The vision of a country can determine its position in the international community, the vision of an enterprise can decide the width and depth of its development and the vision of a man can determine his career and achievement and even how far he can go in his life.

It is not only a need but also a pursuit for an enterprise to provide international operation and management training to young cadres and cultivate globally visionary international talents.

After finishing the five-month special training class and the three-month English intensive training, 20 young cadres from Shougang Group, on the Lantern Festival in 2017, arrived in the United States, where they started the study tour of milestone significance that lasted 100 days.

This is an important and innovative practice in training cadres of Shougang Group, which is not only a strategic move embracing the future, but also an important decision made by the party committee of the group based on the current situation and long-term perspective.

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized on the 80th Anniversary Meeting of Party School of the CPC, "Members of Communist Party of China become what it is today via studying, thus it is only by studying can we approach the future."

To become a globally influential large-scale enterprise group, Shougang Group must lay equal emphasis on its two leading industries and adhere to the main strategy of synergetic development, namely the steel industry and urban comprehensive service industry, and push ahead "professional development", "integrated operation" and "international layout". If an enterprise wants to realize transitional development and make splendid achievement on the new long march, it must go out, focus on the world's advanced level, broaden horizon and learn from world leaders.

Ideal becomes ideal because of its lofty and belief becomes belief because of its persistence. This hard-won studying opportunity was cherished by 20 young cadres of Shougang Group from different positions and different units of the group, who with high sense of responsibility, sense of mission and good mental state, studied hard and learned a lot. At the graduation ceremony, vice president of University of Pittsburgh-Business School William T.Valenta said that Shougang Group seminar class represents the most diligent, disciplined and excellent team."

Elaborate arrangement—the party committee pays high attention to the organization in every aspect

Stressing cadres team construction during the new period is an important task of the party committee of Shougang Group in implementing the spirit of important speeches made by General Secretary Xi Jinping in the 18^th CPC National Congress, 3^rd , 4^th ,5^th , and 6^th plenary meeting of 18th CPC National Congress, and comprehensively intensifying the reform of Shougang Group. This not only influences the transitional development of Shougang Group, but also function as an organizational guarantee for inheriting centennial legacy, creating glory again for Shougang Group, and building a comprehensive large-scale globally influential enterprise group.

Against the requirements of international operation and overseas development, constantly enhancing the cultivation of international operation and management talent team has great significance for promoting transitional development of Shougang Group in the new period and accomplishing the strategic goal during the period of "13^th five-year plan" or the longer period.

Therefore, the party committee of Shougang Group paid high attention to the construction of the talent team, conducted several times’ research and earnestly analyzed the situation and tasks and current situation of the cadres team of Shougang Group. By taking into consideration of the innovative group-based management model and cadres management work, based on sufficient survey and wide consultation on opinions, Shougang Group decided to hold this overseas seminar, which is a very prospective decision.

Before the study, the party committee of Shougang Group repeatedly studied teaching plans and students selection method to clarify requirements. It held two symposiums, communicated with students face-to-face and listened to reports. Then specific requirements were made that students should fully understand the internationalization of Shougang Group from a strategic perspective.

Secretary of the party committee and chairman of the group Jin Wei emphasized that we should implement the concept of "Global vision and strategic thinking" into all working field from the beginning to the end. Global vision means scientifically understand the time characteristic, get access to the world's most advanced concept and practice at the soonest and start from the global perspective to understand, interpret and guide the work of his unit. Students should consider study as their lifelong duty, learn skills and accomplish goals in the transitional development of Shougang Group.

Organization department of the party committee of the group, HR development center and other departments worked together to make clear-cut assignment of responsibility in every aspect, including design of training programmers in the United States, selection of collaborators, selection of students, teaching activity arrangement, daily study and life management, English training, and accompanying teachers. They carefully organized every phase of work, to ensure that all teaching tasks be accomplished in high starting point, high standard and high quality and good studying effect will be achieved.

The elaborate arrangement and organization show eager expectation and limitless hope of the party committee of Shougang Group toward the trainees, which always inspire and encourage the trainees to bring the world-class concept and knowledge back to our country, live up to the wishes of the party committee, achieve academic success, and make their own contribution to the development of Shougang Group.

Innovation—exploiting new model of talent cultivation

The United States is one of the countries that successfully made urban and industrial transformation in the world. The place where University of Pittsburgh is located is a famous steel industrial city in the United States. Known as "the steel capital of the world", now it has been transformed into a city mainly engaged in medical treatment, finance and high-tech industry. It is a city model that successfully achieved industrial transformation. The place where University of San Francisco is located boasts the world's top innovation base-Silicon Valley. It is one of the districts in the United States that did very successful in urban transformation and industrial transformation.

The first phase of the overseas seminar started from the following models of successful transformation.

——In Katz Graduate School of Business of University of Pittsburgh, students attended the twelve-week leadership training, including seven subjects, namely marketing, supply chain management, process management and continuous improvement, international finance and investment, transformational leadership, entrepreneurship cultural construction and strategic management. Meanwhile, enterprise interview, keynote speech and social activity were conducted in the interval.

—In University of San Francisco, students attended an immersive one-week certificate course. The course includes business model, innovative design concept, team management, project strategic management and enterprise innovation. The form of training includes classroom learning and visiting high technology enterprises in Silicon Valley.

—Visiting enterprises and institutes in the eastern United States. The activity includes visiting famous enterprises such as Ford Company, Hershey Company and Corning Company, traveling to cities in the eastern United States such as Washington, D.C, New York and Boston to visit social institutes, institutions of higher education such as United States Capitol, United Nations Headquarters, Harvard University and West Point, attending local cultural and sports activities, experiencing political, economic, cultural and social life of the United States in every aspect, cultivating global vision and humanity qualities of the trainees and promoting their comprehensive development.

The teaching for the seminar in the United States integrated the local first-class education and training resources and social and cultural resources, in a way of combining theory and practice, rational thinking and perceptual experience. The training will lay a solid knowledge foundation, elevate thinking ability, expand global vision, strengthen humanity qualities, and cultivate international operation talents of Shougang Group in the new period on all fronts.

Apart from adopting traditional classroom instruction, case study, small group discussion and video teaching, enterprise operation simulation phase was established for many courses including marketing, with the aim to improve trainees’ practical ability through real world simulation. Breakfast talks and lunch speeches were arranged according to studying subjects. Industry veterans were employed to share experience and wisdom, to deepen trainees' overall understanding of the theory and practice. The fellowship activities between trainees and universities, MBA students and EMBA students were enhanced, in order to improve trainees’ social ability. University of San Francisco carried out unique immersive certificate courses, invited entrepreneurs in all professions to tell their stories of entrepreneurship and share operation and management experience. Trainees visited enterprises in Silicon Valley and experienced the culture there.

Such a high standard and professional overseas leadership study marks an innovative and bold practice in the cadres training work of Shougang Group.

During the schooling and teaching, being bold in making innovation became the source of vitality.

Because English was used in lecturing and communication at all professional courses, case sharing, group discussion, keynote speeches and high-end visiting activities among enterprises in the United States, the English level of trainees faced great challenge.

To make trainees adapt to such teaching with English immersion, the party committee of the Group arranged twelve-week English intensive training for them, 300 class hours in total, before they set off for the United States.

The training comprises two parts, daily English and business English, which are taught by a Chinese teacher and a foreign teacher. Daily English mainly cultivates the trainees’ basic language ability while business English focuses on the trainees’ language communication ability in real business environment so as to equip them with the language competency that can be acquired at overseas seminars.

The new talent cultivation model of "special training + overseas study" is undoubtedly another major innovative practice in the cadres training work of Shougang Group.

The seminar sticks to higher standards, stricter requirements, and self-management, and actively exploits effective ways to manage overseas trainees.

The special training class adhered to "three adherence", namely good study style, party spirit forging and strict management, upheld the "trainees-oriented and teachers-dominated" guidance, and gave play to the supervision, management and leading role of party branches and party groups. Management Measures on Young Cadres of Shougang Group Studying in the United States was formulated. The measure laid a solid foundation for trainees to maintain good study style, strict disciplines and excellent style. Meanwhile, according to characteristics of young trainees with new ideas and strong self-awareness, the party branch regularly solicits opinions from trainees, satisfies their reasonable demands, makes trainees with strong points the young tutor, regularly organizes study and sports activities, enhances team awareness, and creates good atmosphere.

Innovation serves the purpose of facilitating study and getting more results. Innovation also activates trainees’ aspiration and confidence to breakthrough themselves, go beyond themselves and reinvent themselves.

A trainee named Zhao Zhenpu said, "Starting from English intensive training till the completion of the 100-day overseas study, I was nervous and busy. Filled with fantasy, this adventure represents an important cutting point in my life and has opened a window for me. I renewed concept, transcended myself, and adapted to new changes. I experienced the change from point to surface. I have an impulse to jump out of the circle and see farther. The broader my vision is, the clear I see that my knowledge is limited. I have a desire to learn more knowledge through constantly studying."

The classic cases and enterprise simulation games selected by Katz Graduate School of Business allowed trainees to participate in the cases, analyze and make decisions under super emulated enterprise operation environment. That greatly motivated trainees’ studying enthusiasm, effectively enhanced the ability of integrating theory with practice, analyzing and solving problems. A trainee named Li Jia said, "Through combining theory with practice, especially through various simulation games, we can associate what learned from the classroom with the development of enterprises. We are granted with the opportunity to decide the business development, determine our own management style, which is both fun and exciting. We learned a lot. Under the guidance of the professor, we conducted various kinds of case study. During the course, we cultivated our own thinking model and improved our business analysis ability and ability of solving problems.

Concentration—studying hard to broaden global perspective

Instead of being forced by order, study should be motivated by responsibility and mission, which can proceed without external urge.

No transition or adjustment was arranged, and on the second day the trainees arrived in the United States, the study was officially started. With the urgent time and the hard-earned opportunity, trainees felt grateful and aspired to learn.

The first challenge the trainees were faced with was still language ability despite of the twelve-week intensive English training.

Although these trainees are selected talents with English basis, when faced with top-level professors and professional lecturing, language obstacle still gave them immense pressure. What to do? The time was urgent. They must surmount this obstacle in the shortest time.

In the class, they concentrated on study, listened carefully and taking notes. After the class, they spared no time to seek or review studying materials and cases till midnight. Trainees with good English basis helped others. They banded together like strands of a rope. Through concerted efforts, everyone overcame the language obstacle. Some trainees couldn't order meals at the restaurant at the beginning, but later they could understand the lecture delivered by an Indian professor. That paved a solid foundation for them to involve in further communication and discussion, which enabled them to actively talk and interact with others in guest speech and enterprise visiting. They grasped the opportunity to communicate with and study from high-end talents from famous enterprises.

Concentration requires patience and perseverance, firm and indomitable fighting spirit and extraordinary endurance.

Before setting out to the United States, these youngsters of Shougang Group had attended a five-month special training class and a three-month English intensive training course They had been attended off-job training for nearly eight months. Such kind of studying opportunity is very rare for working people. Besides, it is not easy for them to forget about the hustling daily life and busy work to concentrate on study. Moreover, normally one semester is required for courses such as marketing, supply chain management, process management and continuous improvement, international finance and investment, reform leadership, entrepreneurial spirit cultural construction, and strategic management. However, they must have a good command of such courses within 12 weeks, not to mention various kinds of case analysis, team discussions and  after class practices.

The history never waits for wobblers, sideliners, slackers and weak men; the new era never allows us to be weary of fighting and afraid of difficulty.

Shougang Group people should have the spirit and speed of Shougang Group. They were not afraid of challenges and never gave up. They concentrated on study. English teaching materials and case information read by each one would be more than 30 centimeters in height if piled up. The reports submitted by the trainees based on actual situation of Shougang Group were cherished by professors as precious materials. Their excellent performance was highly recognized by the school and they were praised as "the most diligent, disciplined and excellent team".

No Pain, no gain. The rainbow after the rain is splendid and amazing.

Classroom teacher Chen Zhihua seemed excited when looking back on that experience. He said, "When young students in suit and tie communicated with Mr. Steve Lackey, senior vice president of Bank of New York Mellon Pittsburgh Branch, they were glowing with health and radiating vigor. I was proud of their calmness and reasonable manner as well as the image and spirit of Shougang Group shown by them."

When they communicated with former senior vice president of Cisco Company Don Proctor, senior engineer of IBM Company Doctor Ling Zong, and senior project manager of Intel Company Doctor Peng Ken, their performance was also admirable.

While trainees were making progress, they also delved into deep thinking. Enlightened by professors and entrepreneurs, they combined what they learned with the development of Shougang Group. From the perspective of overall strategies of Shougang Group, they compared Shougang Group with world-class enterprises, analyzed and explored the developing path of Shougang Group. As a result, they achieved a qualitative leap in thinking ability.

After visiting Henry Ford Museum, a miniature of the industrial development history, and Hershey Company, which is like an amusement park and a shopping center, trainee Tao Siming was impressed by the perfect fusion of brand marketing and production process of the two enterprises. Through exhibition of interesting, interactive, and modern technical process, tourists not only understood enterprises' culture and production process, but also felt like to experiencing and purchasing such products and then pondered over the way that Beijing Industrial Park of Shougang Group realizes organic combination of steel technical process, branding culture and marketing.

Student Wan Chuante said, "During the period of immersive study in University of San Francisco, through idea exchanging and spirit baptism with senior executives and experts from high technology enterprises in Silicon Valley such as Hewlett-Packard, Intel and IBM, I knew the courage of reform and regular structure adjustment system of Hewlett-Packard. IBM attaches importance to high additional value products and services in its marketing while Intel focuses on enhancing core competitiveness of its chip products. I find that these enterprises prioritize innovation, reinvent people by environment, encourage innovation and tolerate failure. The Innovation concept has been deeply rooted in the heart of every employee."

The trainees were inspired during the classroom learning and company visits. They actively gave suggestions on transitional development of Shougang Group in their study summary.

Shougang Group should learn from successful experience of transnational enterprises such as Volkswagen and Ford Motor, enhance the financial company, and provide more financing services to stakeholders, improve the main body position of Shougang Group in the supply chain, improve the overall efficiency of the supply chain, and achieve win-win results.

Shougang Group should effectively integrate strategic management and control departments with technology R&D departments, provides services inside and outside of the group, and make transformation to offer technology services.

Shougang Group should optimize innovation management, including system construction and awarding mechanism, increase innovation investment, attract and retain high-end talents, pay attention to the conversion from innovation results to production benefits, and pay attention to the diversification of awarding forms.

……

Such thoughts and suggestions reflected trainees’ understanding and thinking. We felt their strong sense of mission and sense of responsibility.

As an old saying goes, empty talk harms the nation, practical action helps it thrive. Trainees said that they will concentrate on study and thinking, and apply the knowledge they learned to actual work, and make achievement to thank the cultivation of the party committee of the Group. They will keep learning and training in practice, constantly strive to become stronger, learn by doing and become a core force to promote sustainable development of Shougang Group, and make their own contribution to turn Shougang Group into a comprehensive large-scale enterprise group with global influence.