Text 13

contrast on issues sent domestic longer to

managers responsibilities competitions making related

Three years ago, a German manufacturer of ____ 1 ____ electrical appliances (hairdryers, blenders, coffee grinders, etc.) opened a plant in Tijuana, Mexico. The company has two assembly line ____ 2 ____ , one is German and one is Mexican. Nine months ago, a new German assembly line manager was ____ 3 ____ over to replace a returning manager. The returning manager was not successful with managing the assembly line employees during his stay. The new manager is Ms. Mara Graus. Working alongside Ms. Graus is the Mexican manager, Pablo Arango, who has been at the plant from the beginning. Both managers share ____ 4 ____. They are responsible for teaching the German-based assembly line technology ____ 5 ____ the workers. They are also responsible for four floor supervisors. From the beginning the two managers have disagreed ____ 6 ____ many management policy ____ 7 ____. Ms. Graus feels that Mr. Arango is too friendly with subordinates, both the supervisors and assembly line workers. Mr. Arango in ____ 8 ____, feels that Ms. Graus is very cold and unfriendly to subordinates.

Mr. Arango feels that the floor supervisors should be given more responsibility and control over their workers. He feels they should be given more information ____ 9 ____ to their jobs and more decision-making power. Ms. Graus believes that they have enough information to carry out their jobs and that she and Mr. Arango should be ____ 10 ____ all the decisions.

Ms. Graus points out that the assembly line workers have low company morale. She confirms that ____ 11 ____ in which workers with the greatest output are rewarded with a bonus would raise company spirits.

The disagreements have become so serious that Ms. Graus and Mr. Arango are no ____ 12 ____ able to effectively manage the assembly line.

Text 14

would located in expand situation on representatives companies way competition majority control

Grand Metropolitan, a British drinks conglomerate, wanted to ____ 1 ____. Pernod-Ricard Company of France, another drinks company, also wanted to penetrate into new markets. They were both looking for new ____ 2 ____ to invest in. Unfortunately, they both became interested ____ 3 ____ the same drinks enterprise Irish Distillers ____ 4 ____ in Ireland. But in order to take over, or gain ____ 5 ____ of, Irish Distillers, they had to first gain control of another company. This company was called FII-Fyffes and was also in Ireland.

A company takes over another company by buying the ____ 6 ____ of shares, or stock, in that company. FII-Fyffes had the largest number of shares of Irish Distillers stock. The company that bought the most shares of FII-Fyffes ____ 7____ automatically become the largest shareholders of Irish Distillers, and in this ____ 8 ____ would gain control of Irish Distillers.

Grand Metropolitan and Pernod-Ricard were now in ____ 9 ____. Both companies sent representatives to Ireland to try to buy the shares from FII-Fyffes. At one meeting, the ____ 10 ____ of Pernod-Ricard and FII-Fyffes discussed acceptable prices for the FII-Fyffes shares. The French company offered to pay $4.30 per share. FII-Fyffes assessed the offer and then demanded $4.70 per share. Pernod then offered $4.50 per share. The two company representatives shook hands ____ 11 ____ the $4.50 per share.

The next day, Grand Metropolitan offered FII-Fyffes $5.25 per share. Later that day the Pernod-Ricard and FII-Fyffes representatives met. The FII-Fyffes negotiator said that the company was rethinking the ____ 12 ____. The Pernod-Ricard executive officer was shocked.

Pernord-Ricard brought FII-Fyffes to court. It demanded that FII-Fyffes honor the handshake the two companies made on the $4.50 per share offer.