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Listening 1

1

1f         2a      3c     4d     5g      6e      7b

2

1. pen and Blackberry

2. because it is less invasive

3. access his home directory and infrastructure wherever he is

4. much smaller

5. very positively, they viewed it as a huge asset

6. connect to the network, work, socialise

7. to connect with customers and employees around the world

8. to communicate the company’s vision to the marketplace, customers, shareholders and employees

Reading 1

1. The model for the 21st century will be decentralised structures with all the different parts communicating laterally.

2. They will have to find ways of getting people to work together in a systematic way.

3. They will also need to find enough skilled people and give them the equipment, environment and motivation to produce top quality work; to persuade people to become leaders.

4. It requires too many personal sacrifices that they are not willing to make.

Vocabulary 1

1. temporary

2. tenacity

3. systematic

4. adequate

5. peak

6. shrunk

7. appropriate

8. regimented

Vocabulary 2

Matching two columns: team player, best practice,core competency, information overload, social networking, net speak, bottom line, credit crunch

1. net speak

2. information overload

3. credit crunch

4. core competency

5. best practice

6. team player

7. bottom line

8. social networking

Usage

1

1. theatre troupes (simile); players (metaphor)

2. a performance (metaphor)

3. players, musicians (simile)

4. conductors (simile)

5. audiences (metaphor)

6. orchestra, ensemble (metaphor)

7. better music (metaphor)

8. Stradivarius, instrument (metaphor)

9. musical score (metaphor)

2

starfish, spider, neural network

They illustrate different types of complex organisations and different degrees of operational autonomy and interdependence. Both starfish and neural networks

are capable of regeneration and can operate without a central point of control or ‘brain’. A spider represents an organisation where all the components depend on the central nervous system for survival.

Reading 2

1.They have grown through multiple acquisitions, which makes it difficult to identify which parts originated at what point and therefore which is the oldest part.

2. They come from old-economy industries, such as agriculture, hospitality and building.

3. Most businesses that fail do so in their first year.

4. primogeniture, ensuring that there are no family feuds about succession leading to companies being broken up

5. trust, pride and money; evolution-expansion into new areas; a good grasp of the firm’s core competence

Practice

1. whose

2. the

3. Whatever

4. No

5. neither

6. few

7. its

8. any

9. a

10. one

Career skills

1b    2e    3a      4d   5c

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Preview

1. Career opportunities

2. Training and development

3. Performance-related pay

4. Ethics

5. Perks and privileges

6. Career breaks

7. International assignments

8. Alumni programme

Listening 1

1. career opportunities and performance-related pay

2. performance-related pay

3. international assignments, ethics

Reading 1

1. Recruiting and keeping good people is particularly important for the Big Four because their actual product is employees’ knowledge and the success of the business depends on client or staff relationships. People are the key to their business.

2. Partners are measured and rewarded as managers of people rather than on how much money they bring in.

3. Regulatory changes such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have increased demand for the services of highly-skilled people such as accountants. The result is a shortage of good people in the market.

4. They have introduced very detailed selection procedures to ensure that new recruits fit into the company culture.

5. They keep in touch with ex-recruits through special programmes in case they want to come back to the company some day.

6. Women often leave to have children or care for an elderly relative. The Big Four have introduced career breaks and the possibility to do part-time work in order to entice women back into the workforce.

7. Young graduates want an international career with travel opportunities. They consider a company’s ethics to be important and may use that as a criterion when applying for a position.

Vocabulary

1

1. staff turnover

2. scorecard

3. shortfall

4. selection procedures

5. job-hopping

6. payroll

7. reward schemes

2

1. annual staff survey

2. pay rises, promotion

3. job cuts

4. regulatory changes

5. retirement

6. corporate knowledge

7. alumni programme

8. career ladder

9. career break

10. international assignment

Usage

1. set a date

2. deadlines

3. set the goal/target

4. set the agenda

5. set a precedent/a trend

6. set a record

7. set the task

Practice

1. alike, similar

2. Although, While, Whereas

3. However, Nevertheless

4. Likewise, Similarly

5. on the one hand

6. on the other hand

7. On the contrary

8. alike

Listening 2

1. Managing Partner for Talent

2. looking after talent strategies for Deloitte’s people in the UK

3. people development, retention, looking after appraisals, promotion processes, rewards and benefits

4. to be the pre-eminent professional services firm; by having the best people working for them, to have them engaged, to retain them and to make them even better at doing what they’re doing

5. very successful – the company has won (a number of) awards

6. development

7a. Deloitte wants people who are looking for an intellectual challenge and who enjoy challenging work.

7b. Business today is more complicated because of the regulatory environment.

7c. Deloitte wants people to know that they consider every employee as a unique individual. At Deloitte there is a supportive environment which helps every individual to grow and reach their potential.

Reading 2

Policies: leafy campus, individual offices, free snacks, subsidised cafés, sports facilities, subsidised child care, early schooling (for employees’ children), free health care centre, ‘wellness’ programme with nutritionists and lifestyle education, intellectual challenges

Career Skills:

1. Shall we discuss how you could go about improving your performance?

2. Why have you sometimes found it difficult to meet your deadlines?

3. Is there anything that you’d like to mention about your working relationship with your colleagues?

4. How could we help you to manage your life outside work?

5. Are there any areas where you could use some extra training or support?

6. Would you like to receive some training to help you to manage your stress more effectively?

Listening 3

Interview 1

1.tense, uncomfortable, negative, not conducive to communication, disagreeable

2. unprofessional, conflict-ridden, discordant, frank

3. little or nothing: unproductive meeting

Interview 2

1. positive, professional

2. professional, formal, open, productive, constructive

3. identified problems and causes, found solutions, fixed objectives

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Reading 1

1. Paragraphs 3 and 4. He revamped customer service and reduced the workforce, which led to cost cutting and simplification of the structure. He scrapped TV advertising and outsourced to cheaper manufacturing markets. He renewed focus on research and development and introduced strict quality controls. Their staff university has developed many new more efficient materials.

2. Paragraph 5. Developing high performance materials helped them increase market share because they were able to meet strict hygiene demands in the US.

3. Paragraph 2. Complacency set in after the death in 1982 of Poerio Carpigiani, a smart marketing man and one of two brothers behind the firm. Quality fell, complaints rose and Carpigiani’s share of world sales slipped from 25% in 1980 to 15% in 1990.

4. Paragraph 6. Globalisation led to stiffer competition but also provides new market opportunities (helping to propagate a taste for genuine Italian ice-cream among China’s swelling middle class).

5. Paragraph 1. The firm is doing well with around half of the global market (over 100 countries) for ice cream makers.

6. Paragraph 3. He said the company had forgotten the importance of customer service and quality control and of being ahead of competition with new products

Vocabulary 1

A: stiffer competition, extravagance, complaints, complacency, stagnated

B: simplified, reinforce, scrapped, overhaul, cost-cutting

Vocabulary 2

counteract, overcome, reconsider, subcontract, outdate, redesign, subdivide, underestimate, degrade, relocate, undermanage, cooperate, underperform, undervalue devalue, mismanage, outperform, overact, overestimate, overvalue, react

Practice

1. counteract

2. complaints

3. stiffer competition

4. redesigning

5. relocating

6. reconsidering

7. underestimated

8. complacency

9. react

Usage

1

1d

2f

3c

4a

5h

6e

7b

8g

2

1.covering their tracks

2.to track him down

3.lost track of

4.a proven track record

5.are on the right track

6.back track

7.fast track

8.keep track of

Reading 2

1. Dell’s original strategy of providing a customised product, allowing customers to choose the features they liked, was very popular with corporate clients, particularly in the US. They kept supply chain costs to a minimum by only selling online.

2. Market forces changed. There was a shift in demand to the consumer market. New markets in the merging developing world were less comfortable with buying online. As PCs became more powerful, buyers could no longer be persuaded to add extra processing power or a bigger hard drive when they bought them – one of the firm’s specialities. Internal problems with customer service and accounting problems also contributed to the firm’s problems.

3. Set up a corporate website and blog, started selling in shops again.

4. Dell is making major cultural and process changes, which means its transformation corresponds to models A and B in the change matrix.

Language check

1 b

2 e

3 a

4 f

5 c

6 d

Practice

1. have been emerging/have emerged

2. is beginning

3. will be operating/will operate

4. was working/had been working

5. had become

6. have been pouring

7. have been soaring/are soaring

8. is coming

9. are reinventing/have reinvented

10. are looking

11. will be living

Career skills

1 b

2 a

3 d

4 f

5 c

6 e

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Reading 1

1. Paragraphs 3 and 4. He revamped customer service and reduced the workforce, which led to cost cutting and simplification of the structure. He scrapped TV advertising and outsourced to cheaper manufacturing markets. He renewed focus on research and development and introduced strict quality controls. Their staff university has developed many new more efficient materials.

2. Paragraph 5. Developing high performance materials helped them increase market share because they were able to meet strict hygiene demands in the US.

3. Paragraph 2. Complacency set in after the death in 1982 of Poerio Carpigiani, a smart marketing man and one of two brothers behind the firm. Quality fell, complaints rose and Carpigiani’s share of world sales slipped from 25% in 1980 to 15% in 1990.

4. Paragraph 6. Globalisation led to stiffer competition but also provides new market opportunities (helping to propagate a taste for genuine Italian ice-cream among China’s swelling middle class).

5. Paragraph 1. The firm is doing well with around half of the global market (over 100 countries) for ice cream makers.

6. Paragraph 3. He said the company had forgotten the importance of customer service and quality control and of being ahead of competition with new products

Vocabulary 1

A: stiffer competition, extravagance, complaints, complacency, stagnated

B: simplified, reinforce, scrapped, overhaul, cost-cutting

Vocabulary 2

counteract, overcome, reconsider, subcontract, outdate, redesign, subdivide, underestimate, degrade, relocate, undermanage, cooperate, underperform, undervalue devalue, mismanage, outperform, overact, overestimate, overvalue, react

Practice

1. counteract

2. complaints

3. stiffer competition

4. redesigning

5. relocating

6. reconsidering

7. underestimated

8. complacency

9. react

Usage

1

1d

2f

3c

4a

5h

6e

7b

8g

2

1.covering their tracks

2.to track him down

3.lost track of

4.a proven track record

5.are on the right track

6.back track

7.fast track

8.keep track of

Reading 2

1. Dell’s original strategy of providing a customised product, allowing customers to choose the features they liked, was very popular with corporate clients, particularly in the US. They kept supply chain costs to a minimum by only selling online.

2. Market forces changed. There was a shift in demand to the consumer market. New markets in the merging developing world were less comfortable with buying online. As PCs became more powerful, buyers could no longer be persuaded to add extra processing power or a bigger hard drive when they bought them – one of the firm’s specialities. Internal problems with customer service and accounting problems also contributed to the firm’s problems.

3. Set up a corporate website and blog, started selling in shops again.

4. Dell is making major cultural and process changes, which means its transformation corresponds to models A and B in the change matrix.

Language check

1 b

2 e

3 a

4 f

5 c

6 d

Practice

1. have been emerging/have emerged

2. is beginning

3. will be operating/will operate

4. was working/had been working

5. had become

6. have been pouring

7. have been soaring/are soaring

8. is coming

9. are reinventing/have reinvented

10. are looking

11. will be living

Career skills

1 b

2 a

3 d

4 f

5 c

6 e

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Listening 1

1. The media are subjecting businesses to greater scrutiny.

2. the gas leak in 1984 at the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, India, where the population was exposed to toxic gas, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989, when an oil tanker ran aground, causing massive pollution

3. Payments were made in both cases: in Bhopal $470 million, the equivalent of $400 per person, and in Alaska $500 million.

4. Companies are more aware of the potential dangers of some business activities and have to put strategies in place to minimise risk.

Speaking

It is very important to know how responsible a company is when you buy its products or services. A company’s social and environmental responsibility shows how much it cares about the planet and people, not only profit. By supporting responsible companies, we encourage fair labor, sustainable production, and the reduction of pollution and waste.

To find out whether the products you buy are environmentally friendly, you can:

Check for eco-labels (such as FSC, Energy Star, or EU Ecolabel).

Read the ingredients or materials on the packaging.

Look at the company’s website for sustainability reports or certifications.

Read customer reviews or independent research about the brand.

Making informed choices helps protect the environment and promotes a more sustainable future.

Reading 1

Paragraphs 1–3: Setting objectives; The name of the game; A little bit of everything

Paragraphs 4–6: Growth sector; Keeping watch; Getting greener

Paragraphs 7–9: Giving it away; Dealing with danger; Getting together

Paragraphs 10–12: Opportunity knocks; Unanswered questions; Making business sense

Reading 2

1. Nobody likes the label CSR; CSR includes a vast range of activities; CSR is booming.

2. Three components are mentioned: corporate philanthropy: allocating a percentage of profits to a worthy cause; risk management: companies can prepare strategies to minimise exposure to risk and to protect their reputations; business opportunity: CSR offers opportunities for businesses to develop new products and services.

Speaking 2

I believe that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an essential consideration for all businesses. Companies have a huge influence on society and the environment, so they should not focus only on profit but also on how their actions affect people and the planet. When businesses act responsibly — by reducing pollution, supporting communities,

and ensuring fair working conditions — they build trust and long-term loyalty among customers and employees.

Of course, making a profit is important for any company to survive, but doing good and being socially responsible can also lead to greater success. A good reputation attracts investors, customers, and talented workers, which ultimately helps a company grow in a sustainable way.

In my opinion, the best companies find a balance between profit and purpose — earning money while making a positive impact

Vocabulary 1

1 sustainable

2 accountability

3 triple-bottom-line

4 citizenship

5 carbon-neutral

6 transparency

Listening 2

Part 1

The internet: has led to increased scrutiny, risk to reputation

Environmentalism: the most dynamic area of CSR

Part 2

1 because it is perceived as being just a part of corporate communications

2 charitable works, volunteering, environmental activities

3 There is no real focus on what is relevant to the business or to shareholders.

Part 3

1 Businesses could fail as a result of concentrating on activities that aren’t profitable.

2 improve productivity to balance the impact of increasing wages and improving working conditions

Part 4

They may not be aware of the pressures that they are likely to face if they do not take CSR seriously; they may be in a business sector that is not currently under pressure to apply CSR and feel they have nothing to gain from it.

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