新主管的重担。
fill in
1. 暂时代替；临时补缺
【例】I’m filling in for Joe for a few days.
我给乔代几天班。
2. 填写（正式文件、表格等）
【例】Don’t forget to fill in your boarding cards.
别忘了填写你们的登机卡。
3. 填满；塞满
【例】The hole has been filled in.
洞已填平。
Losing workers, in short, makes their lives a lot harder. Retention matters more to them than productivity.
简而言之，失去员工会让他们的日子更难过。对他们来说，留住员工比提高工作效率更重要。
fill in
1. 暂时代替；临时补缺
【例】I’m filling in for Joe for a few days.
我给乔代几天班。
2. 填写（正式文件、表格等）
【例】Don’t forget to fill in your boarding cards.
别忘了填写你们的登机卡。
3. 填满；塞满
【例】The hole has been filled in.
洞已填平。
课后练习
Achyuta Adhvaryu’s new paper finds that ____.
A. financial incentives seldom work out
B. most management theories are irrelevant
C. monetary incentives have adverse impacts
D. different management levels may have conflicts
What was the result of the training at Shahi Exports?
A. The participants’ overall productivity remained unchanged.
B. The highly recommended supervisors became more productive.
C. The less recommended supervisors experienced higher productivity.
D. The teamwork at the factory became less productive.
The training’s effect on retention showed that ____.
A. the same training did not suit everyone
B. employees attached importance to career development
C. managers tried to prevent some supervisors from quitting
D. the training had no impact on retention rates
What is important for middle managers?
A. The interests of senior leaders.
B. A stable workforce.
C. Productivity and efficiency.
D. Workers’ job satisfaction.