Institute of linguistic and intercultural studies chair of applied modern languages in economics and law
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AIMS TO DOUBLE SALES
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SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AIMS TO DOUBLE SALESSenior executives from the electronics giant Samsung have announced an ambitious and aggressive expansion agenda for the company, to more than double sales by 2010. As if that wasn’t an intrepid enough target, it also has its eye on seizing the top worldwide market share in a host of products within the next five years. The South Korean firm further said it wants to become one of the world’s three largest consumer electronics companies within the same time span. Samsung’s Chief Executive Officer Yun Jong-yong unveiled his plans to market analysts, who are now busily plotting possible trajectories against which to monitor the success of the company’s rise to new heights. Competitors too must now be reassessing their battle plans. Samsung is already top dog in the production of memory chips and is currently second to Intel in semiconductors. It is a leading and pioneering producer of a plethora of consumer electronics, including flat-screen TVs and liquid crystal displays (LCDs). It has achieved notable success in the mobile phone market, overtaking the likes of Sony Ericsson to nudge its way to third spot and muscle in on leaders Nokia and Motorola. Samsung already has a proven track record to back up its expansion plans by posting record sales of US$76 billion in 2004 and recording a consistent 20 percent growth in sales in each of the past five years. As a precursor of what’s in store for consumers, the company showcased its cutting edge mobile phone – with an 8-megapixel camera. KEY WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:
1. Answer the following questions:
2. Are these statements true or false?
3. The factors below are instrumental in achieving double sales within five years. Rank them in order of importance. What is missing from the above list?
4. In the text, find English equivalents for the following words and expressions:
5. Match the following synonyms from the article:
6. Match the elements of phrases from the text:
7. Put down as many nouns and adjectives as you can.
BRAINSTORMING ACTIVITIES 8. TOP DOG: What world’s leading companies produce the goods below? What do they need to do to double their sales within the next five years. Is it possible?
9. MARKET LEADER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the words “market leader”. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories. 10. EXPANSION CONSULTANT: You are an expert Business Expansion Consultant. Several clients have asked you how they can double their sales over the next five years. You must work out a plan for each of them. In teams of 2 to 6 formulate ideas for expansion that will impress their management.
STYLES OF MANAGEMENT What makes a good leader or manager? For many it is someone who can inspire and get the most from their staff. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. One must
Managers deal with their employees in different ways. Some are strict with their staff and like to be in complete control, while others are more relaxed and allow workers the freedom to run their own working lives. Whatever approach is predominately used it will be vital to the success of the business. There are three main categories of leadership styles: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. Autocratic (or authoritarian) managers like to make all the important decisions and closely supervise and control workers. Managers do not trust workers and simply give orders (one-way communication) that they expect to be obeyed. This approach has limitations, but it can be effective in certain situations, for example, when quick decisions are needed in a company (e.g. in crisis situations), or when controlling large numbers of low-skilled workers. Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. Managers are interested in how happy workers feel and in many ways they act as a father figure (pater means father in Latin). They consult employees over issues and listen to their opinions. The manager will however make the actual decisions (in the best interests of the workers), believing that the staff still need direction, and in this way it still looks like an autocratic approach. A democratic style of management will put trust in employees and encourage them to make decisions. They will delegate to them the authority to do this and listen to their advice. This requires good two-way communication and often involves democratic discussion groups, which can offer useful suggestions and ideas. Managers must be willing to encourage leadership skills in subordinates. KEY WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:
1. What do you think makes a good manager? Tick four of the following qualities that you consider to be the most important.
2. Are the statements below true or false? ___ 1. In most cases, managers are company owners. _T_ 2. Democratic management style encourages two-way communication between supervisors and subordinates. ___ 3. In a crisis situation, it is necessary to form democratic discussion groups. ___ 4. Workers’ social needs and views are of great importance to auto- cratic managers. ___ 5. Under paternalistic approach, workers’ opinions are taken into account but actual decisions are made by the management. ___ 6. Promotion is a means of encouraging skills in subordinates. ___ 7. One-way communication presupposes that orders given by superiors must be obeyed by subordinates.
4. Fill in the table with the features of management styles listed below.
5. Read the definition of management below. Work with the underlined terminology. MANAGEMENT is the organization and coordination of an enterprise. The manager, who conducts or supervises production, for example, may be a paid expert in administration, as opposed to the entrepreneur who originally conceived the operation and took the risk in mounting it. In modern corporations, management and control tend to be separated from ownership, which is vested in the stockholders.
2. to give as a fixed right 3. to be inclined; to have a tendency towards smth; to be characterized by 4. being an owner; right of possession 5. to fix all details for good operation 6. to form (an idea, plan, etc.) in the mind
7. a highly-qualified specialist (authority) in smth 8. a person who organizes and sometimes manages an enterprise and assumes all risks involved 9. to watch and direct (an organization) 6. Choose the right word. 1. You must keep staff …, especially when things get difficult. a. generated b. motivated c. electrified 2. What can we do to improve … in this department? a. morale b. mortality c. temperament 3. Try to ensure that each employee’s … is not too great. a. workload b. working practice c. work-to-rule 4. He decided to let things … as he dropped the subject until later. a. freeze b. ice over c. cool down 5. A good manager must be able to handle … situations. a. sensible b. touchy c. touching 6. Those who can’t manage their time efficiently always have high stress… a. levels b. grades c. standards. 7. Can you guess which management styles would work best for each situation listed below? Should managers use only one management style? Situational style? Listed below are a few situations and options for what you would do. Try to decide which of the four situational styles would work best in each situation. Then pick the option that best fits that style. Situation 1 The employees in your program appear to be having serious problems getting the job done. Their performance has been going downhill rapidly. They have not responded to your efforts to be friendly or to your expressions of concern for their welfare. Which style would you pick? What would you do?
Situation 2 During the past few months, the quality of work done by staff members has been increasing. Record keeping is accurate and up to date. You have been careful to make sure that the staff members are aware of your performance expectations. Which style would you pick? What would you do?
Situation 3 You are considering a major change in your program. Your staff has a fine record of accomplishment and a strong commitment to excellence. They are supportive of the need for change and have been involved in the planning. Which style would you pick? What would you do?
8. Comment on the following opinion: An organization is only as good as the person running it MOTIVATING STAFF It is often said that the best businesses have the best motivated workers. Indeed, well-motivated employees work at 80-95% of their ability and are usually characterized by higher productivity, better-quality work with less wastage, more employee feedback, and suggestions made for improvements. Work motivation is one of the key areas of organizational psychology. Organization theory is frequently described as an interdisciplinary study that examines the structure and functioning of organizations and the behaviour of the people within organizations. Usually the term “organizational psychology” refers to the area of industrial psychology that is based upon social and personality psychology. Organizational psychology is the field that focuses on understanding and predicting human behaviour in organizational settings. In is based upon a number of theories. Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of human needs (1943) Maslow stated that humans are motivated to reach certain levels of needs. The hierarchy of needs is usually represented as a triangle. Once one level of needs has been satisfied, a person is motivated to meet the next need and so on until the final level in the hierarchy (the top of the triangle) is reached. According to Maslow, there are 5 levels in the hierarchy. Physiological or basic needs lie at the bottom of the triangle and include hunger, thirst, and sleep. In the working environment, these needs are satisfied by means of wages or salary. Safety or security needs correspond to being safe from danger, pain or unemployment, and to provision for the future. That is why people seek “job security”. Belonging or affection needs include the feeling of belonging to a group or team, as well as the wish to be accepted and liked by colleagues. Esteem or ego needs are connected with independence, the esteem of others, and domination. At work a position of authority and some benefits are the means for satisfying these needs. Self-actualization needs for the top of the triangle and are related to the desire to develop one’s potential, to achieve one’s goals, and be creative.
Herzberg offered a two-factor theory. Motivators, or factors bringing satisfaction include challenging work, career prospects, responsibility and recognition, promotion, etc. The second group of factors, termed “satisfiers”, refers to condition of work: salary and fringe benefits, status, good labour relations, job security, good working conditions, etc. These factors do not give increased satisfaction (i.e. they do not motivate), although their absence may lead to dissatisfaction with one’s job. Douglas McGregor: Theory X and Theory Y (1960) McGregor summarized two possible views of management in worker motivation. Theory X is the traditional view of direction and control. It states that the worker dislikes work and tries to avoid it. The function of management, therefore, is to force the employee to work, through coercion and threats of punishment. The worker prefers in most cases to be directed and wants to avoid responsibility. Thus, in order to achieve organizational objectives managers will use money and other rewards as the most popular motivator. Theory Y is the humanistic/self-actualization approach to human motivation. Sometimes called the human resources model, it states that work is natural and can be a source of satisfaction, and that when it is, the worker can be highly loyal, interested, and motivated. Workers often seek responsibility and need to be more fully involved with management to become motivated. Theory Y is most likely to be used when management encourages worker participation in organizational decisions. In doing so management should create a working environment (or culture) where workers can show and develop their creativity. KEY WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:
1. Which of the following statements seems to you to be generally true? Explain your point of view.
2. Choose the right term. 1. To inspire, to induce, to give a reason or incentive to someone to do something. a. motivate b. promote c. provoke 2. A person employed by someone else, working for money. a. earner b. employee c. employer 3. Money paid (per hour or day or week) to manual workers. a. earnings b. salary c. wages 4. A fixed regular payment made by employers, usually monthly, for professional or office work. a. earnings b. salary c. wages 5. Knowing that there is little risk of losing one’s job. a. bureaucracy b. job safety c. job security 6. Relations between employers and employees, managers and workers, management and trade unions. a. human relations b. labour relations c. labour unions
2. name of job (e.g. accountant, manager) 3. protection from danger/harm 4. the position of smb in society 5. advantages that come with a job (apart from earnings) 6. self-development 7. stimulus, motive or encouragement to the staff to work well 8. formal structure (from top to bottom) 9. thing that shows the status of its possessor 4. In the text, find English equivalents for the following:
5. Fill in the table with items referring to satisfaction of different human needs listed below.
6. Choose and rank ten items which motivate you to do your best, in descending order (i.e. "1" is the item you desire most). __ Being able to participate in the decisions that affect me. __ Being able to problem solve in my job. __ Getting recognition by superior when I do a good job. __ Feeling that what I do is important to the organization. __ Freedom to make decisions without approval from supervisor. __ Getting feedback on my performance, so I know where I stand. __ Getting along well with others in the organization. __ Good pay or stipend. __ Good physical working conditions. __ Having an internship with minimal amount of pressure. __ Having a flexible work schedule. __ Having a written job description . __ Having an efficient and competent superior. __ Knowing I will be held responsible for my own performance. __ Knowing my supervisor trusts me. __ Knowing what is going on in the organization. __ Large amount of freedom. __ Opportunity for improving my present skills and learning new ones. __ Opportunity to do creative and challenging work. __ Opportunity to attain greater computer know-how. __ Prestige. __ Relaxed organizational climate. __ Respect for me as an individual. __ Supportive environment. __ Working by myself. __ Working under close supervision. __ Having a sense of achievement and accomplishment. __ Knowing that what I do will be appealing to a future employer. __ Opportunity in decision making. __ Opportunity for training and gaining experience. __ Feeling like I am part of a team.
You can take a horse to water but you cannot force it to drink; it will drink only if it’s thirsty – so with people. ECOMMERCE: SAVING TIME AND MONEY Electronic commerce, or Ecommerce, which means business trading via the Internet, has been around the globe since the mid-1990s. In the recent few years, Ecommerce is getting more and more attention from entrepreneurs and consumers because the virtual commercial market is easily accessible and its operations are time-saving. Ecommerce is highly instrumental in saving time as compared to the traditional commerce method: with just a few clicks, a transaction is made or an order is placed and completed via the Internet practically in no time. For instance, a banking transaction can be completed through the Internet within a few minutes, as payment and documentation are executed with greater efficiency. From the business viewpoint, Ecommerce is much more cost-effective in comparison with the traditional commerce method. Companies no more need middlepersons to sell their products. For example, Dell, a giant computer enterprise, runs most of its business through the Internet without involving any third parties and spending extra sums for their services. Ecommerce marketing allows companies to reach the customer audience in a cheaper and more efficient way, as putting an ad on the Internet costs significantly less compared to filming a TV commercial. Ecommerce also helps to save the total overheads needed to run a business. Thus, an Ecommerce business may be controlled by a single head office that is not divided into departments. Consequently, the cost for staff, maintenance, communications and office rental can be substituted by a single cost – that of web-hosting for the Ecommerce business. In comparison with the traditional commerce method, Ecommerce provides better connectivity for companies and their potential customers. The respective website can be accessed virtually from anywhere on the Internet, eliminating the limits of geographical location. Ecommerce is rather convenient for customers, as they can browse through any directories of catalogues, compare prices between products, and are free to choose between local and foreign manufacturers. On top of that, customers can do it while at home or at work, without any necessity to move a single inch from their chair. Besides, for both consumers and businesses, Ecommerce is easier to use or run, as online trading has less red tape compared to the traditional commerce method. As regards the global market, the appearance of Ecommerce had opened up good opportunities for companies and investors worldwide. For instance, due to the booming of Ecommerce, more and more resources are being directed into electronic securities, Internet facilities, business plans and new technologies. As a result, a variety of new markets have emerged from Ecommerce itself giving a boost to the global market. KEY WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:
1. Answer the following questions. 1. How can a businessman save time for his transactions using the Internet? 2. Why is it cost-effective to avoid third parties in commerce? 3. What facilities does Ecommerce offer customers? 4. How can companies reduce overheads with the help of the Internet? 5. Why is Ecommerce important for the global market? 2. Choose an appropriate word. 1. Our … are growing rapidly. We should be more economical in our administrative expenses a. headlines b. overheads c. headings. 2. Customers enjoy free … to any commercial website in their search for competitive products and prices. a. access b. entrance c. visit 3. The Internet makes it possible to conclude business … practically in no time.
a. operations b. transactions c. negotiations 4. Using traditional commerce methods, businesses cannot avoid … services in supplying their goods. a. suppliers’ b. secretaries’ c. middlepersons’ 5. Overheads are the costs of … a business. a. moving b. running c. flying 6. Ecommerce is instrumental in the boost of the … commercial market worldwide. a. virtual b. real c. global
2. Ability to work well and show good results 3. To be instrumental in doing smth 4. A short advertising film 5. Bureaucratic obstacles 6. Which is added/more than usual 7. Persons listening, watching, reading 8. Public announcement (in the press, on TV, Internet) 9. Head office 10. Ability to be connected easily 11. That is not real 4. Give English equivalents for the following words and expressions:
5. Match the beginnings of the sentences with their endings.
6. Join: a) two synonyms in columns A and B, and b) an antonym in column C.
Directory: Litere Litere -> Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) Litere -> Free International University of Moldova Faculty of Letters Department of Germanic Languages Zinaida Cameneva syntheses in Linguistics Suport de curs la disciplina "Lingvistica" Chişinău – 2014 Litere -> From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Download 0.78 Mb. Share with your friends:
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