Business/12

• English
• Special Education

MORE FORMAL:

-Let me ask you, Mrs. Jones, which do you consider to be the greater threat, foreign or domestic competition?

-In my judgement, foreign competition should be taken more seriously, Mr. Coal.

Asking and giving opinions

FORMAL:

-How do you feel about the Government's plan to raise taxes, Carol?

-As far as I'm concerned, Philip, taxes are already too high.

INFORMAL:

-Hey Tim. What did you think of the tennis tournament?

-I thought it was great! I saw some really exciting matches.

Company structure

1. Which department do you work for in your company?
2. What is your job title?
3. What is your function, what are you responsible for?
4. Does anybody report to you? What?
5. What other departments do you occasionally have conflicts with?

Discussion

Select the appropriate terms of the following definitions!

A system of authority with different levels, one above the other.

1. autonomous
2. function
3. hierarchy
4. report to

A specific activity in a company, eg. production, marketing, finance.

1. subordinates
2. decentralization
3. function
4. hierarchy

Independent, able to take decisions without consulting a higher authority.

1. autonomous
2. report to
3. subordinates
4. function

People working under someone else in a hierarchy.

1. subordinates
2. decentranization
3. line authority
4. function

Dividing an organization into decision-making units that are not centrally controlled.

1. report to
2. subordinates
3. autonomous
4. decentralization

The power to give instructions to people at the level below in the chain of command

1. function
2. line authority
3. report to
4. decentralization

To be responsible to someone and to take instructions from him or her.

1. report to
2. hierarchy
3. function
4. subordinates

An example of company structure:

Useful phrases to describe:
-consists of

-is composed of

-contains

-is made up of

-includes

-is divided into

Now describe your company structure using these expressions!

Other verbs frequently used to describe a company organization:

-to be in charge of

-to support 

-to be supported by

-to be accountable to

-to be responsible for

-to assist

-to be assisted by

Choose the correct answer!

Contracts

I really believe that it is in our company's ________ ( = it would be beneficial for our company) to sign this contract.

1. good interest
2. best interest
3. good practice
4. best practice

Negotiation frequently involves compromise. Too much _________, however, can be a bad thing.

1. fluctuation
2. flexing
3. flexibility
4. curving

Many negotiators _______ ( = develop) their own contracts before entering
into negotiations.

1. write in
2. write up
3. write out
4. write down

We need to ________ ( = clearly define) this point - it's a little ambiguous.

1. clarify
2. clarity
3. tidy
4. clear

I'm not too _______ on what you mean by that. = I don't really understand
what you mean by that.

1. clear
2. clarity
3. clarify
4. tidy

You will see that this contract _______ all the terms that we agreed upon
during negotiations.

1. produces
2. promises
3. contains
4. includes

He came into negotiations with a ______ list of items. ( = a list of items
arranged by priority)

1. prioritized
2. priority
3. first
4. prior

Our estimate was based on the _______ for proposal (RFP) that we
received from them on August 20th.

1. request
2. requirement
3. restart
4. recourse

A "_______" is an important point (for one or more parties) that, if not agreed upon, will mean that the contract will not be signed.

1. deal-burrier
2. deal-breaker
3. contract-breaker
4. outlaw

Would it be possible to ______ ( = get rid of/ not include) these fees?

1. wave
2. wait
3. waif
4. waive

Goodbye!