Extra exercise: Writing 5 "Short reports"

Complete the conclusion and recommendations in this time management report using the following words.
also, efficiently, recommendations, moment, unneccesary, good, finally, better

In conclusion, here are my recommendations on how to manage time more
efficiently in our department. At the moment we spend too much time
answering unneccesary business correspondence. It would be a good
idea to prioritise all written communication: letters, emails and phone calls,
so that the most important are dealt with first. Also, employees
should note down how long they will spend on each job. A task that is
important should be give more time than a less important task.
Finally, we usually have a monthly meeting to discuss and prioritise
departamental deadlines. It would be better if this was changed to a
weekly meeting.

Extra exercise: Writing 4 "Letters"

Write a letter.


Mr. Larson.
Customer Services Department
Lang and Turner
Coleford
Gloncester
12th May, 2008


Dear Mr. Larson,
Customer Services Complaint

I´m writing to complaint because
I phoned the Sales Department today
to ask for information about a product
and the sales assistant was impolite
and unhelpful.

Could you arrange for a supervisor
to contact to me to discuss this
as soon as possible?

Thank you for your help with this matter.

Yours sincerely.

Jessica Lemus

Extra exercise: Writing 3 "Memos"

Read the memo and match the descriptions with the parts of the memo.

To: All staff
A.- Who the memo is to.

From: Lee Stone, Facilities Manager
A.- Who the memo is from.

Subject: Smoking.
A.- What the memo in about.

Please note that from Monday 18 th July smoking will not be allowed in any part of the building.
A.- The main point.

We have taken this decision for the comfort and health of all staff, and to comply with new Health and Safety laws.
A.- More information.

We are investigating the possibility of installing a special ventilated smoking area in the future.
A.- A solution.

Thank for your cooperation.

Extra exercise: Writing 2 "Emails"

Use the phrases to complete Emir´s reply to Emma.
Let me know, Thanks, can, ideal, Hi, regards, quality, information


To: Emma

From: Emir Mahoud

Hi Emma.
Thanks for your email.
Here is the information you asked for, about the electronic dictionary on
page 9 of the brocgure. Tou can add up to 10,000 new words to it
and it´s ideal for use with both American and British Englis. It´s also
very good quality.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Kind regards

Emir

Extra exercise: Writing 1 "Messages and notes"

Add puntuation to this note. Add nine capital letters, two apostrophes, one comma, a full stop and a question mark.

Robert,
I can´t come to the presentation today
because, I´m meeting Mr Mullers at the
airport. Could you take notes and give
them to me on Friday?
Thanks
Kate

Exercise: "Glosary test"

Choose the best option to complete the sentences.

1. We increased spending on production and this has reduced our profit margin.
2. Doug Richards is a successful entrenepeur who has started a number of profitablebusinesses.
3. When we had a fire, the insurance company paid the cost of the damage.
4. Our regional sales representative will visit you and shou you our product range.
5. It was a difficult problem, so they had a brainstorming meeting to collect some ideas.
6. This graph shows the increase in oil prices over the last ten years.
7. Venture capitalists lokk for a big return on investment when they provide finance.
8. If you need more informatio, browse the company website.
9. Employees say that they get more job satisfaction when they are able to use their own initiative in their work.
10. To be sure of being polite to people, it is best to follow the rules of etiquette.
11. Banks, financial services and consultancy businesses all belong to the service sector.
12. The new product didn´t sell well and the company lost market share to its competitors.
13. If you tell your insurance company that the value of your loss was higher than it really was, you are making a fraudulent claim.
14. The new technology is good, but the company needs a lot of funding to develop it.
15. Supermarkets and other retailers sell goods directly to people who will use them.
16. The city is attracting lots of new business, which is good for economic growth.
17. We use a system of just-in-time delivery to reduce the cost of keeping large stocks.
18. Staff who stay with the company for longer than ten years receive an extra week´s holiday as a reward for their loyalty.
19. The human resources department has over 100 applications for the new position.
20. The bank is introducing a new surveillance system to increase security.
21. Stefan claimed 5,000 pounds from the insurance company after his car was stolen.
22. The news story generated excellent publicity for our brand.
23. When you have a meeting with new business partners, it is important to be puntual.
24. Some of the items were damaged so the buyer made a complaint.
25. Senior managers are responsible for their subordinates in the organisational hierarchy.
26. I think we should offer a five per cent discount to encourage people to buy more.
27. Innovators are people who have new ideas and think of new ways to do things.
28. We´ve reduced the price by 15 per cent, so the buyer is getting a good deal.
29. Giorgio Armani is famous for creating a luxury brand.
30. We ask customers for tjeir feeback to help us improve.
31. Ferdinand is hoping to go abroad to work in one of his company´s regional offices.
32. On the assembly line, the parts are put together to make the finished product.
33. People on the trainee scheme have no work experience, just a university qualification.
34. We´ll have to promote our products more if we want to sell more!
35. Our staff are important resources which we try to use efficiently.
36. Several companies worked together on a joint venture to launch the new satelite.
37. The team did a brillant job so the company decided to reward each of them with a large bonus
38. John is applying for a better job in a different company.
39. We collect information about our customers and store it on a database.
40. The company is weak, with high inflation and unemployment.
41. The product has a one-year guarantee, so just bring it back if you have any problems with it.
42. Bill Sorter, a finance manager, has responsability for a team of 12 accountants.
43. We sponsor a football club, so our company name is on the players´ shirts.
44. Advertising companies need good creative staff.
45. Before you ask a bank for money, it is important to prepare a good business plan.

Review 5 (2nd part)

LANGUAJE CHECK

Consolidation:

Choose the correct form of the word or phrase.

In the past, Britons mainly drank tea; but in recent years, coffee has become increasingly popular. Chains of coffee shops, such as Starbucks, have opened in city centres across the country and now more than 80 per cent of Britons visit a coffee shop at least once a week. Spending on coffee has risen by 15 per cent since last year. A recent report shows that Starbucks is the chain that is growing most rapidly and has a market share of 25 per cent. Costa coffee is a close competitor with a 21 per cent market share. The number of coffee shops in city centres has now reached a maximum level, and the chains are trying to expand into small towns. This could be bads news for small cafés: if the chians continue to expand, many small outlets could go out of business.

We asked two consumers for their opinions on coffee shops. Matt Wingford, an accountant, says: "I like the coffee - it´s excellent. But my local coffee shop is often very noisy. I would go more often if it was quieter". Cathy Mansfield, a student, says: "It´s great. My friends and I go there regulary. But the coffee is quite expensive. I would drink more coffee if it was cheaper".

VOCABULARY CHECK

Choose the best option to complete the text.

The product development team at Playtime plc, a toy manufacturer, were highly innovative. They produced a remarkable number of good ideas for new toys, which meant that their company was able to extend its range of popular products. But things changed when the team´s manager left to join a competitor. The new manager was much less successful in motivating the team. Instead of encouraging staff and praising them for their ideas, he put pressure on them. He tried to make them work harder and longer. This didn´t increase their efficiency: it reduced it. In fact, as the team became more and more stressed, their creativity declined. Their product ideas were unpopular and failed to satisfy customer demand. Now the company is losing market share and needs to find a radical solution.

CAREER SKILLS

Managing tme:

Choose a phrase to complete the reminders about time.

1.- We don´t have...

A.- Much time.

2.- We must finish...

A.- By 5 o´clock.

3.- It´s time...

A.- To finish.

4.- We´re running...

A.- Out of time.

5.- Please keep it...

A.- Short.

Finding creative solutions:

Complete the dialogue with the following phrases.

Would it help if, That could be a solution, If we did that, What could we do, What if we, That wouldn´t help.

A) The sales staff are selling lots of products, but it takes us too long to deliver the orders to the customer. What could we do to make the system more efficient?

B) What if we took on more sales staff?

A) That wouldn´t help. We´ve got enough staff. It´s the order processing system that´s not working well.

C) Would it help if the sales reps carried laptops when they visited the customers? That way, they could enter orders inmediately.

B) Yes! If we did that, we could reduce the time it takes to transfer orders to the sales office.

A) That could be a solution!

Giving reasons:

Complete the reasons with the following phrases.

because. because of, so that, in order, means that.

1.- I need a large desk because I have a lot of books and papers.

2.- You should make lists of things to do so that you don´t forget anything.

3.- A lot of people have to work in a quiet environment in order to think clearly.

4.- I usually switch off my mobile phone when I´m working. This means that I don´t get any interruptions.

5.- I can´t work at home because of the televison.