Match the phrases on the left with an appropriate explanation on the right. Fill in the grid below.

1.	productivity	A	the detailed study of manual, or semi-manual, work, so that non-essential work can be eliminated and operations carried out with maximum efficiency
2.	work study	B	a bonus plan. An incentive is offered to encourage employees to work harder, and more efficiently.
3.	Critical Path Analysis (C.P.A.)	C	someone who examines something in detail, (an employee of the firm of consultants who investigates the different jobs done by different workers)
4.	consultants	D	method of planning the undertaking of a complex project in a logical way, by analysing the project into its component parts, and recording them on a diagram which is then used for planning and controlling the activities which carry the project to completion
5.	operator	E	to pay a workman according to the work done, not by the time taken to do it
6.	a sample study	F	here, another word for a worker, particularly someone who operates a machine
7.	investigator	G	the rate at which goods are produced
8.	A survey	H	professional business experts who, for a fee, advise clients on aspects of their business. (In this case the firm are specialists in Organisation and Methods)
9.	incentive payments scheme	I	a plan for giving extra money to workers in certain circumstances. In this case they will receive a bonus if their production rises.
10.	to pay piece rates	J	an analysis covering all aspects of a subject. It can apply to the actual work of investigation or the final written report.
11.	a bonus scheme	K	an investigation of a specimen, a part of something which shows what the whole is like
1.	2.	3.	4.	5.	6.	7.	8.	9.	10.	11.

 

POST-LISTENING

Consider the following points. Share your ideas with a partner or a small group. Be prepared to explain your answers to the class.

a. Why is John Martin amazed to see the group of consultants in the firm?

b. What made H.G. call in a firm, who are consultants in work study techniques?

c. What can Mr. Scott and his consultants do for Harper & Grant Ltd.?

d. In what way does Advertising Manager have a hand in inviting consultants?

e. What were the steps H.G. hadn’t bargained for and why do these steps make him annoyed?

2. Recount the situation as if you were John Martin. Say what you think your firm needs as far as management is concerned.

3. Suppose you are Peter Wiles. What makes you think that workers might dislike investigators and interfere with their work?

4. Render the situation as if you were Joanna Harvey.

5. Act out a conversation between

a. Peter Wiles and Hector Grant about the results of the work study survey and the necessity of changes in the firm;

b. Peter Wiles and John Martin after the departure of the consultants

 

Unit 10

The Pension Fund Meeting

Phrase list

Listen to the tape and practise the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations, quote the sentences in which they are used in the unit. Consult a dictionary and translate them into Russian.

a compulsory scheme

to sack somebody/ to be sacked

syn. to dismiss

There is no call for...

the Pension Fund Trustees’ Meeting

to come up

to save somebody from redundancy

a pension scheme

to pay contributions into the pension fund

a period of employment

to qualify for a pension

to be entitled to the (full) pension

to be due to retire

the articles of the pension fund

to be impeccable

to do something for the sake of something

to agree the accounts

at a rough guess

to be compensated out of something

to make something up to the proper amount

to make full use of something/somebody

to take over (a takeover)

to hold percentage

to streamline the company

to persuade somebody to see reason

to use one’s ingenuity in doing something

PRE-LISTENING

Task 1

Consider the introduction to the unit. Answer the following questions and be ready to give a story line. Use the word combinations in brackets.

What do we call a pension? Is it a compulsory scheme?

(to pay money to an employee; to retire on reaching a certain age; a compulsory scheme; to pay a fixed amount every week; to pay a larger amount; on retirement; to get the state pension; to operate one’s own pension scheme)

In what way do the companies arrange their own pension schemes?

(to give the employees money to retire on; to be governed by a trust-deed; to be separate from the company; to be appointed; to hold meetings regularly; to approve money for pensions; to examine the fund accounts)

3. Is it the same in Harper & Grant Ltd.?

(to pay a certain amount of one’s wages into the fund; to invest money; to increase the value of money; a period of employment; to qualify for a pension)

What does Mr. Grant want to do as a result of the productivity drive?

(to close down unprofitable departments; the redundant workers; to be absorbed into other departments; to be a craftsman in the old style; to be a carpenter able to do fine hand carving; to be hardly ever required)

What does Ian Hampden, the Personnel Manager, think about Mr. Grant’s intentions?

(to get rid of someone; to make somebody change his mind; to be determined on something; to streamline the company; to make the company more profitable and competitive; to find out; to suggest a way of persuading somebody to see reason)

What circumstances did Peter recall when he discussed the situation with Ian before the meeting?

(to be due to be held shortly; to be approved; to have to leave the firm; to look after somebody; to become an invalid; to rejoin the company; according to the articles of the trust; to leave the firm for a time; to work a certain number of years; to qualify for the full pension)

What do the articles of the trust read?

(to complete the time; to have some years to go; to be sacked, or fired; to be given a full pension; to have an extremely bad effect on everybody; to be with the firm)

In what way does Peter contribute to Ian’s decision to save B. Hardiman from redundancy?

(to suggest something cunningly; to make up the difference; to pay the money to make up the pension to the full amount; to interrupt employment; to be shrewd enough; the lesser of the two evils; to let somebody stay; the proper retirement age)

In what way can Ambrose Harper’s illness effect the future of the firm?

(to be an elderly man; to own half the shares in the company; to be bought by a rival firm; to want to take over; to change the present set-up)

Task 2

Give the English equivalents for the following word combinations:

· если выбирать из двух зол меньшее	· делать взносы в пенсионный фонд
· быть непогрешимым, безупречным	· одобрить финансовые отчеты пенсионного фонда
· заседание попечительского совета пенсионного фонда	· иметь право получать пенсию в полном объеме
· воспользоваться чьей-либо изобретательностью, чтобы сделать что-либо	· компенсировать что-либо из какого-либо фонда до достижения какой-либо суммы
· спасти кого-либо от сокращения	· по приблизительным расчетам
· сделать что-либо во имя чего-то	· нет спроса на что-либо
· система выплаты пенсий	· зд. владеть долей акций
· статьи устава пенсионного фонда	· подлежать увольнению в отставку
· использовать что-либо полностью	· смена руководства в компании путем захвата власти
· убедить кого-либо внять доводам разума	· рационализировать работу компании
· стаж работы	· быть уволенным

LISTENING

 

Exercise 1

You are going to hear a talk between Ian Hampden and Peter Wiles. Before you listen to the conversation look at these statements. After you have listened to the tape determine whether these statements are true (T) or false (F). Explain why.

 

1.	Bob Hardiman's been with the firm since it started, and he's the only real craftsman they've got.
2.	Ian Hampden disagrees with H.G. that there's no call for elaborate hand-carving on desks those days; he is sure they need hand-carved desks.
3.	Peter assumes that the only chance to save the old man from redundancy may occur at the Pension Fund Trustees' Meeting, because his name's bound to come up if he's being dismissed; his pension will have to be approved.
4.	Ian doubts that Bob Hardiman can be saved from redundancy because the two of them are against H.G., Ambrose Harper and Mr. Buckhurst, company secretary.
5.	Ambrose Harper has a very soft heart and the pension scheme itself was his idea. He will agree with H.G. and Mr. Buckhurst when he comes to the Pension Fund Meeting.
6.	Hardiman left the firm for a while about two years ago because he had to look after his father. He came back to Harper & Grant Ltd. five months ago, when his father died.
7.	He left all the contributions he had paid into the pension fund in the fund and still qualifies for a pension.
8.	There is nothing to worry about because Bob Hardiman is entitled to the full pension according to the articles of the pension fund.

Exercise 2