Final arrangment

We are done! We officially handed over the company to the February group, relieved.

I finally decided to assign one manager for each BM group, so there are 3 E-magazine managers in total. I think E-magazine will be better off this way, since every manager only has to deal with his own group. Administration will be much easier for them to do. They are not completely separated, as the three managers will cooperate with each one another, sharing opinions and improving E-magazine.

Feeling relieved, I sense that I am going to miss the company and some particular persons that I've worked with. Anyway, my job is nearly over, except that I may need to do some follow-ups with the new-assigned managers.

I don't think I have been doing a really good job, however, no matter what, it is a real good experience that I would benefit from one day. I realize it is not easy at all to be a manager, and to manage tens of people. I have never thought of being a businessman, but who knows what is gonna happen in my life. Perhaps one day a chance for me to be a businessman would come, and I may take it, and apply all I have leant to the job.

There will be a function to celebrate our resignment, which is also recognition for our contribution to this company. I am looking forward to it. Since it may well be the last chance for us all, the management team, to do something together.

Maximize productive level!?

The February BM groups now have 2 more hours to work for UGR. As Dave said, to maximize their productivity, we have to set up things for them to do, which can keep them occupied for 3 hours.

Dave told us on Thursday that Wednesday¡¦s BM group had nothing to do after one hour working with us. Indeed, I didn¡¦t know until then that their working hours have been extended. I missed out myself or nobody has ever tried to tell me.

I overworked on Thursday, as I needed to spend my free lesson to think of objectives for them to achieve. Originally I allowed the writers to do nothing in BM class, considering that they have done their articles at home already that BM classes did not provide a good environment to write. However, 30 minutes after work when I was sitting outside 6.4, enjoying music, Paul came to me and asked why the writers were doing nothing. I did explain, but he insisted that I had to give them some tasks, so finally I went back to the writers and told them to start writing. As writers, the only thing they need to do is writing, I couldn¡¦t think of any other assignments for them, so even though they don¡¦t want to write in class, they have to.

Of course it is better than doing nothing; however, it is obvious that their productive level is not to be maximized, as a good working environment is missing. Even if they can get their writing done in such a crowed and noisy place, their articles must be not as high quality as the ones they do at home.

The last stage in UGR

The General Manager talked to every single manager today, reminding us that our time in UGR will soon be over. February Group is going to take over our jobs, and operate the company. Besides running e-magazine as usual, I have to start looking for my successor.

I do have a few choices in mind. Some people speak good English, and can communicate well with people, but they seem to lack the things that can make people good managers. Some people are smart and diligent, but at the same time, are so inconsiderate as to always talk in their first language. To get someone perfect for this job is not easy. It is my last job in E-magazine. I have to think twice, assigning someone that is reliable and capable.

I wish the new management team could do a better job. Sometimes I feel like our company is such a mess, things have been getting better, though.

One more thing I have to get done is launching E-magazine. Everything is going great, and indeed we have all the materials already, what lack is we haven't collected and grouped them together in a form of E-magazine. E-magazine will soon be out for sure.

                                      Performance appraisal

What I am doing this week is mainly to assess the working performance of my staff.

Most of them can also score 3 points or above, with around two people who are always late for class, and have a bad working attitude, getting lower than 3. With the implementation of the new point system, those incompetent workers will have to pay when they can¡¦t satisfy our least expectation.

Jean has done a good job that she made a useful point system that makes the job of assessing workers¡¦ performance easier. Her effort is greatly appreciated.

People have 50 points at the beginning, depending on their performance, their marks will accordingly be added or deducted. When their points are to be deducted down to zero, they will get fired. I hope that this system can act as a signal, telling people that they have to be serious for their work, but not only see classroom 6.4 as a place that people can have a chat with friends.