P&O discussion group

[ChesterfieldJohn]

Evening,

I have been at the Hospital this afternoon, with my better half so had to have my phone switched off.

I have just checked my voicemail and have a message from P&O asking if I would be interested in attending a 'discussion group' in Sheffield in August.

Does anyone know anything about these?

I will have to ring them tomorrow and find out more, it may be interesting.

John

[haveabeer]

Keep us posted on the outcome please

[ChesterfieldJohn]

Ok Will do, they are ringing me back tomorrow and telling me what it is about.

John

[JenniC]

Maybe they are going to ask you to take over from Carole

[ChesterfieldJohn]

Maybe they are going to ask you to take over from Carole

They couldn't afford me

John

[ChesterfieldJohn]

Hi,

They rang me today, but unfortunately I cannot attend due to one of my Wife's hospital appointments being at the same time

I did ask what it was about and what form it would take, but they would not tell me anything about that, so now I will never know

John

[Silver_Shiney]

but they would not tell me anything about that,

That makes me very suspicious about what's going on....

[david63]

I don't think that there is anything "underhand" about not telling you what is going on as I would expect that if you went you would, as a minimum, be asked to keep what was discussed confidential or even asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. There is a strong possibility that what is discussed could be sensitive to the business.

[Silver_Shiney]

I don't think that there is anything "underhand" about not telling you what is going on as I would expect that if you went you would, as a minimum, be asked to keep what was discussed confidential or even asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. There is a strong possibility that what is discussed could be sensitive to the business.

Then why invite Joe Public?

Sorry, David, but I'm getting rather cynical in my old age

[david63]

Because "Joe Public" are the ones with the answers.

It is a bit like "Undercover Boss" - go and ask those at the sharp end what the problems are because they see them all the time. Asking the same question through the management structure does not work as nobody like to admit that there are problems "on their watch" (whoops wrong topic!) and any problem gets watered down as it goes up the ladder.

[oldbluefox]

I would expect that just reading through the various fora would give them a good idea of where the problems lie: short port stays, Vantage fares, a failing IT system, lack of imaginative ports, lack of proper port talks, inflexible Getaway bookings, cost-cutting measures etc to name but just a few. It doesn't seem to matter which forum you look at, the same topics seem to crop up.
Maybe if they opened up a dialogue with their passengers instead of giving them the 'mushroom treatment' they would have a clearer idea of where to go. Alternatively if they cherry-picked the best bits of other cruise lines and looked at what they were getting right they could transpose the same ideas for the British market. There is nothing new in this world, just a rehash of something somebody dreamt up years ago.

[towny44]

Because "Joe Public" are the ones with the answers.

If P&O really cared about what Joe Public thought, then most of their recent decisions would never have seen the light of day.

[Silver_Shiney]

Because "Joe Public" are the ones with the answers.

It is a bit like "Undercover Boss" - go and ask those at the sharp end what the problems are because they see them all the time. Asking the same question through the management structure does not work as nobody like to admit that there are problems "on their watch" (whoops wrong topic!) and any problem gets watered down as it goes up the ladder.

That reminds me of "the plan":

In the beginning was the plan.

And then came the assumptions.

And the assumptions were without form.

And the plan was without substance.

And darkness was upon the face of the workers.

And they spoke among themselves saying,

"It is a crock of s*** and it stinketh."

And the workers went unto their supervisors and said,

"It is a pale of dung and none may abide the odor thereof."

And the supervisor went unto their managers and said,

"It is a container of excrement and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it."

And the managers went unto their directors, saying,

"It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength."

And the directors spoke among themselves, saying to one another,

"It contains that which aids plant growth and it is very strong."

And the directors went unto the vice presidents, saying unto them,

"It promotes growth and is very powerful."

And the vice presidents went unto the president, saying unto him,

"The new plan will promote the growth and vigor of the company, with powerful effects."

And the president looked upon the plan and saw that it was good.

And the plan became policy.

This is how s*** happens.

[Kendhni]

On th eold P&O board several people had said that they took part in these surveys/days ... if I only I could remember which posters they were so that we could blame them for the decisions that have been taken.