Chapter 22 "Computer releases military power"

"Reform is a particularly complex social system project, and it is impossible to carry out a seamless design in advance. During the reform process, friction and collisions between different interest groups are inevitable." This is October 1987, "People's Daily" Zhu Huaxin, Cao Huanrong, and Luo Rongxing, three young journalists, kindly reminded people immersed in reform fanaticism in the article "Historical Orientation of China's Reform".For He Xiangjian, an entrepreneur who is determined to build Midea with talents from all over the world, his reform path is also full of obstacles. The large-scale use of college students has not only caused "friction and collision".

Fang Hongbo recalled: "I replaced 80% of the locals in the first three months, and replaced them all with new college students, all of whom were recruited from other provinces. The pressure was overwhelming." Enabling and promoting young people and re-dividing the original distribution of power and interests are bound to meet strong opposition from internal vested interests.At that time, 90% of the top management of the enterprise opposed the reform. How to deal with the relationship between locals and outsiders, entrepreneurial veterans and the "Youth Guards" was a topic that He Xiangjian had to make a quick decision on.

The 23 entrepreneurial partners who helped each other in the past are all "old comrades" who have been on the battlefield for a long time. They have made indelible contributions to Midea. Up to now, in the history exhibition hall of Midea, people can still clearly see their hard work. Foundation figure.From the heart, He Xiangjian doesn't want anyone to leave passively in the middle.However, enterprises are constantly developing and the tide of the market economy is changing rapidly. Those who rely on past experience and ideas to make decisions are somewhat powerless.He Xiangjian said: "Entrepreneurs started to talk about norms and technology, and started to use computers. The veterans of the business didn't understand computers at all, they didn't dare to operate them, they couldn't understand them, and it was fundamentally difficult to adapt."

Therefore, He Xiangjian called the veterans to a meeting. Although he wanted to offend his fellow countrymen and comrades-in-arms, he still persuaded them, analyzed the requirements of modern enterprises and the successful experience of world-renowned enterprises, and listed a large domestic enterprise. The failed cases of bankruptcy caused by the hereditary system put forward the slogan of "the capable go up and the mediocre go down".Some people who don't understand say that he "loves the new and dislikes the old", "crossing the river and tearing down the bridge"... At this time, He Xiangjian showed his iron side and said in a non-negotiable tone: "There is no price to talk about. The reason is before us. If you can do it, you can't do it." Just come down."

Seeing that someone was still not convinced, He Xiangjian asked the secretary to bring a computer.Seeing this scene, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, not knowing what they meant.He Xiangjian pointed to the computer and said, "Try it, which one of you can master it? Whoever can do it, I will immediately promote him to a level." At that time, the computer was just emerging, and these veterans who only had elementary school and junior high school education could not operate it, but Powerless to refute, he had to bow his head to face the cruel reality. Seeing this situation, He Xiangjian comforted: "Everyone can rest assured that the company will take care of you as much as possible in life. Midea will never forget the glorious history of our 23 people's hard work and entrepreneurship."

This period of history is interpreted in Midea as a new version of the story of "a cup of wine releases military power", which is full of heroism but not lacking in the color of the rivers and lakes.When someone asked He Xiangjian to verify this matter, he smiled and waved his hand: "It's not that simple." In fact, the withdrawal of entrepreneurial veterans is by no means a "one-time solution" that can be solved with "a glass of wine" and "a computer" as the outside world imagines. Hammer sale", He Xiangjian solved it step by step with emotion and interests.

Entrepreneurial veteran Chen Xuqiang's statement is consistent with that of He Xiangjian.He recalled: "This matter is not as bizarre as the outside world. Collectively, they don’t have the so-called shares, that is, everyone works together to set up a small business in the street, everyone is employed in it, and is an employee. We just set up a factory together, and we don’t have the current awareness of shares. It’s just that At that time, we wanted to start a business, and there was no money in the neighborhood, so we had to contribute money to raise funds, with documents and evidence, and when the business developed, we would return the money to them.”

He explained: "The first batch of employees who entered the factory to work in the 'Beijiao Plastic Production Group' was not the original shareholder concept of holding shares. Unlike now, when there are ten or twenty people, everyone establishes a company, and they may be shareholders. And at that time, the thought in everyone’s mind was just employees, just the first employees.” In this sense, whether it is the first batch of employees, or the subsequent second, third, fourth, fifth or even all employees, they all belong to the nature of employees.Chen Xuqiang believes that when an enterprise develops, it should naturally be replaced by rotation.Like him, most of the entrepreneurial veterans retired naturally. Very few left due to physical reasons or halfway through personal development. They left voluntarily, not the result of He Xiangjian's "release of military power".Later, Midea fans moved to Zhongshan, and many old employees felt that it was inconvenient to be too far away from home and were unwilling to go.Most of them are still paid every month. The United States stipulates that they can receive all their wages at one time, or they can receive them month by month until they retire.

It is worth mentioning that He Xiangjian's persuasion work started with his wife Liang Fengchai.Liang Fengchai was also one of the 23 entrepreneurs led by He Xiangjian. During the 15 years since she joined the Beijiao plastic production team in 1968 and retired, she has been doing the hardest and most tiring work in the workshop. It is said that the day before she gave birth in 1969 Still doing heavy work.In terms of ability, she had no problems as a section chief during these 15 years, but He Xiangjian was afraid of influencing the decision-making, and she was still a warehouse manager until 1993 when she was dismissed.He Xiangjian said with a smile: "I am the chairman at home, and I am the general manager in the factory." He asked that business affairs should not be discussed at home, and he often emphasized that nepotism should be avoided in the process of enterprise development.

Because of this, some people took the initiative to take on jobs within their ability after they retired, such as sweeping streets in the "Beautiful City" and taking care of warehouses. In November 2005, He Xiangjian organized the entrepreneurial veterans to visit various production bases, allowing them to share the great achievements of the company over the past 30 years.At this time, He Xiangjian’s goal of “using Beijiao people in the 1960s, Shunde people in the 1970s, Cantonese in the 1980s, Chinese in the 1990s, and talents from all over the world in the 21st century” has already been achieved. "It has also become a story that people gossip.

Many people suggested that they must find "the right person" when starting a business. However, for He Xiangjian, it was impossible in terms of time and space. Transplant it to later solve family management and succession issues. When many contemporaries were gradually annihilated in the tragedies of various "corporate movements" and "parting ways", He Xiangjian easily leapfrogged through "computer release of military power".