Companies

premises – помещение, производственные площади

to run a company – руководить компанией

to dominate - управлять, контролировать, доминировать

shareholders– акционеры

the day-to-day running of the firm – повседневное руководство фирмой

hierarchical – иерархический

multinationals – транснациональные компании / корпорации

business entity – экономическая / производственная единица

perform services for fee – предоставлять услуги за плату

merchandising companies – торговые компании

There may be occasions when you have to talk about the company you work for. This may be when you’re actually showing someone around the place of work or premises. Or you may need to explain to someone how your company or your department is organized, who is responsible for different aspects of the business and how the company is run.

Companies are very important part of a country’s economy. Businesses produce goods and services, and come in every shape and size. Although the vast majority of the world’s companies are small, in many countries the economy is dominated by large firms. Large businesses differ from small ones in a wide variety of ways. In many countries there are nationalized companies belonging to the state, as well as private companies. A private company might be a small firm with only one owner or with thousands of shareholders “owning” the firm.

In a very large firm the shareholders have very little to do with the day-to-day running of the firm. This is left to the management. Large companies may be organized into several large departments, sometimes even divisions. The organizational structure of some companies is very hierarchical with a board of directors at the top and the various departmental heads reporting to them.

Some firms may only produce one good or service. Others may produce many different products. As a company gets bigger it may expand geographically. Many large firms are multinationals with manufacturing plants and trading locations in several different countries spread around the world.

A business organization is often referred to as a business entity. A business entity is any business organization that exists as an economic unit. Business entities can be grouped according to the type of business activity they perform.

• Service companies perform services for fee. This group includes companies such as an

accounting firms, law firms, repair shops, and many others.

• Merchandising companies purchase goods that are ready for sale and sell them to

customers. They include clothing stores, supermarkets, and so on.

• Manufacturing companies buy materials, convert them into products, and then sell the

products to the companies or to the final customer. Examples are auto manufacturers,

food processing plants, and so on.

WORD STUDY

Ex. 1. Match the words with their definitions.

_____ nationalized company	a. a large business company operating in several countries
_____ to expand	b. to change the form, character, or function of smth.
_____ a firm	c. a system of persons or things arranged in a graded order
_____ hierarchy	d. any commercial enterprise
_____ premises	e. a company put under state control or ownership
_____ fee	f. a specialized division of a large company
_____ multinational	g. a part of business that has been made into a unit for production, administrative or other reasons
_____ department	h. a piece of land together with its buildings, especially considered as a place of business
_____ to convert	i. to make or become greater in extent, volume, or size

_____ division j. a payment asked by professional people or public

servants for their services

Ex. 2. Find in the text English equivalents to the following words and word-combinations.

1. совет директоров _________________________________

2. начальники отделов _______________________________

3. расширяться географически ________________________

4. производственное предприятие _____________________

5. места продажи ____________________________________

6. превращать сырьё в изделие _________________________

7. конечный потребитель _____________________________

8. организационная структура _________________________

9. бухгалтерская фирма ______________________________

10. заводы по производству пищевой продукции _________

11. огромное большинство ____________________________

12.места ведения торговой деятельности ________________

Ex. 3. What are the synonyms from the text to the words and word-combinations in italics.

1. As a company gets bigger it may spread out geographically.

2. Large businesses vary from small ones in a wide variety of styles.

3. Service companies render services for fee.

4. In many countries there are publicly-owned companies belonging to the state.

5. Manufacturing companies buy materials and transform them into products.

6. You may need to explain to someone who is in charge of different aspects of the business and

how the company is managed.

7. Some companies may only manufacture one good or service.

8. A private company might be a small firm with thousands of stockholders “owning” the firm.

9. Businesses produce goods and services, and may be of different shape and size.

10. Who is in charge of different aspects of the business

Ex. 4. Match the two halves of the sentences.

1. In a very large firms the shareholders have very little to do	a. and come in every shape and size.
2. A private company might be a small firm with	b. it may expand geographically
3. A business entity is any business organization	c. with the day-to-day running of the firm.
4. Although the vast majority of the world’s companies are small,	d. in a wide variety of ways.
5. As a company gets bigger	e. of a country’s economy.
6. Large businesses differ from small ones	f. that exists as an economic unit.
7. Companies are very important part	g. thousands of shareholders “owning” the firm.
8. Businesses produce goods and services,	h. in many countries the economy is dominated by large firms.

COMPREHENSION

Ex. 5. Answer the questions.

1. What kind of firms is the economy dominated by in many countries?

2. Can a small company be a private firm?

3. Do the shareholders have anything to do with the day-to-day running of the company?

4. Why is the organizational structure of some companies very hierarchical?

5. What does “a multinational company” mean?

6. What is a business entity?

7. What groups can be business entities grouped into?

8. What services do the service companies perform?

9. Give the examples of merchandising companies.

10. What business activities do manufacturing companies perform?

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