Think! Words Can Kill

I have just returned from five weeks in Germany. It would be nice to say I am fully rested and ready to get back into the swing of work following a nice long summer holiday but within five hours of returning to my home shores, I am ready for another holiday.

I drove to Germany. It’s not that I dislike flying but I prefer to have the knowledge that my luggage is definitely going to the same place that I am. The preferred route is to take the train to Calais and just drive across France on the toll-road motorway. In my experience the Eurotunnel is by far the easiest and most relaxing way to get to Europe, made more so by the number plate recognition system – making check in a comparative breeze.

The journey out is always more pleasant than the return leg – mainly due to the knowledge that going out the UK roads are behind me and coming back is the impending sense that the worst of the driving is yet to come as we get closer to Folkestone.

It isn’t the typically worse weather that makes driving that much more difficult, the sloppy lane discipline that UK drivers so often exhibit, the excessive contra-flow or the sheer volume of traffic that all combine to create tediously slow and congested roads – although that doesn’t help. The worst aspect is the needless delays caused by confusing or inaccurate safety signage.

As soon as we got onto the M20 we were repeatedly advised “J17 to A47 A1 closed”, which was fine if you knew where Junction 17 of the A1 is in relation to the M20. As we traversed the M25 circular car park the signs advised “A1 closed for North use M1”. Remembering that the M1 was already slow traffic due to road works stretching as far as Luton, I decided to ignore the advice and press on to Peterborough via the A1.

As we passed J16 the two outside lanes were indicated as closed ahead. The traffic was already queuing in the left lane and so I did the ‘English thing’ by joining the back of the line, chuntering to myself as other drivers continued past in the outside lanes. As the car remained at a standstill for the next 10 minutes or so and then only crept forward for another 20 minutes, I assumed that those other drivers were waiting until the cones forced them to cut over causing needless chaos and delays at the front end of the queue.

I was somewhat confused then as the traffic began to move again past Junction 17 with not so much as a single cone or a broken tail light to show what caused the delay at all. Having been warned for the last 150 miles that the road was closed it was in fact not. During the same journey, we travelled around 10 miles under a 50mph restriction due to “Debris in the Road” – a warning ignored by most drivers who hurtled past at speeds exceeding 70mph. I should have joined them as yet again, there was not so much as a broken bulb to be seen.

Now this may seem like a rant that would be more at home on an episode of ‘Grumpy Old Men’, but given that the UK is supposed to be a ‘knowledge economy’ it is a little vexing that we are not able to disseminate clear and useful information more effectively.

The safety signs in France add to motorway safety rather than having the opposite effect as in the UK. The information they provide is useful and accurate. We saw signs warning “Car broken down in 5 km”, “Road works in 10 km” and “Congestion around Reims”.  Amazingly, we passed a car stranded in the hard shoulder after 5 km, we passed road works after 10 km and avoided the congestion at Reims. As I have learnt to trust the information provided by French motorway signs, I obey them.

If we follow the instructions and slow down on the UK motorway, we just increase the risk of having an accident as someone that has learnt to ignore the signs just drives into the back of us. By conditioning driver to ignore information supposedly intended to improve road safety, it actually has the opposite effect. So, to the Highways Agency I offer this plea:

Think! Communicate effectively. Drivers’ minds closed.

ACE Coatings Showing Signs of Recovery

Agricultural, Construction and Earthmoving (ACE) equipment is big business, one that generates a significant demand for coatings. Prior to the recession, the ACE equipment coatings market, was valued at €2.1 billion generating demand of over 500,000 tonnes.

The impact of the global recession was felt in all markets. The construction industry was worst affected and spending in real terms fell by almost 20% in 2009. This led to dramatic declines in both equipment orders and output. Dealers and leasing companies already held surplus stock, which placed additional pressures on the equipment manufacturers. Markets declined by as much as 60% in some markets, including Russia, leading to overall production output of machinery falling by around 40% in 2009. This resulted in considerable shrinkage in associated coatings demand.

Governments set aside considerable sums of money for infrastructure and construction projects as part of their fiscal stimulus packages, intended to inject funds into key industries during the downturn. These were more effective in countries like China and contributed to stronger performance in the Asia Pacific region, which accounts for over 55% of the ACE equipment coatings market.

The agricultural equipment coatings segment performed comparatively better, but still witnessed declines in equipment output of around 15%. As a result, the value of the global market for ACE equipment coatings (including industrial trucks) in 2009 was estimated to be around €1.6 billion.

As the order books of equipment manufacturers started to fill in 2010, coatings consumption increased by around 3%, and is expected to continue growth in 2011. However, a return to pre-recession levels is not expected until 2015.

These are the findings of the Paint Research Association (PRA) that has just released its view of ACE equipment coatings as part of its Irfab® Global Industrial Coatings Market 2010 – 2020 study. The full study, which will be completed later this year, focuses exclusively on industrial coatings and draws together a wealth of market data and industry comment collected through extensive interviews with all of the leading industry participants. The Irfab® team applies their own coatings industry experience and expertise to validate the data collected to ensure accuracy and consistency and to determine future coatings demand profiles

The ACE chapter, which is available separately, provides a full review of coatings for agriculture, construction and earthmoving equipment and the impact that the recessions has had on consumption profiles. The machinery covered also includes materials handling equipment.  The chapter considers technology trends and market developments from a regional perspective, and includes information on the key country markets in both volume and value terms. Demand drivers and market dynamics of both the agriculture and construction industries are presented. The outlook presents annual volume forecasts for the next five years, with trend indicators for 2020.

The Irfab® Global Industrial Coatings Markets 2010-2020 study is PRA’s most ambitious and comprehensive industry review to date. It is an invaluable tool to improve understanding of the end-user coatings market and to support strategic decision making.

Visit www.pra-world.com/irfab for more information and to download sample pages from the study.

Don't Monitor Us - DMU

The National Union of Students (NUS) is concerned about potential plans for “wi-fi surveillance” at De Montfort University (DMU). News that the executive board had discussed the possibility of a system for automatically monitoring attendance through electronic chips in the student ID cards sparked comparisons to an Orwellian society in Times Higher Education.
 

There is discussion and (for some) concern about how the Universities will differentiate themselves in a new commercially focused environment. Higher tuition fees and changes to funding are expected to create more discerning and consumerist students, who will (according to the NUS President) flinch at the idea of “round-the-clock monitoring” that may “infringe on their privacy or dignity”.

 

The article made me smile – not least because “swipe cards” are already used in many FE Colleges for tracking attendance and improving security. It is quite hard to judge student behaviour without bringing my older more experienced values into the equation. However, when I am honest with myself - I remember as a ‘bright young thing’ getting ready to continue my education beyond ‘A’ Levels, my decision criteria about what University to study at was as much about how many bars were conveniently located to campus as anything else. And once at University, personal dignity was very low on my agenda (as was attendance to any lecture that started before midday if I am honest).

Ignoring the cost efficiency arguments of an automated administrative function, the introduction of such a system is surely a positive step as it will help to prepare students for professional life in the world of commerce. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and swipe cards are a routine part of most modern businesses, to track both their products and peoples. 

Consumerism itself robs many of us of our privacy; by allowing marketing professionals to track our high-street movements “round-the-clock” through purchases linked to store cards. We seem quite comfortable to let Big Brother keep watch when there is something in it for us – such as future discounts or a free hat.

Perhaps the solution is not the student ID cards. The University that introduces Nectar Points for attendance to lectures will be able to both monitor attendance and create a USP in a competitive market.

 

Rail Rolling Stock Coatings Valued at €428 million

The Global Industrial Coatings Market 2010-2020 study continues with the release of the Rail chapter this month.

Global coatings demand for rolling stock in 2009 was valued at €428 million, down from €467 million in 2006. Approximately 70% of total demand comes from repair, maintenance and refurbishment activity.

The three leading suppliers of passenger locomotives and rolling stock in Europe are:

• Bombardier
• Alstom
• Siemens.

China accounts for around 30% of the global rolling stock market. All three major European suppliers have a significant presence in Asia through joint ventures but China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corp. Limited (CSR) and China CNR Corp. Limited, lead the domestic manufacturing market. Europe represents almost 40% of the market.

Rail examines the impact of the recession on rolling stock and associated coatings demand. The chapter considers technology trends and market developments from a regional perspective, and includes information on the key country markets. Demand drivers and market dynamics of both the freight and passenger rail markets are included. The expanded Outlook section presents annual forecasts of Rail coatings demand for the period 2010 – 2015 and an indication of market potential in 2020.

For more information about the GICM visit the PRA website.

Ruling with Language

This year the European Court of Justice sparked furious debate when it ruled that insurance companies could no longer sell cheaper premiums to motorists based on gender. Conservative MEP Sajjad Karim called it ''utter madness'' and a ''setback for common sense''.

But anger about this verdict, which comes into force in December 2012, is misplaced. The Court of Justice of the European Communities (to use the proper title) does not set out the laws or policies that led to this ruling. The Court merely ensures “that EU legislation is interpreted and applied in the same way in all EU countries, so that the law is equal for everyone”.  This is an important role.

Lawyers make their living by arguing over the intent of deliberately vague and often archaic words – legalese. The natural outcome of national legal systems administered regionally is inequality; national courts will arrive at different rulings on the same legal issues.

Our MEPs should be talking about the ''utter madness'' of their legal systems that encourage the use of convoluted technical language in their laws or about their own political parties hiding unpopular messages in the jargonised language of their politicians, often spun to appeal to the broadest demographic of voters.

Whether our politicians seek to emulate our industry leaders or vice versa, jargon also proliferates much of the verbiage used by business.

Managers too often rely on industry terminology, acronyms, management clichés and metaphors to create shared (mis)understanding. For example, a company observing the success of New Labour decided to use the same trick to introduce its own business strategy. Workshop participants were asked to brainstorm, to run a few ideas up the flag pole and decide what animal best represents the New Company. A number of people suggested Chameleon, as it reacts to threats in the environment by making superficial changes – it is still the same animal; just a different colour. The Senior Management Team was also happy with the choice - it represented agility, flexibility and reactiveness. Happy that shared understanding had been achieved by embracing the animal analogy, they proceeded to roll out the strategy, seemingly unaware that the people needed to make it work were not in agreement.

Jargonised business language can be used to hide deficiencies in knowledge, ‘de-risk’ messages or to avoid conflict through delivering messages that can be interpreted in multiple ways. However, in the long run ambiguous communication leads to wasted time, poor decision making and can cost you money.

As someone that works with a range of organisations in both education and industry, I am still surprised at how quickly I adapt my own language to that of the client organisation in order that Senior Management can understand and accept me as “one of them” –continuing to use clear, unambiguous, jargon free language means we are often perceived as “lacking organisational understanding”.

So, it seems the only way to ensure that our laws are interpreted correctly, that our politicians are understood and that our business leaders communicate effectively, is if they all stop hiding behind comfortable clichés by embracing open, honest communication and the principles of plain English.

What’s in a Name?

Specialist German Language Services (SGLS) was the original incarnation of the company now known as Optima Training (UK) Limited. When Jo Small established the company in February 2000, the intention was to provide exciting, responsive and tailored language tuition in her favourite language.

Her approach was so well received that she quickly found herself in demand. The range of languages covered extended beyond German, as did the services delivered. It was no longer just a language tuition company, and Jo was working in other education fields, such as on the Skills for Life programme or working with offenders in secure environments. The focus had also moved away from individual tuition to the provision of language training for business, so finding a name to convey the company’s evolution was not easy.

One thread ran through everything that SGLS stood for – a focus on specific objectives and delivering the highest level of value. Everything was carefully tailored to deliver the best possible outcomes for both the learners and the organisation; the optimum balance to deliver the highest value.

Optima is the plural of optimum. It seemed like the ideal name for a company that works hard to deliver the best training outcomes every time. It also offered something that would hopefully resonate with education providers but be just obscure enough not to alienate commercial clients. So in 2003 Optima Training (UK) Limited was born.

When I joined in 2005 it became a family business – if you haven’t worked it out yet, Jo is also my wife.  The hardest thing for me was having the same boss both at home and in the workplace. So when she “suggested” that I start a blog, there was nowhere to hide.

And that is how I find myself here now – wondering what to call my new blog, which will show something of me and reflect the company (I am told). Optima Prime. It combines the company name with something of me – a love of Sci Fi and films that offer escapism.  But something else; it speaks of a dark passenger, a hidden desire that one day… I will be the boss of me.

Thanks to VR-Eli for the Mech body. See the original image here.