Unit 3. Types of Major Crises

 

Pre-text exercises

3.1.1 Practise the reading of the following words

Accident, earthquake, typhoon, hurricane, physical, counterfeiting, malicious, rumours, personnel, graph.

 

3.1.2 Memorize the following words and word-groups from the text:

 

natural disaster – природное бедствие;

explosion – взрыв;

depending on – в зависимости от;

man-made or human-caused crises – кризисы, связанные с деятельностью человека;

human resource crisis – кризис, связанный с потерями человеческих ресурсов;

breakdown – поломка;

slander – клевета;

plant disruption – срыв в работе завода;

market crash – крах рынка;

decline in earnings– снижение заработка;

counterfeiting – подделка;

workplace violence – насилие на рабочем месте;

kidnapping – похищение людей;

to tamper with sth – вносить самовольные изменения во что-либо.

 

 

3.1.3 Find out English or Russian equivalents for the words and word-groups given below:

 

вред, ущерб; --------------- потерянная информация; несчастный случай; --------------- непосещение работы, прогул; включать в себя; --------------- --------------- нехватка рабочей силы; в зависимости от; --------------- повышение.

---------- research; ---------- ---------- survey; ---------- ---------- personnel; market crash; labour shortage; ---------- decline; ----------

3.1.4 Form adjectives according to the model and translate them into Russian:

 

Model: finance – financial

финансы финансовый

 

crime – преступление; information – информация; reputation – репутация; politics – политика; resident – житель;

sex – секс, пол; practice – практика; manager – менеджер; essence – сущность; type – тип.

 

3.1.5 Check if you remember the meaning of the following verbs:

 

- to depend on; - to involve; - to earn; - to cause; - to decline; - to violate;

- to represent; - to tamper; - to counterfeit; - to lose; - to explode; - to survey.

3.1.6 Put questions to the parts underlined

 

1 Research demonstrates that all crises can be sorted into two general classes.

2 The class of natural clisasters includes floods, earthquakes, fires, typhoons hurricanes and explosions.

3 The other class can be divided into different categories depending on the causes.

 

Text A Types of Major Crises

 

3.2.1 Read text A Types of Major Crises and try to understand it to be able to do the assignments that follow

 

Research demonstrates that all crises can be sorted into two general classes: natural disasters and man-made or human-caused crises. The first class includes floods, earthquakes, fires, typhoons, hurricanes and explosions.

The other class can be divided into different categories depending on the causes. These include physical, economic, criminal, informational, reputational and human resource crises. A brief survey of the categories give an idea of each of them.

For instance, physical crises involve breakdown of key equipment major plant disruptions, etc.

Economic crises involve labour shortages, market crashes, major decline in earnings etc. Criminal crises involve counterfeiting, workplace violence, terrorism, corruption, kidnapping, etc.

Informational crises involve lost or falsely represented information, tampering with computer records, etc.

Reputational crises involve slander, gossip, malicious rumours, damage to corporate reputation, etc.

Human resource crises involve rise in absenteezm and accident loss of key personnel, rise in vandalism, etc.

These categories may be represented in the figure given below:

 

 

Text B

3.3.1 Read the text and suggest a title for it

 

Product tampering does not apply only to food or pharmaceutical organizations. All organizations are vulnerable to a form of product tampering that applies specifically to them. For instance, computers are a necessary part of every organization. The true value of computers is the information that they con­tain about customers and other key stakeholders. For in­stance, a person or persons gaining access to and tamperingwith an organization's key records could seriously affect that organization's products and services. An interesting example is the famous French authorof encyclopedias, Larousse. As it is known, the French are avid collectors and eaters of mushrooms. At special times of the year, they go into the forest with their Larousse encyclopedias at their side. In one section of the encyclopedia there are two facing pages. One side has pictures of the mush­rooms that are safe to eat, and the other side has pictures of the unsafe mushrooms. For some unknown reason, thelabels on the two pages in one book were reversed. Thus, the safe mushrooms were labeled unsafe, and vice versa. This is a prominent example of product tampering. The moral should be absolutely clear: One ignores all or any major types of crises at one's peril.

Note to the text:

Larousse encyclopedias – знаменитый французский энциклопедический словарь, опубликованный Ляруссом. Содержит сведения по всем отраслям знаний

 

3.3.2 Choose the right title for the text:

 

- pictures of the mushrooms;

- the moral of product tampering example;

- the value of computers;

 

3.3.3 Find in the text the English equivalents for the following Russian word-groups:

 

- съедобные/несъедобные грибы;

- подлинная ценность;

- на свой страх и риск;

- страницы, расположенные друг против друга;

- получить доступ к чему-либо;

- подделка очень важных записей;

- серьезно повлиять на что-либо;

- названия, данные в обратном порядке.

 

3.3.4 Translate the sentences with these word-groups into Russian

 

3.3.5 Find out in the text adjective or participles used with the nouns given below:

 

pages; author(2); moral; organizations(2); reason; example(2); collectors; mushrooms(2); part.

 

3.3.6 Comment on and develop the following statements

 

- Computers are a necessary part of every organization.

- One ignores all or any major types of crises at one's peril.

 

3.3.7 Retell the text including the answer to the question

 

- Why is it dangerous to ignore any of the major types of crises?

 

Assignments

 

3.4.1 Answer the following questions

 

1 What general classes can all crises be sorted into?

2 What do natural disasters include?

3 How can man-made crises be classified depending on the causes?

4 What category of crises do terrorism and corruption belong to?

 

3.4.2 Match the words and word-groups to their Russian equivalents:

 

- flood; - absenteeism; - human resource; - counterfeiting; - breakdown of equipment; - slander; - gossip; - explosion.

- человеческий ресурс; - поломка оборудования; - взрыв; - клевета; - наводнение; - подделка; - сплетня; - отсутствие на работе.

 

3.4.3 Match the words and their definitions (one item has been done for you):

 

1) corruption; 2) earnings; 3) to sort into; 4) vandalism; 5) decline; 6) terrorism; 7) survey.

a) moving to a lower position; b) an examination made by asking questions; c) the act of damaging property; d) dishonest usage of position or power (for money); e) the money paid for the work; f) to separate into groups; g) violent action for political purposes.

 

3.4.4 Make up sentences with Passive Voice using the following verbs:

 

- to demonstrate;

- to represent;

- to give;

- to include;

- to sort into;

- to involve.

 

3.4.5 Read the text and fill in the gaps with suitable words from the box

 

1 Types of potential crises … fires and natural disasters. A fire or … disaster is a common type of crisis. The … of fire is great for several reasons. It may be … by smoking. Many residents smoke in their rooms where it is not easy … their smoking. A few may have difficulties remembering to put their … out end inadvertently (нечаянно) and drop them. Preventive measures include education, reminders, and staff … of the buildings: e.g. staff can discuss fire … in house meetings and conduct regular fire … with residents.

2 Certain areas of the country are more prone (предрасположены) to natural … than others. These disasters may include hurricanes, floods … and others. Each residential place should have programs to provide staff with adequate measures … crises.

 

to handle; earthquakes; safety; to include; cigarettes; to monitor/monitoring; disasters; risk; trainings; natural; caused.

 

3.4.6 Translate the text given above into Russian in written form

 

3.4.7 Speak in detail about the types of major crises using the figure in text A and the one given below. Mind the verbs associated and used with the noun “crisis”

		Live well with these verbs!

 

3.4.8 a) Translate the following English sentences with the verbs given above

 

1) Crisis causes serious problems.

2) The practice of CM attempts to avoid or manage crisis situations.

3) All the actions undertaken for overcoming the crisis should be thoroughly analyzed.

4) Crises are easier to manage when staffs feel competent and supported.

5) If you don’t prepare for a crisis, you will take more damage.

6) When dealing with crises, there is a need for immediate response.

7) Assessing the crisis situation is the first step that can not be taken in advance.

8) Special programs should provide staff with training structure to handle crises.

9) To forecast exactly what type of crises can occur is practically impossible.

10) Many crises that could potentially develop can be prevented.

11) For a resident who has experienced a crisis the time period after the crisis is crucial.

12) In the acute stage of crises the main point is to control a crisis as much as you can.

13) There are many ways to get help to prevent crisis situations.

14) The plan will assist people to manage crises to the greatest extent possible.

15) To handle a crisis a dedicated CM team should be gathered.

 

b) Make up sentences of your own with some of the verbs associated with the noun “crisis”

 

3.4.9 Compose a story about any natural disaster you have heard/read or the one that occurred within your lifespan.

 

Text C Kidnapping

3.5.1 Scan the newspaper item to get an idea of the way kidnapping really happens

 

The four had planned to visit a group of Muslim religious leaders in Baghdad.

They were about 100 metres from the entrance to the mosque where the meeting was to take place when they were abducted.

The kidnappers published a video shown worldwide by Arab satellite channel in which they claimed the hostages were spies. They threatened to kill all hostages unless the US freed all Iraqi prisoners held in the US by December, 10.

More than a month passed until the next word from the kidnappers. On January, 28, 2006, the channel broadcasted a video showing the four hostages alive, dated January, 21. The captorts stated that the US had one last chance to free all Iraqi prisoners or the hostages would be killed.

On March, 10, the body of one hostage was found in a garbage dump in Baghdad, killed by gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

On March, 23, 2006, the three surviving hostages were rescued from a house near Baghdad by a multinational force. The three hostages were in good medical condition. None of the kidnappers were found in the house.

 

On December, 8, 2006, the three ex-hostages held a press conference in London.

 

Notes:

Muslim – the Islam religion followed in the Arab world;

Baghdad – the capital of Iraq;

Mosque – a building in which Muslims say their prayers.

 

 

3.5.2 Find English equivalents for the following Russian word-groups given below. They will help you understand the text:

 

- произойти, иметь место;	- быть в хорошем состоянии;
- похитить заложника;	- проводить пресс-конференцию;
- транслировать видео;	- найти кого-то жестоко убитым;
- удерживать заключенных;	- многонациональные силы;
- выстрелы в голову и грудь.	- по всему миру.

 

- to hold a press conference;	- to take place;
- gunshot wounds to the head and chest;	- worldwide;
- to find sb murdered;	- to broadcast a video;
- to be in good condition;	- to hold prisoners;
- to abduct hostages.	- multinational force.

 

3.5.3 There are five paragraphs in the text. The headings given below cover the main issues of the text. Arrange them in the order they come in the text

 

1 One hostage found murdered

2 Press conference of the survivors

3 Circumstances of kidnapping

4 Rescue of surviving hostages

5 Kidnappers' demands (требования)

 

3.5.4 Translate the following sentences into Russian

 

- The four visitors were about 100 metres from the entrance to the mosque … when they were abducted.

- In an Arab video the kidnappers claimed the hostages were spies.

- One of the hostages was found killed by gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

- The three surviving hostages were rescued.

- More than a month passed until the next word from the kidnappers.

 

3.5.5 Work with dates:

 

a) write the following dates as they are given in the newspaper item and business papers:

- the twenty-eighth of January;

- the ninth of May;

- the first of September;

- the fourth of July;

- the twenty-fifth of December.

 

b) write the following dates in traditional spelling:

 

1955; 1812; 2010; 1147; 1743; 2001.

 

3.5.6 Find the synonyms for the words from the box:

 

state; kill; chance; visit; free; worldwide.

 

1) say, claim, declare, announce;

2) opportunity, possibility;

3) in the whole world, all over the world, throughout the world;

4) murder, assassinate;

5) rescue, save;

6) come to see, call on sb, drop in.

 

3.5.7 Translate the following sentences into English using the active vocabulary of the text

 

- Журналист был похищен (to be abducted) вооруженными бандитами (gunmen).

- Террористы взяли в заложники двадцать человек.

- Освобожденные поблагодарили солдат за спасение.

- Глава делегации сделал заявление для СМИ.

- В марте была проведена пресс-конференция, посвященная освобождению заложников.

 

3.5.8 Retell the story about the kidnapping in Baghdad in seven-eight sentences

 

 

Unit 4. Crisis Management

Pre-text exercises

4.1.1 Practise the reading of the following words:

 

- fraud;	- cease;
- issue;	- perceive;
- accuracy;	- ensure;
- processes;	- crucial;
- nonetheless;	- continuity;
- consequence.	- contingency.

 

4.1.2 Memorize the following words and word-groups from the texts of the unit:

 

A

fraud - мошенничество;

computer hacking - взлом компьютера;

environment contamination - загрязнение окружающей среды;

sexual harassment - сексуальное домогательство

B

inevitable - неизбежный;

unlike - в отличие от;

resposible - ответственный;

nonetheless - тем не менее;

impact - воздействие, влияние;

essential basics - основные положения;

issue - вопрос, проблема;

framework - основа, структура чего-либо;

in conjunction with - в сочетании с …;

implementation - выполнение;

ownership - собственность;

accuracy - точность;

stakeholder - заинтересованная сторона, совладелец;

consequence - последствие;

continuity planning - планирование непрерывных действий;

contingency planning - планирование непредвиденных действий;

prompt (adj) – безотлагательный.

 

4.1.3 Check up the meaning of the following verbs:

 

- respond to;	- encourage;
- undertake;	- contain;
- reflect;	- provide;
- affect;	- ensure;
- confirm;	- indicate;
- prove;	- cause;
- fail.	- cease.

 

4.1.4 Translate the following words and word-groups into Russian:

 

a) act, action, to take an action, a prompt action, to activate, to activate the plan;

b) situation, crisis situation, dangerous situation, to face a situation;

c) crisis, effective crisis management, the aim of crisis management, crisis management framework, an expert in crisis management, essential basics of crisis management, crisis management team.

 

4.1.5 Transform Active constructions into Passive according to the model

 

Model: Active - They should start recovery procedures at this point.

Passive - Recovery procedures should be started at this point.

 

- Experts in CM can manage or sometimes foresee crises.

- The CM framework must reflect existing lines of communication.

- Crises may affect many organizations.

- The corporation had to face the crisis situation.

- The team members should perform all the functions.

 

4.1.6 Translate the Passive constructions into Russian paying attention to the models

 

4.1.7 Put five types of questions to the following sentences (general, special, alternative, disjunctive and a question to the subject of the sentence)

 

- Crisis Management is a discipline within the broader context of management.

- The field of Crisis Management deals mainly with man-made crises.

- The Crisis Management should be dealt with as an operational management issue.

 

Text A Crisis Management

4.2.1 Read the text, translate it and do the assignments that follow

 

Crisis Management is a discipline within the broader context of management. CM consists of skills and techniques required to assess, understand and cope with any serious situation, especially from the moment it first occurs to the point that recovery procedures start.

The field of CM deals mainly with man-made crises, such as computer hacking, environmental contamination, executive kidnapping, fraud, product tampering, sexual harassment and workplace violence. Unlike natural disasters, man-made crises are not inevitable. They do not need to happen. For this reason, the public is extremely critical of those organizations that are responsible for their occurrence. Why do crises occur in the first place, and what can be done to manage them better before, during, and after their occurrence. Nonetheless, even with the best of frameworks and the best of preparations, not all crises can be prevented.

This even is true for those crises that we know with almost complete certainty will occur. But the impacts of all crises can be lessened if one has a detailed understanding of the "essential basics" of CM. While not all crises can be foreseen, all of them can be managed much more effectively if we understand and practise the best of what is humanly possible.

 

Assignments

 

4.3.1 Answer the following questions

 

1 What is Crisis Management?

2 What does the field of Crisis Management mainly deal with?

3 What crises are included into the category of man-made ones?

4 Man-made crises are not inevitable, or are they?

5 What is the most important problem of Crisis Management?

6 Why is it necessary to know the "essential basics" of Crisis Management?

 

4.3.2 Complete the following sentences using the text

 

- CM is a discipline within ….

- The field of CM deals mainly with ….

- … man-made crises are not inevitable.

- … the public is extremely critical of those organizations ….

- … not all crises can be prevented.

- But the impacts of all crises can be lessened ….

 

4.3.3 Pick out the sentences from the text close in meaning to the following ones

 

- As a subject studied at university Crisis Management is part of General Management.

- Man-made crises are different from natural disasters in that they can be avoided or prevented.

- The bad influence of crises can be less strong if people know how to control them.

- The sphere of CM studies human-caused crises.

- What do crises happen, to begin with?

 

4.3.4 Find the sentences in the text with the following words and word-groups. Translate these sentences into Russian:

 

- the broad context of management;

- the field of CM;

- for this reason;

- essential basics;

- to manage effectively;

- to cope with a serious situation;

- to be responsible for crises’ occurrence;

- to know with certainty;

- the best of what is humanly possible.

 

4.3.5 Match the words or word-groups to their Russian equivalents:

 

- fraud;	- природные бедствия;
- man-made crises;	- подделка изделия;
- product tampering;	- загрязнение окружающей среды;
- sexual harassment;	- сексуальное домогательство;
- environmental contamination;	- мошенничество;
- workplace violence;	- взлом компьютера;
- computer hacking;	- кризисы, связанные с деятельностью человека;
- executive kidnapping;	- насилие на рабочем месте;
- natural disasters.	- похищение администратора.

 

4.3.6 Give the opposite of the following using negative prefixes in/im/ir/un/mis/non:

 

- possible;

- complete;

- certainty;

- understand;

- true;

- essential;

- responsible.

 

Speaking

4.4.1 Comment on the following statements

 

- Crisis Management is a discipline within the broader context of management.

- The impacts of all crises can be lessened if one has a detailed understanding of the "essential basics" of CM.

- Man-made crises are not inevitable.

 

4.4.2 Retell the text in detail using the following phrases:

 

- I think;

- I don’t think so;

- In my opinion;

- I’m sure;

- As far as I know;

- I’m of the opposite opinion.

 

Text B

 

4.5.1 Read the text and suggest a title for it

 

Crisis management consists of methods used to respond to the reality of crises such as a Crisis Management Plan. It is believed that the crisis should be dealt with as an operational management issue that is being undertaken in extreme circumstances. The crisis management framework for response is normally based on existing management structures and responsibilities. It must also reflect existing lines of communication, both within the company, and with other organizations which may be affected. This approach, when developed in conjunction with the operational managers, will confirm ownership of plans and prepare the proposed framework for practical implementation.

The primary aim of crisis management is to do the following:

- Respond to what is happening now without wasting time on getting 100 percent accuracy on the cause of the crisis. This may prove impossible, in any case.

- Assess the situation from inside and outside the organization as all stakeholders might perceive it.

- Identify the immediate consequences and get ahead of them.

- Take direct actions to contain the damage spread (this includes reputation, brand protection and so on).

- Identify and activate obvious features of the business continuity plan which are needed to cope with.

- Encourage decision makers to take prompt actions.

 

4.5.2 Find in the text the answers to the following questions

 

1 What does Crisis Management consist of?

2 How should the crisis be dealt with?

3 What is the CM framework for response based on?

4 What is the primary aim of CM? Name the items included.

 

4.5.3 Give English equivalents of the following word-groups:

 

- абсолютная точность;

- прямые последствия;

- существующие коммуникационные линии;

- основа для практического осуществления;

- в любом случае;

- безотлагательное действие;

- первостепенная цель;

- сдержать/ограничить ущерб;

- план антикризисного управления;

- защита торговой марки;

- явные черты.

 

4.5.4 Match the words or word-groups to their definitions. One item is done for you:

 

1) to encourage;	a) working and ready for use;
2) approach;	b) a question that arises for discussion;
3) prompt;	c) to give hope/support;
4) to identify;	d) purpose/objective;
5) aim;	e) a way of doing sth;
6) operational;	f) to be successful in sth;
7) to get ahead of;	g) done in a good time;
8) issue;	h) to recognize or name sth;
9) primary.	i) main, more important than others.

 

4.5.5 Translate the following sentences into English, using the vocabulary of texts A, B

 

- Кризисы неизбежны, но они не должны (should not) быть неожиданными.

- В любом случае важна безотлагательная реакция на кризис.

- Основные типы кризисов влияют на большинство людей.

- В кризисной ситуации нельзя терять связи (lines of communication) с внешним миром.

- Авторы разработали теоретическую основу (framework) данного типа кризисов.

- Существуют различные подходы к процессу антикризисного управления.

- Планирование – один из методов борьбы (dealing with) с кризисами.

 

4.5.6 Pay attention to the place of participles in the following word-groups. Give their Russian equivalents:

 

- methods used;

- existing management structures and responsibilities;

- proposed framework;

- situation assessed;

- consequences identified;

- actions taken/undertaken;

- encouraged decision-makers.

 

4.5.7 Render the text in Russian

 

Speaking

4.6.1 Compose a brief survey of the primary goals of Crisis Management