Профессиональный английский язык для экономистов. Учебное пособие

HR managers will also:

plan and coordinate the workforce to best use employees’ talents;

resolve issues between management and employees;

advise managers on policies like equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment;

coordinate and supervise the work of specialists and staff;

oversee recruitment and hiring process;

direct disciplinary procedures.

Text II. Recruitment and training

An interview is the most common form of selection and it serves a very useful purpose for both employer and job candidate. The employers see:

information that cannot be obtained on paper from a CV or application form;

conversational ability ‒ often known as people skills;

natural enthusiasm or manner of applicant;

how applicant reacts under pressure;

queries or extra details missing from CV or application form.

The applicants see whether job or business is right for them, what the culture of company is like and also exact details of job.

Training provides employees with the knowledge and skills to perform more effectively, allows them to meet current job requirements, and prepares them to meet the inevitable changes that occur in their jobs. Training is used extensively to help employees understand how they can assist in meeting corporate objectives.

As soon as an employee starts working s/he gets induction training. Induction training is the training immediately received by an employee when he first joins an organization. The basic purpose of an induction program is the integration of new

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employees with the systems and processes in and across the organization. It also helps the new employees to settle down quickly by familiarizing themselves with the new environment of the organization.

Other types are divided into on-the-job and off-the job trainings.

On-the-job training (OJT) types are:

1.Job rotation: This training method involves movement of trainee from one job to another gain knowledge and experience from different job assignments. This method helps the trainee understand the problems of other employees.

2.Coaching: Under this method, the trainee is placed under a particular supervisor who functions as a coach in training and provides feedback to the trainee. Sometimes the trainee may not get an opportunity to express his ideas.

3.Job instructions: Also known as step-by-step training in which the trainer explains the way of doing the jobs to the trainee and in case of mistakes, corrects the trainee.

4.Committee assignments: A group of trainees are asked to solve a given organizational problem by discussing the problem. This helps to improve team work.

5.Internship training: Under this method, instructions through theoretical and practical aspects are provided to the trainees. Usually, students from the engineering and commerce colleges receive this type of training for a small amount of money.

Off-the-job types are:

1. Case study method: Usually case study deals with any problem confronted by a business which can be solved by an employee. The trainee is given an opportunity to analyze the case and come out with all possible solutions. This method can enhance analytic and critical thinking of an employee.

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2.Incident method: Incidents are prepared on the basis of actual situations which happened in different organizations and each employee in the training group is asked to make decisions as if it is a real-life situation. Later on, the entire group discusses the incident and takes decisions related to the incident on the basis of individual and group decisions.

3.Role play: In this case also a problem situation is simulated asking the employee to assume the role of a particular person in the situation. The participant interacts with other participants assuming different roles. The whole play will be recorded and trainee gets an opportunity to examine their own performance.

4.Business games: According to this method the trainees are divided into groups and each group has to discuss about various activities and functions of an imaginary organization. They will discuss and decide about various subjects like production, promotion, pricing etc. This gives result in co-operative decision making process.

5.Simulation: Under this method an imaginary situation is created and trainees are asked to act on it. For example, assuming the role of a marketing manager solving the marketing problems or creating a new strategy, etc.

6.Conferences: A meeting of several people to discuss any subject is called conference. Each participant contributes by analyzing and discussing various issues related to the topic. Everyone can express their own view point.

Text III. Motivation and communication in business

Motivation is factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal. There are four main characteristics of motivation.

Motivation is an internal feeling, a psychological concept which lies within a person. First of all, some needs appear in the mind of an individual which affect his behavior.

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Motivation produces goal-directed behavior, it is a power which leads the employees to the achievement of their goal. The behavior of the motivated employees clearly shows that they are inclined towards the achievement of their goal. For example, promotion is a technique of motivation. The employees who desire to be promoted definitely improve their work performance.

Motivation can be either positive or negative. The employees who are hardworking and encouraged with some awards are positively motivated. On the other hand, those workers who are by nature shirkers are encouraged to work with the threat of demotion, suspension or termination. Such people start working because of the fear factor. This is called negative motivation.

Motivation is a complex process. All the people working in an organization have different nature. All have different needs. Therefore, everybody cannot be motivated with only one motivator. Keeping in mind the needs of the person concerned, monetary and non-monetary techniques are used.

Communication is the process by which a message or information is exchanged from a sender to a receiver. It can be: internal (between people in the same business) and external (with people outside the business).

Internal communication is particularly important. It links together all the different activities involved in a business. It also aims to ensure that all employees are working towards the same goal and know exactly what they should be doing and by when.

External communication is where the business communicates with people & organizations outside of the business. This is linked with the idea of "stakeholders" – people who have an interest in the activities and results of the business.

There are many reasons why it is important for a business to achieve effective communication:

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it motivates employees – helps them feel part of business;

it is easier to control and coordinate business activity – prevents different parts of business going in opposite directions;

it makes successful decision making easier – decisions are based on more complete and accurate information;

better communication with customers will increase sales;

it improves chances of obtaining finance.

Effective communication requires messages to be conveyed clearly between communicators, but along the way there are many communication barriers that can create misunderstandings. They are:

too many intermediaries (e.g. too many layers in hierarchy through which message has to be passed);

geographical distance between a firm's offices, production plants or outlets;

communication overload – too much information can cause problems e.g. slow down decision making.

Vocabulary test

1. It is a job of HR personnel to recruit … candidates for a required position. a) similar; b) suitable; c) subordinate; d) submissive.

2. In order to master any skill an employee can be … for a professional seminar.

a) written; b) subscribed; c) checked out; d) enrolled.

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13. It is not an easy task to … barriers in communication. a) install; b) overtake; c) overcome; d) crush.

Translating

Use the following words and expressions:

senior manager ‒ главный менеджер

employee ‒ служащий

edge ‒ преимущество

training – подготовка

taking the position ‒ вступление в должность

to match the position – подходить к должности

current strategy – нынешняя стратегия

Каждый раз, когда компания назначает одного из главных менеджеров, который уходит из компании через короткий промежуток времени, фирма теряет не только время, но и значительную сумму денег. Умение выбрать правильного служащего с первого раза даёт компании большое преимущество перед конкурентами.

В некоторых случаях подготовка в компании перед вступлением в должность может помочь новому менеджеру привыкнуть к новой обстановке и адаптироваться к условиям, которые кажутся ему необычными.

Но гораздо лучше с первого внимательного взгляда на собеседовании угадать подходит ли служащий к данной должности, соответствует ли требованиям команды и нынешней стратегии компании. Предотвратить проблему всегда предпочтительнее, чем исправлять ее, когда менеджер уже занял высокую должность.

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b)a contract;

c)an enquiry;

d)an application.

6.“CV” stands for: a) cost variance; b) computer virus; c) credit value;

d) curriculum vitae.

7.A formal, systematic appraisal of the qualitative and quantitative aspects of an employee’s performance is called:

a)orientation;

b)remuneration;

c)performance analysis;

d)a performance evaluation.

8.Functions of HR Department include: a) setting up production methods;

b) buying equipment;

c) setting a price for the firm’s product; d) recruiting the staff.

9.The skills of a workforce can be improved through: a) advertising;

b) franchising; c) selecting; d) training.

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10. The first training a member of staff receives is called:

a)on-the-job;

b)off-the-job;

c)induction;

d)rotation.

Additional reading

Text IV. Types of teams in business

A team is a group of people with different skills and tasks, who work together on a common project, service, a goal with a mutual support.

Although there are specific types of team: project teams, operational teams, self-managed teams and communities of practice, it was acknowledged that, in practice, real teams tend to cross the boundaries between these types of team.

A project team consists of a group of people who come together as a distinct organizational unit in order to work on projects. The team is often led by a project manager, although project teams may also be self-managed. A contract team is typically brought in from outside an organization in order to perform the project work.

An operational team is formed to undertake some ongoing activities that are required for the provision of goods or services.

A self-managed team is a team in which the members take collective responsibility for ensuring that the team operates meets its targets. The benefits of a selfmanaged team include cost savings, innovation, effective decision making, increased productivity, improved customer satisfaction, commitment, motivation and increased compatibility between employers and employees.

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