VIII. Correct the mistakes in each sentence.

1. Coca-Cola has operate outside the U.S. since 1897, at first with only marginal competition from Pepsi, and in the process it have become the world’s best-known trademark. 2. Coca-Cola can thanks the U.S. government for its success abroad.

3. Pepsi get its international marketing break in 1959. 4. Both company are going to make their products more available. 5. Coca-Cola have been the number one soft drink in France since 1966. 6. French consumers drink an averages 88 servings of Coca-Cola products each year.

Troubleshooting.

1. Read and memorize the following words and combinations.

Competitive конкурентоспроможний

To compete конкурувати

Objective мета

To anticipate problems передбачати

To avoid problems уникати проблеми

Reduce the pressure зменшувати тиск

II. Read and translate the following text.

Solving problems is very important in business because business is competitive in terms of time and in terms of money. Whenever a company tries to compete with another company, it tries to get a new product out quickly and often it tries to do it without spending too much money. Problems, when they arise, cost money and they waste time.

There are some particular areas which ate typical trouble spots. Starting at the beginning of a project, people often don’t plan effectively. You can never plan early enough, especially in a large and complex project. Part of that planning involves making sure that everyone on the project understands his or her role; and that the objectives of the project are regularly reviewed, so that everybody understands how the project is going to meet the needs of the market and whether it is still relevant. Everyone has a role in troubleshooting and anticipating problems and it isn’t only a managerial skill. Everybody at whatever level, should make sure that they ask the right questions and try to anticipate problems and raise those problems with their managers and with their colleagues at regular review intervals. It’s very important that a project team communicates well within itself and also to people outside the team.

In order to avoid problems happening, you should be realistic in a number of people working on the project, the cost of the project and its size. When you put pressure on a project because you don’t have enough people working on it, or you are spending too much money, you create problems. Pressure means problems, so to avoid problems, reduce the pressure.

Sometimes companies realize that they are not achieving their goals or objectives effectively, that is, they are not getting the results they need. In this case they have to re-plan their strategy. It can be useful to get an outsider, e.g. a management consultant, to analyze the company’s performance and recommend changes to make it more efficient. A SWOT analysis can be useful, that is, an analysis of the company’s strengths (S) and weaknesses (W) and also of the opportunities (O) and threats (T) that face the company. SWOT analysis is a tool which helps to monitor how well a company is doing within its economic environment. It assesses performance not just in the company’s own terms, but against other similar firms. The information helps managers plan and make strategic decisions about the future of the company. The following is a suggestion for the SWOT. Other variants are possible. Often a weakness (such as low profits) can be viewed as an opportunity (e.g. to improve sales); a strength (such as being a market leader) could offer a threat (e.g. of take- over); and a strength (such as a company with a lot of experience) can be an opportunity (e.g. to expand the business), etc.

Troubleshooting, or solving problems, is a necessary part of running the company.

III. Complete the sentences with words and phrases from the text.

1. Business is competitive in terms of …. and ….

2. Problems can …. money and …. time.

3. At the beginning of a project often people don’t …….

4. Planning helps to make sure that everybody …

5. In a project everybody should make sure that they … and try to …. problems.

IV. Make the following sentences negative and interrogative.

1. Our project team communicates well. 2. You should try to have a democratic spirit in a project. 3. He was realistic about the cost of the project. 4. I have some tips for solving problems. 5. Profits can be excellent for a successful company.

V. Find the mistake in each sentence.

1. Solving problems are very important in business. 2. Everyone have a role in troubleshooting. 3. Do you have some tips for solving problems? 4. Companies should to use a troubleshooter. 5. We are lose our reputation as a first-class agency. 6. When you put pressure on a project you creates problems. 7. Problems can to cost money.

VI. Here is some advice on how to deal effectively with problems.

Which advice do you follow? Choose the number.

1. Don’t avoid a problem, deal with it.

2. Don’t see all problems as other people’s problems. Focus on yourself.

3. Don’t blame people, look for solutions.

4. Look at a problem as an opportunity – to learn something or to achieve something.

5. Think ahead to prevent problems.

6. When something is important, deal with it. Don’t wait until it becomes urgent.

7. Don’t always look for ‘quick fixes’, or temporary solutions. Identify the real cause of the problem and work to find a solution to this.

8. Don’t try to change the things you can’t change. Learn to accept them.