The language barrier: what managers can do

Article Abstract:

The language barrier is increasingly becoming a problem for many housing managers as the American population becomes more ethnically diverse. The Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) in Montgomery County, MD, is among the many housing authorities experiencing increasing language problems due to the influx of non-English speaking immigrants to the areas that they serve. HOC minimized language-related problems by publishing a 35-page handbook written in Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese and English. This handbook describes common concerns of residents, translates urgent requests, and provides listings for translation help, emergency numbers and other services. Drawings are also used to help non-English speaking residents understand the content of the booklet. The book is distributed to the residents, maintenance personnel and resident managers of all HOC-owned and -managed housing units.

Management, Telecommunications systems, Public housing, Intercultural communication

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The One Profitable Post-Office

Article Abstract:

The British post office, the only postal service in the European Economic Community (EEC) other than Holland's which is not subsidized, has made a profit for the last seven years. The post office's monopoly on letter deliveries may be broken by the government's legalizing private competitors. Trends in mail volume and efficiency are summarized. Government use of the post office is declining, but other services may compensate for this loss. Rural postal deliveries remain a contentious point.

United Kingdom, Postal service

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Quality is the obsession

Article Abstract:

The recession in Germany and the costs of reunification are discouraging manufacturers from spending and investing. The Federation of German Industry claims that the length and depth of the recession cannot be estimated, thus many projects such as the Transrapid train, which would enable travel at 200 miles per hour, may be aborted. Despite this however, Germany is still an example to other countries in technological design.

Germany, Technological innovations, Recessions

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