3. Read the portraits of managers in five different countries and decide which country each one corresponds to.

• Germany

• Poland

• Sweden

• The United Kingdom

• The United States

What are managers?

1. Managers from this country

• consider professional and technical skills to be very important.

• have a strong sense of authority.

• respect the different positions in the hierarchy of their companies.

• clearly define how jobs should be done.

• are very loyal to their companies, expect their subordinates to obey them.

• are often older than in other countries.

2. Managers from this country

- receive a general education.

- delegate authority.

- take a practical approach to management

- have relatively formal relationships at work.

- encourage their employees to work individually.

- believe it is important to continue education and training at work.

3. Managers from this country

- encourage their employees to take an interest in their work.

- pay close attention to the quality of working life.

- do not use as much authority as in other countries.

- appreciate low-level decision-making.

- are often women.

4. Managers from this country

- generally attend business schools.

- communicate easily and informally at work.

- admire the qualities of a leader.

- expect everyone to work hard.

- often accept innovation and change.

5. Managers from this country

- older managers hold technical degrees rather than business qualifications.

- work very long hours and expect their subordinates to do so.

- are extremely innovative, optimistic and determined.

- are quick to invest in the development of new products, market techniques and methods of production and distribution.

a) In groups, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to management, and say which one you would find the most attractive.

b) Do any of these profiles correspond to management practices in Russia? Make up a portrait of a typical Russian manager.

4. Read about management styles and then the stories of people from different countries about their bosses. Management styles

Top-down

All decisions are made by a few people in authority (at the top of the organisation) rather than by the people who are affected by the decisions.

Bottom-up All decisions are made by consulting and asking people who aren't managers or in charge of an organisation, and their ideas and thoughts influence decisions made at the top of the organization. Distant / remote A manager makes decisions alone or with other managers only and who communicates with employees in a one-way fashion. Open / approachable A manager is easy to talk to and communicates with employees in a two-way fashion (i.e. he talks as well as listens).

My beloved boss…

Elly, South Korea: I prefer the boss who is able to encourage and support the worker's ability in work. Also, he or she should make a decision on some issues and problems properly and promptly. The wise boss, who has the abilities above, can manage all about the atmosphere and efficiency for work.

Luisa, Brazil: I've already had both kinds of bosses. At my last job, my boss had a top-down approach. He was very distant, we hardly ever talked and when we did, he was stupid and yelled at the employees. But now, I've got a good boss. She is very rich now, but in the past, she was as poor as a church mouse, therefore she's not conceited. I like her very much, because she is very friendly and consider us (workers) to take her decisions.

Jacky, Germany: I have the best boss. He is intelligent, nice and always friendly. I'm his secretary, and I think we are a good team. The atmosphere at the office is very good. I like to be managed by a person who is respectable and reliable. Another important point for me is equity. A manager must not treat his employees in different ways. My boss is a directive type of manager, but he also likes to communicate and is open to suggestions. I can learn from him a lot. He is very strict in time management, and he is very self-disciplined.

Victoria, Singapore: The boss should have the listening ears to his subordinates. He should be a considerate person. The discipline is a good trait of character for the boss. The boss must be a respectable person. Then he can lead the team. He must be fair with every team member. He shouldn't side with anyone in the team. He should guide the newcomer to be able to catch up everything at the new workplace without pressing his subordinate.

Guthemberg, Austria:

I really appreciate a management style either approachable or bottom-up. He should be an easy one. I don't image someone who might desire differently. Nonetheless, such people are not normally chosen as managers. In general, essential leadership qualities such as drive, dynamism and vision are likely in manager candidates.

a) Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. Elly would like to have a boss who needs a lot of time to take a decision.

2. Elly thinks that the wise boss can make subordinates work effectively.

3. At her present job Luisa has a top-down approach manager.

4. Luisa didn’t like her last boss as he shouted at the subordinates.

5. Jacky and her boss cooperate with each other.

6. Jacky doesn’t like top-down kind of managers.

7. Victoria doesn’t believe there are understanding managers.

8. Victoria thinks that a good boss should make new employees feel at home.

9. Guthemberg approves of directive type managers.

10. Guthemberg believes that most managers are approachable.

b) Give the synonyms to the following words and expressions and make a story using them:

worker

to make a decision

issue

boss

quality of a person

c) Discuss what type of boss would you like to have and why.