Chapter 5 Open up a new Dimension of post modernization

In 1990s, reform in China continued deepening, opening was further expanded. Especially in the spring of 1992, Deng Xiaoping made the speech when inspecting southern areas and the 14th CCCPC was held, which established socialistic market economy system in China. National economy developed rapidly, which accelerated the steps of informationization. The requirements of the society for post increased sharply. Post had developed in 1980s, but in the new situation, competition in post market was intense, traditional business dropped, post network organization, communication ability, technical measure, ideology and personnel level didn't fit for social requirements, especially the market economy. Therefore, it became the central task in 1990s for China Post to accelerate development, deepen reform, enforce construction and promote technical progress and post modernization.

Section 1 Challenges Post Faced

A. Appearance of the full competition in post market

At the beginning of 1990s, economy system of our country was at the important period of transition from planned economy to market economy. Except that the position of post-monopolized mail business was stable, other business all had competition rivals. Competitions in parcel business and EMS business were very intense. Because the ideology and regulations of post were still in the period of planned economy, its operation system, operation method, postage system and technical measures were inferior to that of its rivals. Mail business was monopolized, but its operation was inflexible, the development of new business was not forceful. The guide lines for newspaper and periodical issue business were not clear in some time, lacking active operating policy and developing measures. It was seriously impacted by the self-issue business. Only in 1990, did it make clear that "newspaper and periodical issue should be operated well, post department should continue to be the main channel of newspaper and periodical issue". The drop of mails, parcels, postal money order, newspaper and periodical issue had continued for several years, then started to rise in 1992.

At the beginning of 1990s, post network construction, facilities didn't fit for post development. The backward situation hadn't been changed fundamentally. Post still was the weakest link of national economy. There was a large gap comparing to the post levels of developed countries. From late 1980s to early 1990s one of the most obvious problems of post was the slow speed in mail delivery which became the key point of public opinion and was criticized by all sides of the society.

B. Measuring post initially took to extricate itself from the passive situation

To extricate itself from the passive situation mentioned above, post department adopted some active measures. The National Cost Communication Conference held in March 1990 stressed to pay attention to quality management of post communication, with time limit as its key point. It pointed out that quality and time limit requirements of post communication were the lifelines of post work. The basic task of post was to meet social requirements through services. Neither social benefit nor economic benefit should be overemphasized at the expense of the other. The conference criticized some comrades who were indifferent to quality and time lint ideology and extended time limit. It was required to change Post qualify for the better in a short period as far as possible.

In this conference, it was also put forward as a key point that by the end of this century, post would realize the transition from traditional experience management to scientific management, the transition from heavy manual operation to mechanization and automatic operation, and the transition from all business advancing side by side (which was changed into "developing naturally") to developing light business as focal point. To develop higher benefit business such as mails, postal savings, express mails, EMS, stamp collecting, etc. These developing tentative plans and developing modes were recognized and appreciated by the representatives.

C. Carry Out optimization of operation organization management

From late 1980s to early 1990s, optimization of operation management of post network became an important work, which adopted systematology and modern management, with time limit as the main line, to undertake reform and optimization of production process and organization system of the enterprises to obtain the best combination of communication quality and economical benefit. The optimization of post operation organization obtained obvious effect after the trial in some cities: Firstly, it accelerated mail delivery speed. Communication quality changed for the better obviously. Secondly, economic benefit of enterprises improved greatly. Thirdly, it cultivated post administrative cadres, who accumulated experiences, got acquaintance with the operation system of post enterprises, real situations and problems of the department. They also got to use systematology and modern enterprise management method to solve the . problems in post enterprises. this created conditions for post management's transition to scientific management, combining with TQC method imported from foreign countries. It widely carried out QC group activities, creating many new experiences, and obtaining good economic benefit and social benefit.