The global economic situation seemed to have changed suddenly overnight. A turbulent financial tsunami swept in with overwhelming force, and all industries were plunged into unprecedented turmoil. Naturally, the Jiang family business could not remain immune.
Before the first rays of morning sun completely dispelled the chill of the night, Jiang Zhi and Shen Qingchen were awakened by a rapid phone ring. The anxious voice of a company executive came from the other end of the line, informing them that the market had experienced significant fluctuations, and several key business sectors of the family business had been severely impacted. Jiang Zhi was instantly awakened, and a trace of worry flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and quickly said to Shen Qingchen, "Old Shen, the situation is not good. We have to go to the company quickly." Shen Qingchen nodded slightly, stood up and began to dress. His face was also solemn, knowing that this crisis was coming.
The two hurried to the company's headquarters. The conference room was already filled with a tense and oppressive atmosphere. The company's core management team gathered, each face etched with anxiety and unease. Various market data and analytical charts flashed on the large screen. The constantly fluctuating numbers seemed like a death warrant, foreshadowing the dire predicament facing the company.
Jiang Zhi walked into the conference room. She glanced around at everyone and clapped her hands gently, trying to calm everyone down. "Everyone, I know the situation is serious now, but panicking won't solve the problem. Let's first sort out the situation and discuss a response plan together." Her voice was calm and firm, like a reassurance to everyone present. Shen Qingchen then added, "That's right, we are all the backbone of the company. The more difficult the time, the more we must unite as one."
The department manager in charge of market research was the first to stand up, his voice trembling slightly. "Mr. Jiang, Mr. Shen, this global economic crisis broke out without warning. Stock markets in many countries plummeted, and commodity prices plummeted. In our core manufacturing sector, raw material costs have skyrocketed due to supply chain disruptions, and export orders for our products have plummeted by nearly 60%. Customers have canceled or postponed orders, saying they want to wait and see market trends. Inventory backlogs are already very serious, and it's difficult to recover funds."
Jiang Zhi frowned slightly. She knew manufacturing had always been the foundation of the family business, and now that foundation was shaken, the consequences would be disastrous. Before she could ask, the director of the real estate project spoke anxiously, "The real estate situation isn't much better. House prices continue to fall, and buyers are holding back. Pre-sales for several of our newly developed properties are terrible, and bank loan approvals are becoming increasingly stringent. Our capital chain could break at any time. Furthermore, the huge amount of advertising and promotional expenses we invested previously have all gone to waste. Now we're in a difficult situation!"
The conference room erupted in an uproar, with everyone whispering and discussing. Jiang Zhi raised her hand to signal silence. She looked at the CFO, "Finance, what's the company's current financial situation?" The CFO pushed his glasses up and replied with a gloomy face, "Mr. Jiang, we have very little working capital on the books, only enough to sustain the company's basic operations for a month. If we can't resolve this funding issue quickly, we'll have trouble paying salaries and goods, and we might even face the risk of default."
Shen Qingchen pondered for a moment, then turned to his son and said, "Son, you've been fighting on the business battlefield. What are your thoughts?" His son's face was solemn. He took a deep breath and stood up: "Dad, Mom, I don't think we can sit still and wait for death. First of all, the manufacturing sector must immediately optimize the production line, cut unnecessary production capacity, and reduce production costs. At the same time, increase investment in research and development, launch new products with high added value, strive to expand the domestic market, and reduce dependence on exports. For real estate projects, we can negotiate with banks for more relaxed loan terms, appropriately reduce prices and promote sales, and recover funds. In addition, I suggest that the company conduct internal layoffs to reduce labor costs. "
The son's words triggered a heated discussion. Some people nodded in agreement, believing that this was the most pragmatic approach at the moment; others looked reluctant, pointing out that layoffs might affect employee morale, and once the market recovered, re-recruiting and training employees would cost a lot of money.
Jiang Zhi listened attentively to everyone's opinions, her mind racing. After a long pause, she spoke, "Layoffs are truly a last resort. Our employees are a valuable asset to the company and have contributed greatly to it. I suggest starting with management, eliminating unnecessary mid-level positions and implementing a flatter management system to improve efficiency. At the same time, we should be honest with employees about the company's predicament and encourage them to voluntarily take pay cuts to help us weather the storm. Once the company weathers the crisis, we can provide them with generous compensation."
Everyone nodded, feeling that Jiang Zhi's proposal not only took into account the feelings of the employees, but also alleviated the financial pressure to a certain extent. Shen Qingchen continued, "In terms of the market, we can't just focus on the existing business, we must look to the future. I heard that emerging fields such as new energy and artificial intelligence are less affected by this crisis and have great potential for future development. Can we consider allocating some funds to invest in some promising startups to prepare for the company's transformation?"
The moment this idea was floated, the meeting room erupted again. Some questioned the company's current struggles, questioning whether it could afford to invest in new areas, arguing that the risks were too great. Others saw this as an opportunity to overtake others, and if capitalized on, they might even be able to carve out a new chapter.
Jiang Zhi and Shen Qingchen exchanged a glance. They knew this was a difficult decision, but there was no progress without destruction. Jiang Zhi spoke slowly, "I understand everyone's concerns, but we can't just focus on the current predicament. Crisis brings both danger and opportunity. Investing in emerging sectors is indeed risky, but if successful, it will inject new vitality into the company. We can set up a dedicated investment team to carefully screen projects, taking small steps and making steady progress."
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