- •Definition of management
- •2. Work in pairs. Read the text again and find the manager’s functions.
- •3. Divide the managerial functions, you have just listed, into four groups.
- •Vocabulary
- •1. A) Match the word ‘aim’ and ‘result’ with the verbs given below.
- •2. Complete the sentences with an appropriate word.
- •3. Match the synonyms.
- •4. Match the words to make phrases.
- •1. What levels of management do you know? Give their main characteristics.
- •2. Decide what level of management these positions could be referred to.
- •1. A) Read the text and complete it, using the correct form of the verbs below. Top Management
- •2. A) What are the advantages and disadvantages of making a mission statement?
- •Company structures
- •Vocabulary
- •1. Look at the chart below and complete the paragraph, using the correct form of the words in the box.
- •2. Complete the management hierarchy chart with the correct form of an appropriate word or phrase from the box.
- •3. A) Read the whole text and then complete the organization chart:
- •4. A) Work in pairs. Prepare a list of departments which are typical for most of the companies. Think of the functions that different departments carry out.
- •1. Someone is giving a visitor a tour of a company.
- •2. Choose a company you are familiar with. Present its structure, describing the hierarchy and activities of the departments. Management qualities and skills
- •Vocabulary
- •1. Prepare a list of positive and negative qualities of a boss.
- •3. Jack Welsh is Chief Executive Officer of General Electric. In the extracts bellow he talks about qualities of a good leader. Read the text and summarise these qualities.
- •4. Complete column 2 of the table with opposite meanings. Use the prefixes in-, ir-, un-, il- or dis-. Then complete column 3 with the noun forms.
- •5. A) In the grid below, eleven words connected with management qualities are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Find them.
- •6. Fill in the gaps using the words below.
- •The qualities of a successful manager
- •7. A) Complete the columns in the questionnaire.
- •8. Comment on the following statements. Which of them do you agree with?
- •9. Fill in the gaps using the words below. Define the genre of this text.
- •10. Read the letter.
- •Leadership and management styles
- •1. Read the description of the five different types of manager. Put the numbers 1-5 on the line, then compare in small groups.
- •The Big Three Management Styles
- •Directing Style
- •Discussing Style
- •Delegating Style
- •5. Check the following word partnerships. Find the odd one in each group.
- •Vocabulary through the context
- •1. Find the synonyms to make pairs.
- •2. Match the sentence beginnings with the correct endings.
- •3. Complete the crossword with the correct forms of words, given in the vocabulary list.
- •1. Discuss the question in small groups.
- •2. Read the paragraphs of two articles. What is the main point made by the writer in each case?
- •4. Find words in the articles with the following meanings.
- •2 Tackling problems
- •3 Body language
- •4. According to the text, which of these phrases are typically used by men and which by women?
- •5. Work in groups and discuss the questions. Prepare a poster to present your ideas.
- •1. Douglas Ivester is Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola. Before you read the article about him, discuss what qualities you expect him to have.
- •2. Now read the article and complete the fact sheet given after the text. Focus on Douglas Ivester, ceo of Coca-Cola
- •3. Answer these questions about the article.
- •5. Discuss these questions.
- •Elements of success
- •1. Read the article about the Ikea company, the home furnishings retail giant, and its founder. Which of the following statements about Ingvar Kamprad
- •The bolt that holds the Ikea Empire together
- •2. Read the article again and make notes about Mr. Kamprad.
- •3. Find words or phrases in the article that match these definitions.
- •4. Using the information from the table above,
- •Motivation
- •1. Read the text and continue your list of job priorities.
- •2. Choose your top five and rank them in order of priority. Explain your choice.
- •3. Divide all these criteria into groups.
- •Vocabulary through the context
- •I like the team work
- •I want to make a contribution
- •1. Complete this table with the related forms.
- •2. Complete the sentences with expressions from vocabulary.
- •3. The aircraft engineer talks about his work. Complete his statements with necessary expressions.
- •4. A) Five people talk about their jobs. Match the jobs (1-5) to the people (a-e) and put the words in brackets into the correct forms.
- •Vocabulary 2
- •1. Match the items which are similar in meaning.
- •4. Using different sources, find information about basic theories of motivation. Prepare the summary of their main ideas.
- •5. A) Complete the passage about job satisfaction with five appropriate words from the box.
- •Factors contributing to job satisfaction
- •1. Read the article and formulate its main idea in 2-3 sentences. Perks that work
- •2. Look through the article again. In which lines are these ideas mentioned?
- •3. Look in the article to complete these word partnerships.
- •4. Complete these sentences with word partnerships from Exercise 3.
- •5. Discuss these statements.
- •1. A) Look at the headline of the article. What do you think it could be about?
- •Dirty business, bright ideas
- •2. Work in two groups. Group a completes the information file on Liisa Joronen. Group b completes the information file on her company, sol. When you have finished, check each other’s files.
- •3. Which of these statements are true? Correct the false ones.
- •4. Read these extracts from the article. Which word is similar in meaning to the underlined word in each extract?
- •5. Discuss these questions.
- •Team building
- •1. Think of at least two advantages and disadvantages of working in a team.
- •2. How well could you work in a team? For each category in the quiz below, tick the three statements that most apply to you. Comment on the results.
- •What sort of team player are you?
- •3. Meredith Belbin has identified these types of team members or team players.
- •4. A) Study typical stages of team life.
- •Vocabulary
- •1. Match the prefixes of the words 1-10 to their meanings.
- •2. Complete the text below using some of the words in exercise 1 in the correct form.
- •3. In each group, cross out the word which does not begin with a prefix.
- •4. Complete the sentences with the appropriate words remaining in exercise 3.
- •5. Discuss the following questions.
- •1. Read the article. Then match these headings with the sections marked 1-6.
- •Team building involves more than throwing a few people together
- •2. Discuss these questions.
- •3. There are a number of fixed phrases in English joined with and. These are called fixed pairs.
- •Working hours
- •Vocabulary through the context
- •1. Which person (1-5) is most likely to do each of the five things (a-e)?
- •2. Read what people talk about their jobs. Think what type of job or working hours they mean.
- •3. Complete the text with appropriate prepositions.
- •1. Read the text and fill in the gaps with suitable words from the box. Working conditions
- •2. Match up the following words and expressions into logical pairs:
- •Satisfied companies and employees expand the world of telecommuting.
- •5. A) Read the magazine article about advantages and disadvantages of working from home. Put each quotation in the correct category in the chart below. The first one has been done for you.
- •Working from home
- •6. A) Find in the article words and phrases which mean the same as:
- •Vocabulary through the context
- •1. Xavier and Yvonne are talking about Xavier's new job as a photocopier salesman. Complete the conversation, using words from a opposite.
- •2. Which expressions from vocabulary could be used to continue each of these newspaper extracts?
- •1. Match up the following words with the underlined words in the text. Remuneration
- •2. Look at the set expressions given below, and decide if they refer to earning a high or a low salary?
- •Building relationships and communication
- •1. Discuss these questions.
- •2. Answer the questions in the quiz. Suppose how good you are at building relationships.
- •Vocabulary
- •1. The verbs below are often used with the word relations. Use them to complete the table.
- •2. Choose the correct verb in each sentence.
- •3. Match the following sentence halves. Then make five more sentences with the verbs in Exercise 1 and 2.
- •4. Two managers are talking about building relationships with agents. Put the conversation in the correct order.
- •5. Work in pairs and role play these situations.
- •2.What do the following numbers in the article refer to?
- •4. According to the article what are the main factors responsible for aig’s success in Asia?
- •5. Read the article again and answer these questions.
- •7. Discuss these questions.
- •Communication
- •1. What makes a good communicator? Choose the three most important factors.
- •2. Discuss these questions.
- •3. A) Which words below apply to good communicators? Which apply to bad communicators?
- •4. Complete this talk by a communication expert with the verbs from the box.
- •5. Think of a good communicator you know. Explain why they are good at communicating.
- •1. What are the advantages and disadvantages for companies of using e-mail?
- •2. Select three of the items below which, in your opinion, best contribute to improving communication
- •Communication – it’s much easier said than done
- •3. Read the article again and answer these questions.
- •5. Discuss these questions.
- •Crisis management
- •1. Discuss the following.
- •2. Crisis management experts have identified the following key steps for companies in a crisis. Use them to complete the chart below. Then discuss your answers.
- •1. Read the text of the interview with Mike Seymour, an expert on crisis management. What three crisis areas does he mention?
- •Keeping your client relationship afloat
- •2. The writer provides guidelines for dealing with a crisis. Read the article again and complete the guidelines with words from the following box.
- •3. A) Match words from each column to make word partnerships, adding the word of if necessary. For example, action plan, admission of liability.
- •4. Answer these questions.
- •Effective Risk Management
- •1. Which item in each of the categories below carries the most and the least risk? Explain why.
- •2. Are you a risk-taker? What risks have you taken?
- •3. What risks do businesses face? Note down three types.
- •Vocabulary
- •1. The verbs in the box are used to describe risk. Check their meanings and put them under the appropriate heading.
- •2. Match these halves of sentences from newspaper extracts.
- •4. In pairs, talk about the risks facing one of the following:
- •2. The following risks are of concern to senior executives. Where do you think they fit into the table below?
- •The dangers of not looking ahead
- •Vocabulary
- •1. Read the information below. Complete your sentences with the words in bold.
- •2. A) Match the verbs 1 to 6 to the nouns a) to f) to make word partnerships.
- •4. A) Which of these words would you use to describe yourself in a work or study situation? Add any other useful words.
- •5. Choose the correct alternatives to complete the text below.
- •How to select the best candidate and avoid the worst
- •1. Read the text below and decide if the following statements are true (t) or false (f).
- •Fit for hiring? it’s mind over matter
- •2. Discuss the following questions in pairs.
- •1. You will read the interview given by David Smyth, the Personnel Manager of a major European insurance company, answering questions about the way he interviews and selects candidates.
- •In the first extract he talks about the four points listed below. Read and number them in the order in which he mentions them. Comment each point then.
- •Interviewer:
- •Interviewer:
- •Interviewer:
- •Interviewer:
- •2. Read the second extract, David Smyth talks about the stages of an interview. Read what he says and complete the following chart.
- •3. Look at the questions that David Smyth uses during an interview. In which section of the interview would each question appear?
- •4. Work with a partner.
- •Headhunting
- •1. Read the article from the Financial Times about the headhunting profession, then answer the questions below. Poacher turned tv star – do headhunters deserve their bbc image?
- •2. Dr. Simon Kingston works for the international executive search consultants Heidrick and Struggles. Read his interview and complete the chart below. M ethods for identifying candidates
- •Interviewer:
- •1. Read the two case studies below and answer these questions.
- •2. Discuss these questions
- •3. Match the adjectives in column a to the nouns in column b.
- •4. Now complete these sentences with word partnerships from the list.
- •5. Read the advertisement, then read about candidates, choose the best candidate. Discuss your choice in groups. Personal Assistant
- •Interviewer’s notes
4. Complete this talk by a communication expert with the verbs from the box.
listen digress interrupt explain engage clarify confuse ramble
|
‘Good communicators really 1 ....., to people and take in what is said. They maintain eye contact and have a relaxed body language, but they seldom 2 ……. and stop people talking. If they don’t understand and want to 3 …… something they wait for a suitable opportunity. When speaking, effective communicators are good at giving information. They do not 4 …… their listener. They make their points clearly. They will avoid technical terms, abbreviations or jargon.
If they do need to use unfamiliar terminology they 5 …… by giving an easy to understand example. Furthermore, although they may 6 …… and leave the main point to give additional information and details where appropriate, they will not 7 …… and lose sight of their main message. Really effective communicators who have the ability to 8 …… with colleagues, employees, customers and suppliers are a valuable asset for any business.
5. Think of a good communicator you know. Explain why they are good at communicating.
READING
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages for companies of using e-mail?
2. Select three of the items below which, in your opinion, best contribute to improving communication
trust
|
flexi-time |
open plan offices
|
small teams |
voice mail |
strong corporate identity |
frequent meetings |
|
mobile phones |
staff parties |
Communication – it’s much easier said than done
By Clare Gascoigne
Trust is key in an open organization. Getting staff to talk to each other ought to be the least of your problems, but internal communication can be one of the 5 hardest nuts to crack in business. ‘Communication comes up in every department. The repercussions of not communicating are vast,’ says Theo Theobald, co-author of “Shut up and Listen” “The Truth About” “How to Communicate at Work”.
Poor communication can be a purely practical problem. Gearbulk, a global shipping business with branches around the world, faced language and geographical difficulties, as well as a huge amount of paperwork. With up to 60 documents per cargo, it was a logistical nightmare to track and monitor jobs, while tighter security regulations after 9/11 meant customs documents had to be ready before a ship was allowed to sail.
Installing an automated system means data is now entered only once but can be accessed by anyone in the company, wherever they are. ‘Reporting is faster by a matter of months,’ says Ramon Ferrer, Vice President of Global IT at Gearbulk. ‘An operational team carrying a voyage all the way across the world doesn't always have to be talking to each other -and we don't waste time duplicating the same information.’
Given today’s variety of communication tools, it seems strange that we still have a problem communicating. But the brave new world of high-tech can create barriers - senior managers hide behind their computers, staff use voice mail to screen calls, and employees sitting next to each other will send e-mails rather than speak.
‘Managers should get up, walk round the office and talk to people,’ says Matt Rogan, Head of Marketing at Lane4, a leadership and communications consultancy. ’Face-to-face communication can't be beaten.’
Theobold recommends checking e-mail only three times a day, allocating a set period of time to deal with it. ‘If you leave the sound on, the temptation is as great as a ringing phone. People will interrupt meetings to check their e-mails.’
Another problem is simply hitting the ‘reply all’ button, bombarding people with information. ‘We had unstructured data coming at staff from left, right and centre, leaving it up to individuals to sort out,’ says Gearbulk’s Ferrer. ‘Our new system has reduced e-mails and changed the way people work. It will remind you about work flow.’
Information overload also means people stop listening. But there may be a deeper reason why a message fails to get through, according to so Alex Haslam, Professor of Psychology at Exeter University. ‘Everyone thinks a failure to communicate is just an individual’s error of judgment, but it’s not about the person: it’s about the group and the group dynamics,’ he says. ‘Just training people to be good communicators isn't the issue.’
The problem is that employees develop common loyalties that are far stronger than the need to share information. This can even extend to questions of safety.
‘In the mid-1990s there were a lot of light air crashes in Australia because the two government departments responsible for air safety weren’t communicating,’says Haslam. ‘The government was trying to save money and both groups felt threatened. The individuals were highly identified with their own organisation and unwilling to communicate with the other department.’
A company is particularly at risk when cost-cutting is in the air. Individuals withdraw into no departmental loyalties out of fear. Sending such people on yet another ‘how to communicate’ course will be pointless. Instead, Haslam believes that identifying the sub-groups within an organisation and making sure each group feels valued and respected can do far more to encourage the sharing of information. The key to communication, he says, is trust.
From the Financial Times