1. Complete the sentences with the words from the box. The first sentence has been done for you.

another the other the others other others

1. Please give me another copy of the financial report.

2. Some people say that doing something rewarding and enjoyable is what makes people happy at work, __ state that it is still earning a competitive salary.

3. I can see only five samplings out of eight promised! Where are __ ones?

4. It will take us __ three month to develop a strategy that may link a website and a mail-order catalogue.

5. There are five general managers in their department: three of them are responsible for recruitment and selection, __ organize on the job training sessions and keep the staff updated with latest market trends.

6. Some companies believe that the more they are involved in the lives of their employees, the greater their (employees’) company loyalty is, while __ companies think that only a pay rise or a competitive salary can retain people at work.

7. There are two possible ways to recruit a new marketing director within the organization: the first one is a job posting and __ one is a search of existing files.

8. I think we should choose __ package design for this product to increase our brand awareness.

9. Sorry, I have no time now, let’s discuss the amount of remuneration __ day.

10. According to the survey, there are three basic customer groups: the first one, men aged 20-30, is quite satisfied with the current product range, while __ , teenagers and women aged 20 -30, would like us to provide a wider product range.

2. Underline the correct word. The first sentence has been done for you.

1. How much/many information do we have about this company?

2. I told you much/many times that we needed a little/little time before introducing a new recruitment scheme.

3. They are making a little/a few progress although they have many/much cash flow problems.

4. There are only a few/ only few employees who we can reassign from other projects to help you for a few/a little hours this week.

5. In our factory there’s few/little machinery that can be used for handling very heavy loads.

6. This manufacturer provides containers in many/much versions and sizes at a reasonable price.

7. One of the reasons why a few/so few people get to a win-win situation fast is their unwillingness to make concessions.

8. Mostly they specialize in clothes delivery from the USA, but they also sell few/little clothes from Canada.

9. Our Japanese client spoke little/a little English, so we were able to communicate with him while waiting for a translator.

10. I know it inside out we’ve been operating in this market for a lot of/many/much years.

3. Complete the sentences with quantity (of), number (of), amount (of), level (of), figures. The first sentence has been done for you.

1. The number of female managers in companies increased last year.

2. There has been a decrease in the __ of money got from e-commerce.

3. The graph shows the __ of companies that entered the international market in 2006.

4. The population __ for China are predicted to overtake those for India in the next 20 years.

5. The __ of unemployment is predicted to increase in developing countries next year.

6. Increasing __ of business angels are ready to give financial support to Russia start-ups.

7. Because of the government ban a smaller __ of fish will be supplied to Russia from Europe.

8. The company widened its product range and stepped up production following an increase in consumption __ .

9. Sales __ for 2013 fluctuated at the level of 430, being lower at the beginning of the period than at the end.

10. Our company has ordered a large __ of new lifting machinery.

Reading 2⁶¹

Read the text and summarize it in 100 words. Discuss the ways of dealing with customers who are unwilling to pay.

Payment Problems

In international trade, problems involving bad debts are more easily avoided than rectified after they occur. Credit checks and the other methods that have been discussed can limit the risks involved. Nonetheless, just as in a company's domestic business, exporters occasionally encounter problems with buyers who default on payments. When these problems occur in international trade, obtaining payment can be both difficult and expensive. Even when the exporter has insurance to cover commercial credit risks, a default by a buyer still requires time, effort, and cost. The exporter must exhaust all reasonable means of obtaining payment before an insurance claim is honored, and there is often a significant delay before the insurance payment is made.

The simplest (and least costly) solution to a payment problem is to contact and negotiate with the customer. With patience, understanding, and flexibility, an exporter can often resolve conflicts to the satisfaction of both sides.

This point is especially true when a simple misunderstanding or technical problem is to blame and there is no question of bad faith. Even though the exporter may be required to compromise on certain points - perhaps even on the price of the committed goods - the company may save a valuable customer and profit in the long run.

If, however, negotiations fail and the sum involved is large enough to warrant the effort, a company should obtain the assistance and advice of its bank, legal counsel, and other qualified experts. If both parties can agree to take their dispute to an arbitration agency, this step is preferable to legal action, since arbitration is often faster and less costly. The International Chamber of Commerce handles the majority of international arbitrations and is usually acceptable to foreign companies because it is not affiliated with any single country.

Case study

Read the text and discus ways how to solve this case.

Community Organizing & Social Change⁶²

You are a community organizer working to address some major social problems in your community. You live in a large urban neighborhood in Minneapolis that is strongly stratified by class. The houses on the Southern side of your neighborhood are quite dilapidated, crime is rampant, vital businesses and jobs are scarce, and the neighborhood is in need of revitalization. Most people in this section of the neighborhood make a median income below the poverty line. The Northern side of the neighborhood is more affluent. There are numerous businesses within walking distance, crime has generally remained minimal, and there is a Neighborhood Watch program in place.

Recently, the local news media has exposed an upsurge in crime in the entire neighborhood. A housing crisis is occurring, drug use in the community is extensive and progressively visible, and the school district is in shambles after dropout rates have surged and teacher retention has dwindled. Community members on both the Northern and Southern ends of the neighborhood have increasingly expressed concern about the state of their community. There is a neighborhood organization in place; but all regular members are upper-middle class, and most neighborhood projects and initiatives focus on beautifying the Northern section of town.

Community members from the Southern part of town have recently expressed anger and frustration about their lack of status in community operations. Local government representatives are deliberating on whether or not to install a community-policing program in the community or to explore other options. The housing crisis is becoming a wide-scale dilemma, now affecting the middle class and not simply impoverished community members. All families are concerned about the poor resources in their schools and the lack of quality educators. The existing neighborhood group now realizes that they have a crucial role in rallying ALL community members to address the various problems facing the community, and they must come up with some solutions before the upcoming community meeting.

Translation

Translate the sentences focusing on the underlined terms.

Storage

1. Storage life or shelf life is the storage time under specified conditions during which a material may be expected to retain its essen­tial properties, for example working properties and specified strength.

2. Warehouse shed is specifically designed for receipt, storage, material handling, reconditioning and shipping of sales products.

3. Distribution center is entrusted with the implementation of the receipt of goods from one or more suppliers; the storage of goods; the distribution of goods to several customers.

4. The physical functions of logistics is handling the goods flow from the receipt of material to the delivery of the finished product such as receipt, storage, internal transport, work issue, packing.

5. By split delivery a larger quantity is ordered on a purchase order to secure a lower price, but delivery is split into smaller quantities and spread out over several dates to control inventory investment, save storage space, etc.

Warehouse

1. A public warehouse is available to all companies and persons who wish to make use of the services offered.

2. Warehousing is the activity of holding and handling goods and re­conditioning their packaging in a store, therefore including internal transport within an operational unit.

3. Physical distribution includes freight transportation, warehousing, material handling, protective packaging, inventory control, plant and warehouse site selection, order processing, marketing forecasting and customer service.

4. A reserve is a certain amount of the capacity of a resource (warehouse, store, means of transport, production resource).

5. In a bonded warehouse goods are not yet cleared by the customs and are stored until duties are paid or until these goods are otherwise properly released.

Writing

1. Describe a financial cycle using the notes below. Write at least 150 words.

- resource allocation – operating, monitoring, safeguarding – evaluation and reporting – planning and budgeting -

2. Data security is a major issue of concern in the financial services industry, with huge potential liabilities. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Write an essay and explain your position by providing arguments and examples. Write at least 250 words.

Culture

Differences in business culture between Japan and the West⁶³

Read the text and discuss the following questions:

1. What are the features of the Western and Eastern mentality?

2. What facts about the Japanese business culture may be surprising for the Europeans?

3. Use all the four points of the text to describe Russian business traditions.