Tense review
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 405.
a) look at the information of the history of an American company. Write a short paragraph about the company, using different tenses.
| “Steve” founded by Steve Kong | |
| 1960-1965 | Small factory in New York. Main product: office equipment |
| New production plant in Washington | |
| Head office moved to Los Angeles | |
| Rejected attempted takeover by Alco Inc., Spain | |
| 1986-1991 | Sales offices in 20 different countries |
| 1991- 2000 | Sales offices in 50 different countries |
| 2000-now | Turnover $ 700m. Range of 40 products. Next year: new factories in other countries. |
b) look at Michael White's CV and tell the other students his story:
| Education 1997-1999 | Master's degree in Financial Administration |
| 2000 - 2003 | Business Studies, Henley Management School Project: marker survey of ad sales in Italy |
| Employment 1996-1999 | Steelcase Strafor (Spain) Marketing assistant reporting to the marketing director. Was responsible for development programme, mail orders. Created a database on competing products. |
| 1999-2000 | American Breeze (Spain) Import Manager in charge of orders, customs clearance, dealing with delivery delays, after-sales services |
| Languages | Italian, Spanish, French (fluent) |
| Computer Literacy | Windows, Microsoft Office, QuarkXpress, Photoshop |
c) word building. Complete the tables.
| Noun Aggression | Adjective |
| Charisma | |
| charming | |
| Energy | |
| loyal | |
| Perfection | |
| Talent |
| Noun | Verb |
| Competition | |
| Influence | |
| inspire | |
| motivate | |
| Obligation | |
| persuade | |
| Threat |
7. Language review. Idioms.
a) guess the meaning of the idioms:
1. to put smb. in the picture a) to inform smb.
b) to avoid smb.
2. to get straight to the point a) to speak a lot
b) to speak about
business
3. to talk at cross purposes a) to understand each
other
b) not to understand each
other
4. to have a quick word a) to have a chance to
speak to a person when
he has no time
b) to speak quickly
5. to get a word in edgeways a) to speak loudly
b) to put in a word
6. to beat about the bush a) not to tell a straight
answer
b) to gossip
7. to hear smth. on the grapevinea) to like grapes
b) to hear gossips
8. to be on the same wavelength a) to have the same
opinions
b) to argue a lot
9. to be on the ball a) to be sharp
b) to be stupid
10. the ball in his/her court a) to make a decision
b) to play football
11. to start the ball rollinga)to start smth.
b) to roll smth.
12. to carry the ball a) to be responsible for smth.
b) to carry smth.
b) use the idioms in the following sentences:
1. Let me _________________. It is very important for you to know.
2. It is good that we are __________________. We can understand each other very quickly.
3. I am sorry but can I ______________ with you?
4. We have no time to discuss it for 4 hours. Please, ______________________________.
5. We do not understand each other. It seems to me that we are__________________________________________________.
6. She likes people who listen to her. She likes to dominate and it is hard ______________________when she speaks.
7. He always ________________________. Never gives a straight answer.
8. I do not like rumors. I do not believe anything if I heard it ___________________.
9. She is so ______________. She knows what is happening.
10. Let us start the meeting. Who would like to ___________________.
11. I told him what I think. Now ___________. Let us wait for his decision.
12. We need people, who will __________________ for this business.
8. Managing people
a) match the verbs with the appropriate phrases
A manager should:
1. respond a) in his ability
2. listen b) to a deputy
3. deal c) to an employee's inquires
4. believe d) with customers
5. delegate e) with problems
6. communicate f) in training courses
7. invest g) to all their ideas
b) choose an appropriate preposition for each case:
| someone | something | |
| report to | ||
| report on | ||
| apologize for | ||
| apologize to | ||
| argue with | ||
| argue about | ||
| agree with | ||
| agree on |
c) make up your own sentences using the verbs in the table (ex. 8 b).
9. Company presentation
a) imagine you are going to a conference where you need to introduce yourself and your company. Who is going to be at the meeting? What will you tell them?
Make some notes following the plan given below.
1. Company name
2. Activities, products, services
3. Facts (employees, revenues…)
4. Why is your company special?
5. What are the strengths of your company?
6. Your responsibilities
7. Current projects, future plans
8. What is your role in these projects?
b) make a presentation.
10. “Right man for the right place ”
a) read the summary of the article “Selection in Europe: Context, development and research agenda” by Robert A. Roe and Peter T. van den Berg.
A selection process usually depends on some factors, ranging from job content, type of industry and labor market conditions to legislation, labor relations, the involvement of professions and cultural patterns.
There are six principles, which the selection process is based on. They are: 1. Meritocracy. This principle is considered to be the best one, as it implies that an employer should take the best candidate for a job and give the best job to the most qualified person.
2. Risk avoidance. This principle sees the purpose of selection in preventing the appointment of people who may constitute a risk for a company. These people are usually psychologically or physically unfit for the job, or they are not qualified enough to meet the requirements.
3. Employment and carrier opportunity. According to it, job is the main means for people to find employment and shape their carrier. The selection process should contribute to a fair allocation of employment and carrier opportunity among applicants.
4. Fair chance. The selection process should be free of bias and discrimination. All applicants should be treated equally and it does not depend on the other principles of selection.
5. Two-sidedness. It considers selection as the process of two sides, which enables both parties to pursue their interests.
6. Involvement. The selection process can involve unions, political parties, members of boards etc.
In some cases these principles are not always followed to the full.
b) what other principles can you add to this list?
c) following these principles conduct an interview. Think of some questions you may ask a candidate applying for a position of a middle-line manager. The first part of the interview should have “neutral”, “easy” questions such as How was your journey? How fast did you find us? How long did it take you to get here? The second part should be devoted to the key step of the interview: the interviewer has to find out if the applicant really suits the advertised position (on condition that the interview does not last longer than one day). As for the applicant, he/she can also find out if this place is suitable. The third part of the interview should be final. You can leave the applicant your contact information.
During the interview you may need some of the phrases from the tables:
| to advertise a post, a vacancy to attend an interview to complete an application form, a probationary (trial) period to draw up a short-list to fill in/out an application form |
| to hire, employ, take on, recruit new staff to submit an application form, a CV to supply a reference to write a covering letter, a reference to promote to fire, sack, dismiss to make smb. redundant to apply for to retire to resign a candidate, an applicant |
d) for the interviewer: write a letter to the HR manager outlining your decision and proving it.
e) for the interviewer: write a letter-rejection to the applicant. You can use the following expressions in your letter:
- Thank you for the interest in the position advertised in the newspaper dated...
- We are impressed with your qualifications…
- It was a difficult choice but…
- We are sorry to inform…
- We wish you the best of luck…
f) for the interviewer: write a letter, offering a job to the applicant. You can use the following expressions in your letter:
- It is our pleasure …
- … the position… reports to…( name and title of a supervisor)
- Your position requires …
- Your compensation has been set at (amount)…
- We look forward to…
11. Management Skills
a) what do you think of “management skills”?
b) read the following extract and say which of these skills seem to be the most important for you, which ones are not. Prove your point of view.
A manager should possess certain important skills. The skills can be divided into some groups:
1. A conceptual skillcan be characterized as the ability of any manager to see the “general picture” of a company. This ability helps managers to plan the overall goals and develop strategies and tactics for the company. A manager, who possesses such an ability, usually plans his activity according to the activities and functions of other managers and employees.
2. A decision-making skillis the ability of a manager to find the best way and policy for the company. He should think of objectives, strategy resources, control etc. Each manager is responsible for all the decisions he takes in any field if his company's activity.
3. An analytical skillis the ability to highlight the most important problems of the company and find out their reasons. It is the ability to analyze everything that happens in the company.
4. An administrative skillis the ability of a manager to coordinate work of all his employees, to make all the conditions for the activity of his company.
5. A communication skillimplies that a manager should be very sociable, open and friendly with his employees. The success of the company depends on this factor, as human resources are the most important ones in any company.
6. An interpersonal skillor psychological skillis the ability to help, sympathize and understand needs and motives of employees. Good interpersonal relationships in the company help managers to find support and help in the development and implementation of their plans.
7. A technical skillhelps any manager to control the production process. This ability is very specific. However, not each manager should possess it. Mostly, first-line managers and operating employees usually have such a skill.
12. Management styles
a) think of management styles? What do you know about them?
b) read the definitions in the table and explain them;
c) match the pairs:
| autocratic | collaborative |
| centralizing | controlling |
| directive | delegating |
| empowering | democratic |
| hands on | people-orientated |
| task-oriented | laissez-fair |
d) which of them would you prefer ?
e) if you were a top-manager, what management style would you choose? Why?
f) give an example of a manager whose style of work resembles you about one of the given above;
g) submit a summary of a newspaper or a magazine article about a famous manager who you respect or who is famous for his GREAT managerial skills and style of work;
h) form nouns based on the adjectives from the table.
| <== previous lecture | | | next lecture ==> |
| Manager's Responsibilities | | | Classical School of Management |