. --STARTING TI!

J
rJ Which of these companies do you or would you like to work for?
1 a family-owned company
2 a multinational company
3 your own company (be self-employed)

I] Can you name a company in each of these business sectors? Is there one
that you would like to work for?
• Telecommunications/Media • Banking and finance • Food and drink
• • Transport • Retailing
Engineering
• Pharmaceuticals/Chemicals • Manufacturing • Another service industry
• Construction • IT/Electronics • Tourism

rJ Complete the chart on the next page with the information in the box below.
Describing Then write sentences about the companies.
companies EXAMPLE: Cis-co Sys-temS" is- an American company Which s-upplies­
Internet e q uipment.
American Express container-ship operator fashion/retail Finnish
Japanese Korean Nokia oil and gas pharmaceuticals Toyota

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 UNIT 2 .... COMPANIES

Company Main activity Nationality

Cisco Systems Internet-equipment supplier American
Car manufacturer
lnditex Spanish
Travel and financial services provider American
Roche Swiss
Samsung Electronic-goods maker
8
Telecommunications
Hapag-Lioyd German
10
Petro bras Brazilian

I] Complete the sentences below with the words and phrases in the box.
I head office market share net profit parent company
share price subsidiary tuffle·o'er workforce

1 The amount of money a company receives from sales in a particular period is

called its :f:Y.rn�.v. er..

2 The money a company makes after taking away its costs and tax is its . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 A company which owns another company is called a . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 The employees in a particular country or business are called the . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5 The percentage of sales a company has in a particular market is its . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6 The main building or location of a large organisation is its . . .. . ... . . . . .

7 The cost of a company's shares is its . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8 A company which is more than 50% owned by another company is called a . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II Complete this extract from a company report with appropriate words or

phrases from the box in Exercise B.
Financial performance

I am pleased to say the. P.�r.�0t. ���-P.'?.0Y..1 has continued its excellent performance. We
are changing, growing and doing well at a difficult time for the industry.............2 was
€57 .2 million. an increase or 15% on last year, and ............'1 rose by 5% to €6.4 million.
'
We are a highly competitive business. We have increased our ...... ...... ' to 20%.
Consequently, our . . . ... . . ... _s has risen and is now at an all-time hi g h or €9.6.
Increased production and strong demand have had a positive effect on our cash now, so
we arc able to finance a number or new projects. We have successfully moved to our new
. .. . . . . . . . . .6 in central London. We are now planning to start full production at the recently
opened Spanish . .. . .. . . . . .7 in October.
.

Finally. thanks once again to our loyal and dedicated ... . . . .. . 8• Our employees wi l l
. . .

always be our most valuable asset.

liJ '4»> CD1.17 listen to the CEO reading from the company report and check your
answers to Exercise C.

See the DVD-ROM � D Now talk in the same way about your own company or one you know well.
for the i-Giossary. W Which other companies in your country are doing well I not doing well at
the moment?

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UNIT 2 ,. .. COMPANIES

LISTENING .: l3 �l» CD1.18 Listen to the first part of an interview with Susan Barratt, the Chief
A successful Executive Officer of Nature's Way Foods, and correct the six mistakes i n this
company paragraph.
Nature's Way Foods is a drinks-manufacturing company based on the east coast of Ireland.
They put chilled product, the majority of which is milk and cheese, into various types of
packaging for the major retailers and various food-service companies in Ireland.

IIJ �l» C01.19 Listen to the second part, where Susan talks about the reasons
for the company's success, and complete these notes with one word in
each gap.
First reason for success: the . . . . . . . . . ... 1
• Health - desire to eat healthy . . . . . . . . .. 2
. .

Susan Barratt
• Convenience - . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 -poor
• Sustainability - low level of food . . . . . . . . . . . •

• Indulgence - diet Monday to Friday, but have several pieces of cake on Friday night

Second reason for success: the way they . . . . .

.. . . . . .5 the business
• High- 6 business
. . . . . . . . . ...

• Produce hundreds of . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 of units

• Need to be very . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 in the way they produce them
• I nvested heavily in . . . . . . . . . . .. 9 and processes

II �l» co1.20 Listen to the third part and answer these questions.
1 What two things has Susan enjoyed the most when running a company?
2 What does she not enjoy about running a company?

m �)» (01.21 Listen to the final part and complete this extract.
I've learned a lot of lessons from the companies I've worked for. I think the key thing
is that you have to make sure your . .1 in the organisation are engaged with the . . . . . . . . . .

Watch the organisation and have a clear . 2 of what that organisation is trying to .
. . . ?.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

interview on
If you can get that clarity of . .• and 5 from the people within the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

the DVD-ROM.
organisation, then that will help move the business forward in itself.

II Discuss this question in pairs.

Would you like to run your own company? Why? I Why not?

fJ 'Companies should be owned by their employees.' Discuss.

Two different
organ isations IIJ Work in pairs. As you read, make a note of the key points about your
company in the chart below.
Student A: Read Article 1 on the opposite page.
Student B: Read Article 2 on the opposite page.

Tata john Lewis

India1S' bigge>t company Owned by it> employee>

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Article 1 UNIT 2 �� COMPANIES

FT

India: Tata's search for a new CEO

by Joe Leahy in Mumbai

Mr Tata , Chairman of India's biggest At risk is more than the future of Js over a group as complex as Tata. i t
company, is expected to retire - yet the Tata Group, though this is very would be disastrous," says a banker
again - in two years . But this time 20 important to the national economy. who knows the company.
things look d i ffere n t . The group With its I 00 subsidiaries - includjng However. some critics argue that
5 appears ready to move on, formally [ndia's biggest private-sector steel introducing professionals would help
announcing last month that it has set company, its biggest i n formation­ -10 to break down a reputation for weak
up a special committee to look for a technology outsourcing company management i n large, family-run
new CEO. 25 and its biggest automotive producer companies.
I nstead of simply choosing the - i t is also the country's first true
10 most obvious successor, the group multinational, with 65 per cent of its
has said it will consider all candidates $7 1 bn in revenue generated overseas.
for India's biggest corporate job. I n a Analysts question whether Tata
country where companies are often 30 can create an example for corporate
controlled by influential families, the I n d i a of orderly transition from
15 idea of an outsider, particularly a fam i l y leadership to professional
foreigner, controlling a group ofTata 's management. "There's a feeling i f an
size and reputation is revolutionary. outsider, especially a foreigner, took

Article 2

Is J o h n Lewis the best company i n B rita i n to work for?

by Jon Henley
It is owned by its employees - orpartners 20 by someone who really knows what
- who have a say in how it is run and they ' re t a l k i n g about a n d , most
receive a share of the projlts. Surelv unusually of all. is eager to help.
this is the way every organis{//ion U n l ike other high-street names,
5 should be ntn? John Lewis is owned by its employees.
lt's just before opening t i me on 25 each of whom has a say in its running
bonus day at John Lewis and. boy. arc and a share i n its profits. This is
we excited. Up and down the country, Britain's largest example of worker
the 69 ,000 people who work for the co-owners h i p . Its purpose is ''the
10 nation's favourite retailer arc gathered, happiness of all its members. through
impat ien t . A specially chosen staff 30 t h e i r wort h w h i l e and s a t i s fy i ng
member opens an envelope and reads employment in a successful business''.
out a number. Fifteen per cent. It's the ''11 's a good company to work for." A veteran of five years, K i rsty
percentage of their salary that each says Pedro. a Waitrose* chef. "I didn't o�o Reilly. in womenswear, speaks of the
IS John Lewis employee takes home as realise how good u n t i l I j o i n e d . " "passion and commitment" that come
that year's bonus. 35 Employer-employee relations at John from "being engaged. because you
H a product is on sale in a John Lewis. says Nicola McRoberts, '·arc have a shared interest in making sure i t
Lewis store, you know you can trust it. completely different. They want you to works, for you and for the people you
Plus you can be sure you ' l l be served be happy." 45 work with."

*A supermarket chain, part of the John Lewis group adapted from the Guardian

II After reading, ask your partner what they have learned about Tata I
John Lewis. Add the new i nformation to your chart i n Exercise B.

liJ Compare and contrast the two companies.

EXAMPLE: Tata i> a, I,dia, compa ,y, bvt JoJ,, LeWiS' i> a f3ritiS'h compa,y.

D Discuss these questions.

1 What are the good and bad points of bringing in someone from outside to run
a family·owned business?
2 Do you know of any company like john Lewis in your country? If so, how successful is it?

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UNIT 2 H COMPANIES

LANGUAGE REVIEW . Complete the rules below with these phrases.

Present sim ple a) faetualiflferfflatiefl
and present b) future arrangements
continuous c) routine activities and habits
d) temporary situations
We use the present simple to:
• give f�.�.t��l. i!1f!'r.'Y:l.�.ti�l).1
Tata produces cars.
• talk about . . . . . . . . . . . ?
I usually arrive at the office at eight o'clock.

Some verbs are almost always used in the present simple rather than the present
continuous, for example like, want, know, need.

We use the present continuous to:

• describe . . . . . . . . . ? . .

She's staying in Mumbai till the end of the week.

• talk about . . . . . . . . . _A . .

Whatare you doing on Tuesday afternoon?

c:J Grammar reference page 142

El Complete these sentences with either the present simple or the present
continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 We normally . . . h�)� . .. (hold) our sales conference in Mumbai, but this year we
. . .. . . . .. . ..
(hold) it in Delhi.
2 Although we . . . . . . . . . . (use) our own sales representative at the moment, we generally
. .

. . . . . . . . . . . . (use) agents in China.

3 Tatsuo . . . . . . . . . . . (work) for a financial magazine. At the moment, he . . . . . . . . . . . (write)

. .

an article on insider trading.

4 Usually our Sales Director . . . . . . . . . . . (deaO with important customers, but 1 . . . . . . . . . . . .
.

(deaO with all enquiries while she is on holiday.

5 I . . . . . . .. . . . (come) from Poland, but at the moment 1 . . . . . . . . . . (live) in Germany.
. . .

6 John Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . (want) to continue with expansion this year.

.

I] Complete the job advertisement below with either the present simple
or the present continuous form of the verbs i n the box.
I be consider employ have grow look need offer offer prepare

Sales Manager
• We . . . �rg . . . . 1 one of the largest • We . . . . . . . . . . .8 for people who
.

mobile-phone retailers in Europe. are reliable , confident and

• We ......... . . .2 independent and enthusiastic. We . . . .. .

. .... .9
experienced people who want
impartial advice on mobile phones.
to work for an expanding
• We . . . . . . . . 3 more than 800 stores
. . . .

company.
in 10 countries, and we . . . . . . . . .4 fast.
.. .
• We . . . . . . . . . . . .10 a competitive
• We . . . . . . . . . . . .5 over 3,000 workers.
salary and private health
Currently, we . . . . . . . . . .6 the next
. . stage insurance. We are willing to
in our development, and we . . . . . . . . . . . .7 reward staff with attractive
for major growth outside Europe. performance-based bonuses.

Ring 020 7946 0008 for an information pack.

II Work in pairs.
Student A: Turn to page 134. Student B: Turn to page 136.

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 U N IT 2 H COMPANIES

SKIL� B What sort of presentations have you given? How did you feel?
Presenting your
company IJ ..ll) CD1.22 Listen to the beginning of a presentation by Robert Pullin, Director
of Human Resources at DCV Fashions, and answer these questions.
1 What is the main aim of the presenter?
2 What kind of audience is he probably addressing?

D ,.ll) co1.22 Listen again and complete this paragraph .

. . . . . . . . . . . .\ I'll give you some basic information about DCV Fashions . . . . . . . . . .2, I'll explain
. . .

why we've been so successful in the fashion industry . . . . . ?, I'll tell you about our
. . . . . . .

mission statement. This describes what we're all about, why we're in business. And
4, I'll explain how we communicate with people through our advertising
. . . . . . . • . . . .

and promotion.

IJ I n pairs, practise giving an introduction to your own company or one which

you know well.

DCV Fashions IJ ,.l)) CD1.23 Listen to the rest of the presentation. Work i n pairs and complete
the information on the left. I f necessary, listen again.
Head office
Products
Turnover D Number these phrases which introduce different sections of the presentation
(last year)
in the order in which they appear.

Profits a) Moving on now to our mission ... D

(last year) b) Finally, a word about ... D
Reasons for c) Thanks very much for listening ... D
success
Advertising
d) OK, some basic facts .. .
D
and promotion e) What's the key to our success? D

liJ Choose one of these topics.

• Think about your company or a company you know. Study the Useful language
box below, and use the headings in the chart in Exercise E to help you prepare a
presentation about it.
• Use the facts provided on page 133 to make a presentation about Moda International
Fashion Group (MI FG).

Work in pairs. Make your presentation and answer your partner's questions.
Your audience is a group of young people from a fashion college.

U S E F U L LANGUAGE

INTRODUCING YOURSELF OUTLINING THE PRESENTATION CHANGING TO A NEW SECTION

Hello everyone, my name's First, I'll give you some basic OF THE TALK
Robert Pullin. I'm Director of Human information. Moving on now to our mission.
Resources at DCV Fashions. Next, I'll talk about our products. OK/ Right. What about our
Good morning, I'm Robert Pullin, Then, I'll discuss the reasons for distribution system?
Director of Human Resources, our success.
DCV Fashions.
Finally, I'll tell you about our ENDING THE PRESENTATION
advertising and marketing. Thanks very much for listening
STATING YOUR AIM to my presentation.
My purpose today is to talk INTRODUCING NEW IN FORMATION Thanks for coming to my talk.
to you about our company. Are there any questions?
Here are some basic facts.
Today, I'd like to talk about our
Here are some key facts about
new projects.
our company.
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