Unit 6
Video Scripts
YF=Yi Fei; WH=Wang Hao; A=Alice
YF: So we’re going to give a presentation at the event about corporate culture. Do you have any ideas?
WH: I suppose we should first outline what corporate culture is.
YF: Right! From my perspective, corporate culture is about the way that the people within a company interact with each other.
A: Yes, often this is based on the rules and policies of a company: things like dress codes, office hours, employee benefits ...
WH: Exactly, rules and policies are a vital component of corporate culture.
YF: Well, I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by Yunlian. It was a Chinese start-up, and sure we worked overtime, but we were given a lot of autonomy
and opportunities to take risks and generate new ideas. It really was a lot more
easygoing than I had expected!
WH: Ah, the last thing you mentioned reflects your company’s management strategies. That’s also a cruc ial aspect of corporate culture.
A: Hmm, well, Flow 2 did the opposite. That surprised me as well.
YF: In what way?
A: They’re a big multinational with offices in Germany and the U.S. too. The management were friendly and compassionate, but it seemed as if all the
decisions had already been made and the company wasn’t really interested in
our input.
WH: That’s odd. It wasn’t my experience at all. Maybe each department was different depending on the manager.
A: Perhaps. But one thing I really did like was the way everyone worked together as a cohesive team. We also had a really fun team-building day out, although
it was on the weekend.
YF: Yes, spending time with colleagues is part and parcel of corporate culture in China. It’s about employee communicati on and relations, which emphasizes
the team as a group, rather than as individuals competing against each other. WH: Yeah, team-building events are seen as a way of strengthening the company and are viewed as a perk.
A: Corporate culture is so complex!
WH: Then why don’t we do some research looking into different types of corporate culture and make a survey to find out about our classmates’ experiences? YF: Good idea! That will really help us with our presentation.
Audio Scripts
A=Alice; CM=Chen Meng; YF=Yi Fei; B=Bradmiss a fei
Interview 1
A: Hi, Chen Meng, thank you for agreeing to talk to me. Can I start by asking you for some background information on the company where you interned? CM: Yes, it is a company specializing in digital music production.
A: Wow! That sounds awesome. So what type of corporate culture does the company have?
CM: Well, the music business is fashion-conscious, and thus young people make up the majority of the company’s staff. They seem a bit casual – especially with
the dress codes – but in fact the employees work very hard to make sure the
company can retain its high position in the market.
A: Oh? I guess because music is a competitive industry?
CM: Yes, only the most flexible and reactive companies survive, so the employees are always under a lot of pressure. They have to be sensitive to changes and
trends in the industry.
A: This can be quite stressful! So how did you feel working there?
CM: It was challenging and rewarding, but I don’t think it’s for me. Perhaps it would be better if the company could improve employee benefits and incentives, such
as paying for dinner when you work late.
Interview 2
YF: Hi, Brad. Can you start by giving me an outline of the company where you took your internship?
B: Of course. It’s a l arge banking corporation, with a long history and branches all around the world.
YF: I guess it has a hierarchical structure?
B: Indeed, it’s hierarchical.
YF: For many people, this type of company sounds a bit restrictive. What do you think?
B: Yes, I think so, too. I remember my team has come up with many ideas but very few have actually become concrete reality, because every new idea has to
go through many levels of approval with bosses and their bosses and then their
bosses.
YF: I see. That does sound irritating.
B: Well yes, but on the other hand, the business operations are generally low-risk.
All decisions made have to go through a lot of bureaucracy, thus reducing the
chances of making mistakes.
YF: Yes, that makes sense.
B: I also feel that the work processes are clear to everyone. When you have a problem, or a question, you know exactly where to go to obtain the answer.