English for Small Business Management. В. В. Мороз

Exercise 8. Remember the difference in the meaning

      1.4.9 Exercise 9.

      Complete each sentence with a passive verb. You may need a negative form.

      1. Somebody damaged the goods in transit. The goods __________ in transit.

      2. Thousands of people see this advert every day. This advert ___________ by thousands of people every day.

      3. They will not finish the project by the end of the month. The project __________ by the end of the month.

      4. They have closed fifty retail outlets over the last year. Fifty retail outlets ___________ over the last year.

      5. We are reviewing all of our IT systems. All of our IT systems ____________.

      6. We cannot ship your order until we receive payment. Your order __________ until we receive payment.

      1.4.10 Exercise 10.

      Open the brackets, use the verbs in the Passive. Pay attention to the time.

      1. I don’t think your proposal (to accept) at the next meeting.

      2. The company (to found) by the father of the present chairman in 1950.

      3. All our machines (to service) by highly trained technicians.

      4. The machine isn’t working again! It (to repair) yesterday by the technician.

      5. Last year the conference (to open) by someone from London Business School.

      6. I (to show) round the factory by someone, and then I’ll meet the sales team.

      1.4.11 Exercise 11.

      Rewrite the sentences using the passive where possible. You may need a negative form.

      1. Our R&D department has discovered a promising drug.

      2. The inflation rate went down by 0.5 % last month.

      3. One of our best young designers created this line.

      4. I’m sorry, we can’t do that.

      5. Something very interesting happened to me last week.

      6. We’re spending more than one million dollars on advertising this year.

      7. The Accounts Department may not authorise this payment.

      8. I worked as a consultant for four years after my MBA.

      1.4.12 Exercise 12.

      A marketing manager is writing a training manual that explains how the company uses questionnaires to do market research. Complete the text by putting the verbs from the list below into the present simple passive.

      First, we carefully select a sample people to ask. Then the questions ______ by a small team within the department. Next, the questions ______ into sequence and grouped together by topic. After that, we print questionnaire and it _______ to everyone in the sample. Of course, not all the forms __________ to us, but we try to collect as many as possible.

      Sometimes, a small gift ________ to people who return the forms, as an incentive. Finally we enter all the results onto a spreadsheet, and the information ______ by the marketing department. If we are using a very large sample the distribution and collection _________ to an external company.

      1.4.13 Exercise 13.

      Complete the second sentence so it has a similar meaning to the first sentence.

      1. David Gill from Marketing lent me this book.

      I _________ this book by David Gill from Marketing.

      2. This sample was given to me at the Trade Fair.

      _______________________ the sample at the Trade Fair.

      3. They promised us delivery within two weeks of our order.

      We ____________ within two weeks of our order.

      4. A textile firm near Milan made this fabric for us.

      _______________ for us by a textile firm near Milan.

      5. This order was sent to us through our website.

      _____________ this order through our website.

      6. My secretary booked the flight for me.

      ___________ for me by my secretary.

      1.4.14 Exercise 14.

      Complete the report by putting the verbs into the present perfect active or passive.

      1. Brasil ________ (transform) from an economy based on sugar and coffee into a leading industrial power, and this ______ (happen) over a relatively short time period.

      2. Over recent years inflation ________ (bring) under control, and foreign direct investment __________ (encourage).

      3. The Government ____________ (privatise) many state-owned companies, and they ____________ (also/invest) a lot of money in advanced infrastructure.

      4. In an attempt to decentralize the economy, Campinas was chosen to be Brazil’s IT capital, and car production ______________ (move) away from traditional centres to states such as Rio Grande do Sol in the south.

      5. No one pretends that all the old problems _________ (solve), but Brazil is finally taking its place on the world stage.

      1.4.15 Exercise 15.

      Discuss the factors that make the family business unique

      – Family members have a special involvement in a family business.

      – Business interests (production and profitability) overlap family interests (care and nurturing) in a family business.

      – The advantages of a family business include a strong commitment of family members and focus on people, quality, and long-term goals.

      1.4.16 Exercise 16. Explain the cultural context of the family business

      – Special patterns of belief and behavior constitute the family business culture.

      – The founder often leaves a deep imprint on the culture of a family firm.

      1.4.17 Exercise 17.

      Outline the complex roles and relationships involved in a family business

      – A primary relationship is that between founder and son or daughter.

      – Some couples in business together find their relationship with each other strengthened, while others find it weakened.

      – Sons, daughters, in-laws, and other relatives may experience collaboration or conflict with other relatives.

      1.4.18 Exercise 18.

      Identify management practices that enable a family business to function effectively

      – Good management practices are very important in a family business.

      – Family members should be treated fairly and consistently in accordance with their ability and performance.

      – Motivation of nonfamily employees can be enhanced by open communication and fairness.

      – Family retreats bring all family members together to discuss business and family matters.

      – Family councils provide a formal framework for the family's ongoing discussion of family and business issues.

      1.5 Experiential exercises

      1 Interview a student who has grown up in a family business about the way he or she may have been trained or educated, both formally and informally, for entry into the business. Prepare a brief report, relating your findings.

      2 Interview another student who has grown up in a family business about parental attitudes toward his or her possible entry into the business. Submit a one-page report describing the extent of pressure on the student to enter