A few months ago, I remember the leadership held a meeting and announced the plan to use virtual digital technology to build an Ideal City. Everyone in the department was stunned. Manager Gao Xue'e assigned the task, demanding a framework proposal and an initial model within one week.
Colleague Huang Xiaopang retorted on the spot, "Build a Virtual City out of thin air, and an Ideal City at that, and come up with a framework proposal within a week? Why not assign the task of landing on Mars next month?
How much salary are we earning to do this work? If we were this capable, would we still be sitting here? The country would at least invite us to be the Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development!"
Gao Xue'e maintained a stern face, saying, "Whatever skill you have determines where you sit. Your constant complaints prove your capability. This isn't just your work; it's a task assigned to the entire department by the group."
Huang Xiaopang said, "Is it the group's demand to produce an overall framework in a week, or is it your demand? You're just assigning tasks at the snap of a finger without estimating the workload. How many people do we even have?"
Someone interjected at this point, "President E, what's an Ideal City? Everyone's ideal might be different."
Gao Xue'e frowned and said, "My understanding of an Ideal City is the most rational design and planning, retaining the qualities people want and removing various defects found in reality..."
The meeting started in the afternoon and went on until the early morning of the next day. Seeing Gao Xue'e's stance, everyone realized that if they didn't come up with a satisfactory proposal, she wouldn't let up.
At that time, He Kao was a new joiner in the company, intending to watch more and talk less. But eventually, he had to join the discussion. When he did, he talked a lot and cited many ideas from others present.
The workload of the Ideal City project was beyond what their department could handle, but that didn't stop them from drafting a beautiful proposal, allowing the supervising leaders to report back to the higher-ups of the company.
The requirements for the Ideal City task were a bit excessive, but couldn't they at least create a Virtual Town first? After all, it's a digital scenario. As long as partial demonstrations satisfy the leadership and they are willing to increase investment, AI technology can be used for future expansions.
An Ideal City doesn't necessarily have to replicate real scenes 100%; instead, it should harness the fun and characteristics of virtual technology, much like magic, where scene space can fold, nest, and transmit.
A single town could achieve the functions of a city or even the whole world. For instance, when you walk into a mall, each store can expand into a large marketplace, and even show their storage and processing workshops, thanks to VR technology, making people feel as if they are really there.
First, present the concept of the Ideal City, introduce its development potential and how it links with the group's existing platform business. In summary, the more beautifully the proposal is written, the more competent the project team appears.
The actual project should be tackled as a town, through on-site surveys, data scanning, and template modification, alongside hiring relevant new staff. Inside this empty shell of a town, first develop a few pilot scenes for report presentations.
If all goes well and the group is willing to invest, after about six months, this target could be reached. It's like real estate development: first flatten a piece of land, build a sales office, display models, and then set up a sample room.
By the end of the meeting, the older employees almost stopped speaking, perhaps due to fatigue. Conversely, He Kao's statements seemed to summarize everyone's thoughts, and everyone expressed approval of his proposal.
He Kao was puzzled; it wasn't even his proposal. He indeed offered many points and filled in a lot of details, but it was more about following previous discussions, speaking as thoughts occurred.
But regardless, the prolonged meeting finally ended. Gao Xue'e took the last sip of her black coffee and nodded, "Let's do it this way. He Kao, summarize today's discussion into a written proposal and submit it during work hours tomorrow."
He Kao froze and before he could speak, Huang Xiaopang glared and said, "President E, it's already 3 in the morning! Are you trying to work us to death?"
Only then did He Kao realize and hastily said, "Even if I don't sleep, I definitely won't make it. Besides, after such a long meeting, my mind's too foggy to do anything."
Gao Xue'e realized this task assignment might be ill-advised and corrected herself, "I didn't mean today's work hours, I meant work hours tomorrow."
He Kao realized Xiaopang was speaking up for him, and was amazed by Xiaopang's style at the office. Xiaopang dared to confront leadership whenever he wanted, showing no concern, while other older employees seemed used to it.
Then Huang Xiaopang chimed in again, "President E, He Kao has only been here three days and he's a programmer, not a secretary! You're the manager, shouldn't you be the one writing this?
Also, does the time spent in this meeting count as overtime? I'm applying for a morning leave to catch up on sleep."
On the issue of taking the morning off, He Kao felt it wasn't his place to interject. As a newcomer, he didn't want to start off on the wrong foot, so he quickly waved it off, "I'll write it, I'll write it. Though inexperienced and I'm afraid of not doing a good job, I can only try first and then ask for leadership's edits."
Perhaps due to He Kao's performance in this meeting, Manager Gao Xue'e was quite pleased. It was apparent to others that Gao Xue'e valued He Kao afterward and often directly assigned him various tasks.
He Kao, of course, sensed this "important decision," but for him, it might not be a good thing. Not to mention the opinions of older employees, as a newbie in probation, he was already as busy as a team leader, though not gaining much from it.