A c t i v e V o c a b u l a r y

УДК 811.111 (075.8)

ББК Ш 143.21-923

А С911

Сухарева О.Э.Иностранный язык (английский). ДЕЛОВОЙ АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК. Учебно-методическое пособие для магистрантов направления 230700.68 «Прикладная информатика» ИМЕНИТ. – Тюмень: Издательство Тюменского государственного университета, 2011. – 72 с.

Учебно-методическое пособие предназначено для магистрантов направления 230700.68 «Прикладная информатика» ИМЕНИТ и включает в себя: два раздела, «Work and Job» («Должность и место работы») и «Company Structure» («Структура компании»), одно приложение и библиографию. Каждый из разделов включает текст, сопровождаемый активной лексикой, определенными лексическими упражнениями и заданиями, а также тематическими диалогами.

Рекомендовано к изданию кафедрой иностранных языков и межкультурной профессиональной коммуникации Института математики, естественных наук и информационных технологий. Утверждено проректором по УР Тюменского государственного университета.

ОТВЕТСТВЕННЫЙ РЕДАКТОР: Е.Г. Брунова, д.филол.н., и.о.завкафедрой иностранных языков и межкультурной профессиональной коммуникации ИМЕНИТ

Рецензенты: Л.В. Мельникова, к.филос.н. доцент кафедры иностранных языков и межкультурной профессиональной коммуникации ИМЕНИТ

Л.П. Пащенко, к.п.н., доцент кафедры иностранных языков и межкультурной профессиональной коммуникации ИПЭУ

© ФГБОУ ВПО Тюменский государственный университет, 2011

© О.Э. Сухарева, 2011

ПОЯСНИТЕЛЬНАЯ ЗАПИСКА

Данное учебно-методическое пособие предназначено для обучения дисциплине «Деловой английский язык» магистрантов направления 230700.68 «Прикладная информатика» ИМЕНИТ. Пособие может быть рекомендовано как для аудиторной, так и для самостоятельной работы.

Целью данного учебно-методического пособия является развитие иноязычной коммуникативной компетенции в деловой сфере общения.

Учебно-методическое пособие состоит из двух разделов: «Work and Job»(«Должность и место работы») и «Company Structure» («Структура компании»), каждый из которых включает текст, сопровождаемый активной лексикой, определенными лексическими упражнениями и заданиями, а также тематическими диалогами. В конце каждого раздела предлагается тест, состоящий из упражнений и текста на понимание.

В пособии предусмотрены упражнения на развитие основных видов речевой деятельности – чтения, письма, говорения. Форма отдельных упражнений меняется из урока в урок для того, чтобы избежать монотонности в обучении.

Данное учебное пособие является обобщающим результатом практического использования в течении нескольких лет существующих методик преподавания делового английского и несет в себе большой практический опыт.

 

CONTENTS

Unit 1. WORK AND JOBS……………………………………………..
Text………………………………………………………………………..
Active vocabulary…………………………………………………………
Vocabulary exercises…………………………………………………….
Listening…………………………………………………………………..
Speaking…………………………………………………………………..
TEST……………………………………………………………………….
1. Exercises……………………………………………………………
2. Reading and comprehension……………………………………..
3. Questions for the discussion……………………………………..
Unit 2. COMPANY STRUCTURE……………………………………..
Text………………………………………………………………………..
Active vocabulary………………………………………………………...
Vocabulary exercises…………………………………………………….
Listening……………………………………………………………………
Speaking…………………………………………………………………..
TEST……………………………………………………………………….
1. Exercises……………………………………………………………
2. Reading and comprehension……………………………………..
BUSINESS FILE………………………………………………………….
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………

UNIT 1. WORK AND JOBS

TEXT

A People may ask you about your job. They can ask and you can answer in different ways:

· What do you do?

I'm (+ job) e.g. a banker / an engineer / a teacher / a builder/ a manager

· What’ s your job?

I work in (+ place or general area) e.g. a bank / marketing

· What do you do for a living?

I work for (+ name of company) e.g. Union Bank, ICI, Fiat

Note: 'Work' is usually an uncountable noun, so you cannot say 'a work'. If you want to use the indefinite article you must say 'a job', e.g. She hasn't got a job at the moment.

Work is also a place where you do your job.

B People may want to know your main responsibilities (= your duties / what you have to do), so people ask you to explain your work/job, or something about your daily routine (= what you do every day/week). They can ask like this:

· What does that (i.e. your job) involve? (= What do you do in your job?)

I'm in charge of (= responsible for) all deliveries out of the factory.

I have to deal with any complaints (= take all necessary action if there are complaints)

I run the coffee bar and restaurant in the museum (= I am in control of it /I manage it).

Note: We often use responsible for / in charge of for part of something, e.g. a department or some of the workers; and run for control of all of something, e.g. a company or a shop.

C Daily duties/routines

I have to go to / attend (e.g.) a lot of meetings.

I visit/see/meet clients (= people I do business with or for).

I advise clients (= give them help and my opinion).

It involves do ing quite a lot of paperwork (a general word we use for routine work that involves paper e.g. writing letters, filling in forms, etc.).

Note the -ing form after involve.

D Working hours

For many people in Britain, these are 8.30-9.00 a.m. to 5.00-5.30 p.m. Consequently people often talk about a nine-to-five job (= regular working hours). Some people have flexi-time (= they can start an hour or so earlier or finish later); and some have to do shiftwork (= working at different times, e.g. days one week and nights the next week).Some people also work overtime (= work extra hours). Some people are paid to do/work overtime, others are not paid.

A full-time job is for the whole of the normal working week; a part-time job is for less time than that.

You say that someone works full-time or part-time.

A permanent job does not finish after a fixed period.

A temporary job finishes after a fixed period.

You talk about temporary work and permanent work.

Many people used to work for the same organization until they reached retirement: the age at which people retire, or end their working life. Career paths were clear: you could work your way up the career ladder, getting promotion to jobs that were more senior, with greater responsibility. You would probably not be demote d: moved to a less senior job.

To leave the company, you could resign or hand in your notice.

There is a need for freelancers (freelances), independent people who may work for several different companies. They are employed for short periods on temporary contracts. Companies expect flexibility, with people moving to different jobs when necessary, but for many employees, this means job insecurity, the feeling that they may not be in their job for long.

E Pay and benefits

Most workers are paid (= receive money) every month and this pay goes directly into their bank account. It is called a salary. We can express the same idea using the verb to earn:

My salary is $60,000 a year. (= I earn $60,000 a year.)

You may get the minimum wage: the lowest amount of money allowed by law. But working in some places, for example in restaurants and bars, you may get tips, money that customers leave in addition to the bill.

You can get a basic salary, plus commission: a percentage on everything you sell.

Some extra money is called a bonus. There are may be performance-related bonuses if the manager reached particular objectives for the company.

With many jobs you get (= receive) holiday pay and sick pay (when you are ill). If you want to ask about holidays, you can say:

How much holiday do you get? or How many weeks' holiday do you get?

The total amount of money you receive in a year is called your income. This could be your salary from one job, or the salary from two different jobs you have. And on this income you have to pay part to the government – called income tax.

Compensation is also used to talk about money and other benefits that a senior manager (or any employee) receives if they are forced to leave the organization, perhaps after a boardroom row. This money is in the form of a compensation payment, or severance payment. If the manager also receives benefits, the payment and the benefits form a severance package.

In Britain, executives with very high pay and good benefits may be referred to as fat cats, implying that they do not deserve this level of remuneration. For a senior executive, remuneration package may include share options (BrE) or stock options (AmE): the right to buy the company’s shares at low prices.

At work you may get fringe benefits: a company car, free meals, payments for the pension: money that you’ll get regularly after you stop working. All that makes a benefits package.

F All these words are used in front of 'job' and 'work':

· satisfying, stimulating, fascinating, exciting: the work is interesting and gives you positive feelings.

· dull, boring, uninteresting, unstimulating: the work is not interesting.

· repetitive, routine: the work involves doing the same things again and again.

· tiring, tough, hard, demanding: the work is difficult and makes you tired.

 

S p e a k i n g

Exercise 1. Here, people talk about their work. Read and define their job and responsibilities

1. 'I work for a large European car maker. I work on car design. In fact, I run the design department and I manage a team of designers: 20 people work under me. It's very interesting. One of my main responsibilities is to make sure that new model designs are finished on time. I'm also in charge of design budgets.

2. I deal with a lot of different people in the company. I'm responsible for co-ordination between design and production: I work with managers at our manufacturing plants.'

3. Hi, I'm Frank. I work in a bank in New York City. I leave for work at 7.30 every morning. I go to work by train and subway. I get to (arrive at) work at about nine. I'm usually at work till six. Luckily, I don't get ill very much so I'm not often off work.

The economy is growing fast and more people are in work than ever before. The percentage of people out of work has fallen to its lowest level for 30 years.

4. I'm an office worker in an insurance company. It's a nine-to-five job with regular working hours. The work isn't very interesting, but I like to be able to go home at a reasonable time.

We all have to clock in (clock on) and clock out (clock off) every day. In this company, even the managers have to, which is unusual!

5. I'm in computer programming. There's a system of flexitime (AmE: flext'me) in my company. We can start at any time before eleven, and finish as early as three, as long as we do enough hours each month. It's ideal for me as I have two young children.

6. I work in a car plant. I work in shifts. I may be on the day shift one week and the night shift the next week. It's difficult changing from one shift to another. When I change shifts, I have problems changing to a new routine for sleeping and eating.

7. I'm a commercial artist in an advertising agency. I work in a big city, but I prefer living in the country, so I commute to work every day, like thousands of other commuters. Working from home using a computer and the Internet is becoming more and more popular, and the agency is introducing this: it's called teleworking or telecommuting. But I like going into the office and working with other people around me.

Exercise 2. Here, people talk about their wages, salary and benefits. Read and translate

 

Exercise 3. Pierre is talking about his work. Correct what he says

I work for a French supermarket company. (1)I work about the development of new supermarkets. (2) In fact, I running the development department and (3) I am manage for a team looking at the possibilities in different countries. It's very interesting. (4) One of my main is to make sure that new supermarkets open on time. (5) I'm also charged with financial reporting. (6)I deal at a lot of different organizations in my work. (7) I'm responsible of planning projects from start to finish. (8) I work closely near our foreign partners, and so I travel a lot.

Exercise 4. Complete each of the following sentences with in, on or for. There are two possible answers for number 2. You can then make similar sentences about yourself and your job

· Tenses at work

You use the present simple to talk, for example, about where you work or

what you do: I work...

You use the present continuous to talk about current projects:

I am working...

· External communications means how the company communicates with the outside world. Internal communications means how people inside the company communicate with each other.

1. Olga Blanc is in computers.

2. She has been working _______a big computer company for five years.

3. She is based _______ Paris.

4. She works _______ the external communications department.

5. At the moment she is working_______ the design of the company's wesite.

6. She is responsible______ the development of an important part of the site.

7. She is very interested _______ Website design.

8. She depends _______ the web and on personal contacts for new ideas.

9. She spends one or two hours every day on the Web getting information all _______ the latest developments.

10. She is happy because there is a big demand _______ good website designers at the moment.

 

Exercise 5. Sidney Carton is talking about his job responsibilities but is having problems with his prepositions. Complete the following sentences with a preposition from the box, where necessary. You need some of the prepositions more than once. Some of the sentences do need an extra word You can then make similar sentences about your own job responsibilities.

after in on out to with

1. I head _______ the marketing department at Power Enterprises.

2. I report directly _______ Mr. Power himself.

3. I look _______ a department of about 30 people.

4. I deal _______ all the major aspects of the company’s marketing strategy.

5. I liaise ______ the other members of the management committee.

6. I listen carefully _______ what our customers say.

7. I handle _______ one or two of the major accounts myself.

8. I’m working _______ a very important account at the moment.

9. I also monitor _______ the general situation in the market place.

10.We carry _______ market surveys regularly.

11.We test _______ new products on groups of consumers.

12.I am also involved _______ one or two of Mr. Power’s takeover projects.

Exercise 6. Complete the text with one of the prepositions

Rebecca lives in London and works in public relations. She leaves home for work at 7.30 am. She drives (1) _______ work. The traffic is often bad and she worries about getting (2) _______ work late, but she usually arrives (3) _______ work at around nine. She finishes work quite late, at about eight. 'Luckily, I'm never ill,' she says. 'I could never take the time (4) ______work.'

She loves what she does and is glad to be (5) _______ work. Some of her friends are not so lucky: they are (6) _______ work.

Exercise 7. Lorenza Muller is telling her partner about her day at the office. Match the beginning of each sentence on the left (1-13) with a phrase on the right (a-m). You can then make similar sentences to talk about your day at work

1.	8.45	I looked at _____	a.	the monthly figures to Mr Kazoulis.
2.	9.00	I wrote _______	b.	an appointment with a client.
3.	9.30	I made _______	c.	the minutes of the meeting.
4.	10.00	I went to _______	d.	a representative of the safety committee.
5.	10.00	I took _______	e.	the company magazine.
6.	11.30	I fixed _______	f.	three or four replies.
7.	12.00	I met _______	g.	two or three telephone calls.
8.	13.00	I had _______	h.	the office Christmas party with Cynthia.
9.	14.00	I read _______	i.	a $10 million deal.
10.	14.30	I discussed _____	j.	my e-mails.
11.	15.00	I presented _____	k.	lunch with Tom in Accounts.
12.	16.30	I negotiated ____	l.	tired but happy.
13.	19.00	I came home ___	m.	the weekly departmental meeting.

Exercise 8. This is part of a conversation with a teacher about her job. Can you supply the missing questions?

A: _____________________?

B: I usually start at nine and finish at four.

A: _____________________?

B: Yes a bit. On certain courses I work until five o'clock, and then I get paid extra.

A: _____________________?

B: Twelve weeks. That's one of the good things about being a teacher.

A: _____________________?

B: No we don't, I'm afraid. That's one of the disadvantages of being a teacher. But I suppose money isn't everything.

 

Exercise 9. Starting with the words you are given, rewrite each of these sentences using the active vocabulary. The basic meaning must stay the same

Example: I'm a banker.

I work in banking.

1. What do you do?

What's _____________________.

2. I earn $50,000 dollars.

My _____________________.

3. I get £20,000 from my teaching job and another £10,000 from writing.
My total _____________________.

4. I am a chemist.

I work for _____________________.

5. In my job I have to look after and maintain all the computers in the building.

My job involves _____________________.

6. I'm responsible for one of the smaller departments.

I'm in _____________________.

Exercise 10. Think about your own job and tell everything you can about it. How is your work different? Can you explain your responsibilities and daily duties in English? What is a typical day at your current job?

Use the additional questions on p.p. 31-35

 

TEST

 

1. EXERCISES

1.1. Circle the correct option

We’re working with/ on a new advert at the moment.

a) Julian is accountant/an accountant. Не works for a bib company in Birmingham.

b) I’m thinking of getting a new work/job.

c) Nick has always worked in/for marketing.

d) We generally arrive/get to work at about 8.00 a.m.

e) My job involves/implies a lot of travel.

f) Peter Davidson works as/like a financial advisor.

g) I’d like a half-/part -time job really.

h) What’s your new job title/name?

i) I usually end/finish work at half past six.

j) Joe spends/uses most of his time in meetings.

k) A typical/usual day in the office involves answering calls from customers.

l) “ How/What do you do” “I’m the manager of a small company.”

m) I’ve got a six-month contract so it’s only a permanent/temporary job.

n) Do enjoy working with/for numbers?

 

1.2. Find and correct five mistakes

In my job I deal in in-house training. – with

a) Joe hasn’t got a job. He’s been out work six months now.

b) Does your job involve meetings lots of people?

c) James works for banking and my other son is at university.

d) I’m responsible of the computer network.

e) Mo’s in charge of 120 people.

f) Maria gets to work at nine.

g) Ed works in Microsoft.

h) Do you enjoy working like a sales rep?

i) I spend most of my day writing emails.

j) I’m working on a very exciting project at the moment.

 

2. READING AND COMPREHENSION

 

2.1. Read the following text

Financial Managers

· Nature of the Work.

Almost every firm, government agency, and other type of organization employs one or more financial managers. Financial managers oversee the preparation of financial reports, direct investment activities, and implement cash management strategies. Managers also develop strategies and implement the long-term goals of their organization.

The duties of financial managers vary with their specific titles, which include controller, treasurer or finance officer, credit manager, cash manager, risk and insurance manager, and manager of international banking. Controllers direct the preparation of financial reports, such as income statements, balance sheets, and analyses of future earnings or expenses, that summarize and forecast the organization's financial position. Controllers also are in charge of preparing special reports required by regulatory authorities. Often, controllers oversee the accounting, audit, and budget departments. Treasurers and finance officers direct their organization's budgets to meet its financial goals. They oversee the investment of funds, manage associated risks, supervise cash management activities, execute capital-raising strategies to support the firm's expansion, and deal with mergers and acquisitions. Credit managers oversee the firm's issuance of credit, establishing credit-rating criteria, determining credit ceilings, and monitoring the collections of past-due accounts.

Cash managers monitor and control the flow of cash receipts and disbursements to meet the business and investment needs of their firm. For example, cash flow projections are needed to determine whether loans must be obtained to meet cash requirements or whether surplus cash can be invested. Risk and insurance managers oversee programs to minimize risks and losses that might arise from financial transactions and business operations. Insurance managers decide how best to limit a company’s losses by obtaining insurance against risks such as the need to make disability payments for an employee who gets hurt on the job or costs imposed by a lawsuit against the company. Risk managers control financial risk by using hedging and other techniques to limit a company’s exposure to currency or commodity price changes. Managers specializing in international finance develop financial and accounting systems for the banking transactions of multinational organizations. Risk managers are also responsible for calculating and limiting potential operations risk. Operations risk includes a wide range of risks, such as a rogue employee damaging the company’s finances or a hurricane damaging an important factory.

Branch managers of financial institutions administer and manage all of the functions of a branch office. Job duties may include hiring personnel, approving loans and lines of credit, establishing a rapport with the community to attract business, and assisting customers with account problems. Branch mangaers also are becoming more oriented toward sales and marketing. As a result, it is important that they have substantial knowledge about the types of products that the bank sells. Financial managers who work for financial institutions must keep abreast of the rapidly growing array of financial services and products.

In addition to the preceding duties, financial managers perform tasks unique to their organization or industry. For example, government financial managers must be experts on the government appropriations and budgeting processes, whereas healthcare financial managers must be knowledgeable about issues surrounding healthcare financing. Moreover, financial managers must be aware of special tax laws and regulations that affect their industry.

Financial managers play an important role in mergers and consolidations and in global expansion and related financing. These areas require extensive, specialized knowledge to reduce risks and maximize profit.

The role of the financial manager, particularly in business, is changing in response to technological advances that have significantly reduced the amount of time it takes to produce financial reports. Technological improvements have made it easier to produce financial reports, and, as a consequence, financial managers now perform more data analysis that allows them to offer senior managers profit-maximizing ideas. They often work on teams, acting as business advisors to top management.

· Work environment.

Working in comfortable offices, often close to top managers and with departments that develop the financial data those managers need, financial managers typically have direct access to state-of-the-art computer systems and information services. They commonly work long hours, often up to 50 or 60 per week. Financial managers generally are required to attend meetings of financial and economic associations and may travel to visit subsidiary firms or to meet customers.

· Earnings.

Median annual wages, excluding annual bonuses and stock options, of wage and salary financial managers were $99,330 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $72,030 and $135,070. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of financial managers were:

· Securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage $134,940

· Management of companies and enterprises 115,520

· Insurance carriers 110,750

· Local government 78,650

· Depository credit intermediation 77,280

Large organizations often pay more than small ones, and salary levels also can depend on the type of industry and location. Many financial managers in both public and private industry receive additional compensation in the form of bonuses which, like salaries, vary substantially by size of firm. Deferred compensation in the form of stock options is common, especially for senior-level executives.

 

2.2. Give extensive answers to the questions. Use the following expressions to start your answers:

In my opinion…, As I see it…,

From my point of view…, It would seem to me that…,

Personally, I think that…, As far as I am able to judge…

1) What is financial manager role in an organization?

2) What are the duties of financial managers?

3) What are controllers in charge of in the company?

4) What is the difference between the responsibilities of credit and cash managers?

5) What concrete activities a branch manager (risk and insurance manager) is responsible for?

6) What are the working hours of financial managers?

7) What are median annual wages of financial managers?

8) Can salary levels also depend on the type of industry and location?

 

3. QUESTIONS FOR THE DISCUSSION:

(A)

1. At what age do people usually begin to work in your country?

2. At what age do people usually retire in your country?

3. Do you think people over 65 should be made to retire?

4. Do women usually work after they get married in your country?

5. Is it easy to find a job in Canada? How about in your country?

6. Name three occupations that you could do. (For example, be a mortician)

7. Name three occupations that you could never do?

8. What are some common occupations in your country?

9. What are some common jobs for men in your country?

10. What are some common jobs for women in your country?

11. What are some jobs that children do?

12. What are some jobs that you think would be boring?

13. What are some jobs that you think would be fun?

14. Which jobs do you think are the most prestigious?

15. Which do you think are some of the more demanding jobs?

16. Which are the least demanding jobs?

17. Who among the people you know has the most interesting job? What is it?

18. Is it common for men and women to have the same jobs in your country?

19. Do you think women and men should be paid the same for the same job?

20. Do you think women are good bosses?

21. Are there women bosses in your country?

22. Would you be upset if your boss was a woman?

23. What is the job of an undertaker?

24. Can women do this job or is it better for a man to be an undertaker?

25. Is it common for people from your country to have one job for life?

26. Do you see any unfair labour practices in your country's workforce?

27. What are normal working hours for most office jobs in your country?

28. Can you name three jobs that get very high salaries in your country?

29. When you start paying income tax in your country, what is the minimum amount you have to pay?

30. What jobs often involve shiftwork? (Give at least two examples.)

31. Is flexi-time common in your company or your country?

32. Do you think top executive are too highly paid? Or do they deserve what they earn?

33. What job would you most like to do?

34. What job(s) do you wish to have in the future? What would be your dream job?

35. What job would you most like to have, if social/cultural boundaries did not apply? (How different are they?)

36. What do you like most about that job? Did you have to go to university to get it?

37. Did you have to go to university to get it?

38. Do you personally know any one with that job?

39. Would you consider the military as a career choice? Why or why not?

40. Would you consider yourself to be an ambitious person at work?

41. Would you describe yourself as a workaholic?

42. Would you like a job in which you traveled a lot?

43. Would you like a job that required you to sit at a computer all day?

44. Would you like to do the same job for the rest of your life?

45. Would you like to work in an office? Why or why not?

46. Would you rather be a doctor or a banker?

47. Would you rather work inside or outside?

48. What steps are required from you to become a/an.......?

49. What are you trying to do in order to find a job that you really like?

50. What influenced your choice of job? (Why did you choose your job?)

51. Would you like to have a management position?

52. What are the pros and cons of being a manager?

53. What are the qualities a good boss should have?

54. What do you hope to spiritually gain from that job?

55. What do you wish to physically gain; what kind of things would you like to buy with your money?

56. How much money do you need to make to fulfill you dreams and desires?

57. If money weren't a problem for you, which job would you prefer to have?

58. If you had to choose between a satisfying job and a well-paid one, which would you choose?

59. Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your job?

 

(B)

60. Have you ever worked?

61. What is the difference between work and a job?

62. Do you have a job?

63. What do you do? What's your job?

64. How did you get it?

65. Is it a popular job?

66. Is it a job mainly for men, or for women?

67. Did you need any special training to get your job?

68. What type of special training did you need?

69. How long and where was the training?

70. Is it an indoor, or outdoor job?

71. Where do you work?

72. Do you have a part-time job? If so, what do you do?

73. Do you have a nine-to-five job?

74. How many days a week do you work?

75. How many hours a week do you work?

76. What are you responsible for?

77. What are the work details of that job; what will be your duties at that job?

78. Do you have to attend a lot of meetings for your job?

79. Do you have to do a lot of paperwork?

80. What time do your start and finish work?

81. What time do you leave for work?

82. How long does it take you to get to work?

83. What time do you arrive at work?

84. What time do you get home from work?

85. Is it the same time every day?

86. Do you have to clock on and off?

87. Is there a flexitime system in your organization?

88. Are there people who do shiftwork in your company?

89. Do you take a lot of time off work?

90. Could you do your job working from home? If so, would you like to?

91. Do you work on weekends?

92. Do you work on Sundays?

93. Do you have to work overtime? If so, how often?

94. If so, do you get paid more for overtime work?

95. Have you ever been promoted?

96. How many times have you been promoted?

97. When was the last time you were promoted?

98. Which college courses are needed for you to be the very best in your field?

99. Have you ever taken any courses that specifically help you with the job you are doing now?

100. What three adjectives would describe yourself as a worker?

101. How much money do you make? (Maybe this is not a good question to ask.)

102. Does your job pay a good salary?

103. Did you get a large pay raise at that time?

104. What is a fair wage for the skills you have?

105. Do you like your boss? Why or why not?

106. How well do you get along with your boss?

107. Do you think your company is well run?

108. Do you think that the place where you work is well run?

109. Do you think that working conditions have improved? If so, in what ways?

110. How long have you been working at your present job?

111. Do you like your job? Why or why not?

112. What are the advantages and disadvantages to your job?

113. How long do you plan to continue working where you are?

UNIT 2. COMPANY STRUCTURE

TEXT

In business, organization structure means the relationships between positions and people who hold the positions. Organization structure is very important because it provides an efficient work system as well as a system of communication.

Historically, line structure is the oldest type of organization structure. The main idea of it is direct vertical relationships between the positions and tasks of each level, and the positions and tasks above and below each level. For example, a sales manager may be in a line position between a vice-president of marketing and a salesman. Thus a vice-president of marketing has direct authority over a sales manager. A sales manager in his turn has direct authority over a salesman. This chain of command simplifies the problems of giving and taking orders.

When a business grows in size and becomes more complex, there is a need for specialists. In such case administrators may organize staff departments and add staff specialists to do specific work. These people are usually busy with services, they are not tied in with the company product. The activities of the staff departments include an accounting, personnel, credit and advertising. Generally they do not give orders to other departments.

There may be different number of levels or layers in the organization chart of the company. A company with only a few levels has a flat organization. A company with a lot of levels is often very hierarchical because decisions have to travel through several layers.

White-collar workers often work in offices, banks, etc. They work in management or administration.

Blue-collar workers often work with their hands, for example on the production line in a factory.

Here is the typical organizational chart of the company in the UK:

Fun and Sun Holidays management organigram

 

(Picture 1)

 

All the directors together are the board. They meet in the boardroom.

Non-executive directors are not managers of the company; they are outsiders, often directors of other companies who have particular knowledge of the industry or of particular areas.

The marketing director is the head of marketing, the IT director is the head of IT, etc. These people head or head up their departments. Informally, the head of an activity, a department or an organization is its boss.

An executive or, informally, an exec, is usually a manager at quite a high level (for example, a seniorexecutive). But ‘executive’ can be used in other contexts to suggest luxury, as in ‘executive coach’ and ‘executive home’, even for things that are not actually used by executives.

In the US, the top position may be that of chairman, chairwoman or president. This job is often combined with the position of chief executive officer or CEO. Some companies have a chief operating officer to take care of the day-to-day running of the company. The finance director may be called the chief financial officer.

In the US, senior managers in charge of particular areas are often called vice presidents (VPs).

 

Senior executives/top executives

Chief financial officer (CFO) Vice president (VP) marketing Vice president (VP) human resources Vice president (VP) research

Executive directors

 

 

(Picture 2)

L i s t e n i n g

Exercise 1. Learn the below vocabulary and listen to the presentation about Rossomon PLC. As you listen, complete the organization chart that follows it

organizational – showing the way a company is organized

structure – organization

Managing Director – director who is in charge of a whole company

executives – people who put decisions into action

personnel – staff

training – teaching employees how to do something

rationalization – making more efficient

region – part of a company

to split – to divide

matrix (basis) – organized according to two sets of criteria, e.g. geographical functional

section – part of a company

subsidiary – company which is owned by a parent company

affiliate – company wholly or partly owned by another company

Some of the language used to describe an organization in terms of:

· hierarchy

· responsibilities / functions

· titles

· affiliates

· structure

 

Hierarchy

The company is headed by the MD.

The Sales Director reports to the MD.

The Sales Director is under the MD.

The Sales Director is accountable to the MD

 

The Sales Director is supported by a Sales team.

The Sales Director is assisted by a Sales Assistant.

Responsibilities/ functions

The Finance Department is responsible for accounting.

The R & d Department takes care of new product development.

The Administration Manager is in charge of personnel.

Titles

Below are the main managerial titles with the US equivalents in brackets:

Chairman (President)

Managing Director (Chief Executive Officer/ Senior Vice- President)

Finance Director (Vice-President - Finance)

Sales Manager (Sales Director)

Note

The Directors and Chairman of a company usually sit on the Board of Directors (Executive Board)

Affiliate

X is the parent company.

A, B and C are subsidiaries (more than 50% owned by the parent)

Structure

Complete the ORGANISATION CHART

Exercise 2. Now listen and read the text again and check yourself

 

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF ROSSOMON.

I’d like to say a few words about the organizational structure of Rossomon. Now, if you look at the transparency you will see that the Managing Director, that is Mr. Bunce, is responsible for running the company and is accountable to the Board.

Now, he is assisted by four executive departments. These are Human Resources, which is responsible for personnel, training and management development; then there is the Finance Department which takes care of corporate finance and accounting; next we have the Management Services Department, >headed < by Peter Jenkins who is in charge of rationalisation throughout the company; and finally there is the R & D Department - research and development - which works closely with the five regions on new product development.

So this then brings me on to the regions. Directly under the Managing Director, there are five Regional Managers. Each of them is responsible for the day-to-day management of a territory - these are geographically split into North, South, East, West and Central Regions.

Now then, the five regions are supported by two sections - Marketing and Technical Services. They are organized on a matrix basis with section leaders accountable to the Regional Managers. They work closely with the regions on the marketing and technical side.

Now, in addition to the parent company, Rossomon has three subsidiaries, namely Rossomon France, Germany and Japan. The subsidiaries report to the Export Sales Department, which in turn is accountable to the Board.

Right, well that’s a brief overview. Are there any questions?

 

Exercise 3. Complete the sentences using the organization chart in the previous exercise and the language from active vocabulary

1 The Managing Director _______ to the Board.

2 The Managing Director _______ for running the company.

3 The Managing Director _______ by four executive departments.

4 _______ The Managing Director, there are five regional devisions.

5 Each Regional Manager _______ of a territory.

6 The five regions _______ by two other sections - Marketing and Technical Services.

7 The Section Leaders _______ the Regional Managers.

8 In addition to the _______ company, Rossomon has three _______ Rossomon France, Germany and Japan.

9 The subsidiaries _______ to the Export Sales Department.

10 The Export Sales Department is _______ to the Board.

S p e a k i n g

Exercise 1. Read this short presentation of the management team of this British company. Then write the correct letters (a-n) in the right places in the organization chart

At the top of the company, the Chairman of the Board [a] is responsible to the shareholders and the day-to-day running is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) [b], who also has a seat on the Board.

Five directors form the senior management committee of the company. Going from left to right on the organization chart, we start with the Director of Finance [c], who runs his division with his Deputy [d].

Then we have the Director of Operations [e], who is responsible for production and logistics. The Factory Manager [f] answers directly to him.

Next we have the Director of Marketing [g], who is also responsible for sales so the National Sales Manager [h] reports to him on the activities of the whole sales team, which is divided into two regions, north and south, each managed by a regional sales manager [i; j].

The Director of Human Resources [k] has a Training and Development Manager [l] and a Compensation and Benefits Manager [m], who look after the day-to-day running of her department.

Finally, the Director of Research and Development [n] runs a small but important division of the company. She too reports directly to the CEO.

Exercise 2. Have a look at the organizational chart of the company. Define what line and staff position you can discern. Speak about the organizational structure of this enterprise

Exercise 3. Describe the management structure of a typical British company using the following organization chart:

The Board of Directors

Exercise 4. Complete the chart and describe the managerial structure of a typical American company using the information about a typical British company structure and the language from active vocabulary. Compare these two structures

Executive Board

Exercise 5. Use the words below to fill in the gaps

Peggy Forman is talking with Jaff Downing, another administrative assistant in her company.

span of control, chain of command, staff position, immediate subordinate, line authority, organizational chart.

Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff Peggy Jaff

How are you today, Peggy? Oh, fine, thanks. Glad to hear that. By the way, are you familiar with the (1)_________ for the company? No, I am not. What is it like actually? Well, the chart shows how the employees are divided into groups. It gives one an overview of the (2)___________ in the company. I see. The positions can be line and staff ones. Yes. The subject is not new to you. What else do you know about it? As far as I know a worker in a line position receives orders from his (3)________________. Exactly, that’s the line chain of command. A worker in a (4)__________ reports directly to a line worker but he neither gives nor receives orders for line workers. Am I right? Yes, you are. But someone may have (5)__________ over people in his department and not be considered a line administrator. How can it be? That’s possible when a whole department is a staff department. For example, in our company the head of the credit department or the personnel department can hardly ever be president of the company. And what do the people in staff departments do, how is their work different? Well, they are usually busy with services and they could do the same service for any company. So they are not in the line. It seems to be rather complicated. It only seems so. I think the chart should help. Oh, sure. But, Jaff, would you explain me what span of control is? Oh, (6)__________ refers to the number of people whom one managers directly. Can you give me an example? Well. The President of our company directly managers the Vice President of Production, the Vice President of Marketing and the Comptroller. Thus, his span of control includes three people. Yes, now I see. Thank you for your help. Not at all. Why don’t we go to the coffee stall and have a snack together?

 

Exercise 6. Translate into English

1. Мои взаимоотношения с начальником очень хорошие.

2. Мой друг занимает должность главного финансиста.

3. Я не знаком с организационной структурой нашего предприятия.

4. Он больше любит отдавать приказания, чем получать их.

5. Я предпочитаю работать в линейном отделе.

6. Штабные отделы не связаны с конечным продуктом.

7. Структура нашего предприятия сложна.

8. Я больше подхожу к штабной должности, чем к линейной.

9. Мой непосредственный начальник очень пунктуален.

10. В сферу моего непосредственного подчинения входят три руководителя групп.

11. Главный финансист имеет очень большую ответственность.

12. Я уволю моего непосредственного подчиненного. Он ленив.

Exercise 7.

1. Describe the organization structure of any company, the department you’d like to work in, the position you’d like to hold.

2. You have just accepted the new position in a company. The friend of yours would like to know everything about your company (organization structure, the department you work in, your authorities)

 

TEST

1. EXERCISES

1.1. Match each group of words (a-o) with the correct business function (1-15)

1.Human Resources	a.laboratory test scientist trial
2.Purchasing	b.parts assembly line shift supervisor
3.Marketing	c.PR event press release company image house magazine
4.Training	d.retail outlet monthly figures discount commission
5.Legal	e.capital dividend cash flow share price
6.Information Technology	f.recruitment training safety employee relations
7.After-sales	g.invoice bookkeeping VAT credit note
8.The Board	h.network screen hard disk memory
9.Finance	i.questionnaire mailshot prospect advertisement
10.Distribution	j.bulk buying office supplies order delivery
11.Sales	k.shareholder executive director non-executive director chairman
12.Production	l.course design student needs analysis timetable
13.Research and Development	m.hot line telephone support complaint 24-hour service
14.Accounts	n.stock control lorry warehouse packaging
15.Communications	o.contract patent copyright signatory

 

1.2. The diagram below shows the management structure of Universal Software. Match the people (1-8) with their positions. Write the letter of your chosen answer in the box on the right

K Customer Services Manger

J Sales Manager

1. I'm Marco Alatri and I'm the director responsible for the company budgets and accounts.
2. I'm Tom Scott. I'm not actually a manager at Universal, but I do sit on the board.
3. My name's Carla Jelinek. I'm in charge of the company's information systems.
4. My name is Helen Good. I'm the CEO and I also chair the board.
5. I'm Dan Matthews. My team develops new products and tests them.
6. I'm Karine and my team deals with calls from the public... and complaints!
7. I'm Alex Так and I'm responsible for company recruitment and staff development.
8. My name is Patrick Aubaile and I report to the CFO.

 

1.3. Choose the best word from the brackets () to fill the gap

1. Our sales manager heads __________ a department of 40 people. (out/off/up)

2. I work in accounts and Tina is my __________ manager, (line/head/over)

3. I work for Franz and I think he is the best __________I've ever had. (boss/executive/director)

4. I was in________ management for 10 years before I became a director.

(medium/middle/vice)

5. Tanya Minelli is __________Marketing at Global Foods in New York. (VP/COO/CFO)

6. She's the only woman here who has a __________executive position, (higher/chief/senior)

 

1.4. Find a word related to each clue. The first letter is given in each case

1. Where company directors hold their meetings	b
2. Head of a company in the US	p
3. What 'F' stands for in CFO	F
4. Another term for the chief executive: Managing _	D

 

2. READING AND COMPREHENSION.

Before you read

2.1.Discuss these questions

a. How many different ways of organising or structuring a company can you think of?

Think about departments, products and markets.

b. If you work for a company or organisation, how would you describe the company structure?

Reading tasks

2.2. Read the text about the different ways in which companies are organised and answer these questions.

a. Four main kinds of organisational structure are described in the article. What are they?

b. Is one kind of organisational structure more common than the others?

c. When did 'delayering' take place?

d. What were the reasons for delayering and what were the results?

e. How does Julia MacLauchlan describe Microsoft's organisational structure?

 

2.3. Match these definitions with the four organisational structures