What communication problems did gearbulk have
What communication problems did gearbulk have
COMMUNICATION – IT’S MUCH EASIER SAID THAT DONE
By Glare Gascoigne
Trust is key in an open organization.
Getting staff to talk to each other ought to be the least of your problems, but internal communication can be one of the hardest nuts to crack in business. “Communication comes up in every department. The repercussions of not communicating are vast,” says Theo Theobald, co-author of “Shut up and Listen!
The Truth About How to Communicate at Work.”
Poor communication can be a purely practical problem. Gearbulk, a global shipping business with branches around the world, faced language and geographical difficulties, as well as a huge amount of paperwork.
Installing an automated system means data is now entered only once but can be accessed by anyone in the company, whenever they are.
Given today’s variety of communication tools, it seems strange that we still have a problem communicating. But the brave new world of high-tech can create barriers – senior managers hide behind their computers, staff use voice mails to screen calls, and employees sitting next to each other will send e-mails rather than
speak. “Managers should get up, walk round the office and talk to people,” says Matt Rogan, Head of Marketing at Lane4, a leadership and communications consultancy. “Face-to-face communication can’t be beaten.
Another problem is simply hitting the “reply all” button, bombarding people with information. “We had unstructured data coming at staff from left, right and centre, leaving it up to individuals to sort out,” says Ramon Ferrer, Vice President
of Global IT AT Gearbulk. “Our new system has reduced e-mails and changed the way people work.”
Information overload also means people stop listening. But there may be a deeper reason why a message fails to get through, according to Alex Haslam, Professor of Psychology at Exeter University.
“Everyone thinks a failure to communicate is just an individual’s error of judgment, but it’s not about the person; it’s about the group a group dynamics,” he says. “Just training people to be good communicators isn’t the issue.”
The problem is that employees develop common loyalties that are far stronger that the need to share information. This can even extend to questions of safety.
A company is particularly at risk when cost-cutting is in the air. Individuals withdraw into departmental loyalties out of fear. Sending such people on yet another “how to communicate” course will be pointless. Instead, Haslam believes that identifying the subgroups within an organization and making sure each group feels valued and respected can do far more to encourage the sharing of information. The key to communication is trust’ he says.
Task 1. Complete the chart below.
A. High Tech B. Information overload C. Common loyalties
consequences consequence consequence
Task 2. Read the article again and answer the questions.
1. What communication problems did Gearbulk have?
2. How did Gearbulk overcome the problems?
3. What solutions does Theobald recommend for the above problems?
4. According to the author, why does staff often receive too many e-mails?
5. Why weren’t the two government departments (responsible for air safety) communicating?
6. What does the author think about sending people on communication
VOCABULARY.
1. Which word in each group does not form a word partnership with the first word?
1. waste time resources information
2. face trouble problems difficulties
3. duplicate information time work
4. install systems factories equipment
5. save money time experience
6. develop truth loyalty motivation
7. share support information resources
8. allocate time ideas resources
9. interrupt e-mails conversations meetings
LANGUAGE REVIEW. (optional)
A. Complete these idioms with the missing words from the box.
HOW COMMUNICATION BREAKS DOWN
| What the manager said | What the manager meant | What the subordinate heard |
| 1. I’ll look into hiring another person for your department as soon as I complete my budget review. | We’ll start interviewing for that job in about three week. | I’m tied up with more impor- tant things. Let’s forget about hiring for the indefinite future. |
| 2. Your performance was below par last quarter. I really expected more out of you. | You are going to have to try harder, but I know you can do it. | If you screw up one more time, you’re out. |
| 3. I’d like that report as soon as you can get it. | I need that report within the week. | Drop that rush order you are working on and fill out that report today. |
| 4. I talked to the boss but now, due to budget problems, we’ll be unable to fully match your competitive salary offer. | We can give you 95% of that offer, and I know we’ll be able to even more for you next year. | If I were you, I’d take that competitive offer. We’re certainly not going to pay that kind of salary to a person with your credentials. |
| 5. We have a job opening in Los Angeles that we think would be just your cup of tea. We’d like you to go out there and look it out. | If you‘d like that job, it’s yours. If not, you can stay here in Denver. You be the judge. | You don’t have to go out to LA, if you don’t want to. However, if you don’t, you can kiss goodbye to your career with this firm. |
| 6. Your people seem to be having some problems getting work out on time. I want you to look into this situation and straighten it out. | Talk to your people and find out what the problem is. Then get with them and jointly solve it. | I don’t care how many heads you bust, just get me that out. I’ve got enough problems around here without yours. |
3. Supposing you were Communications Manager in a large company, what advice would you give managers to avoid communications problems?
Write down a few of the suggestions you would make:
TEXT 3. Internal Communication.
1. Select three of the items below which, in your opinion, best contribute to improving communication.
open plan offices small teams
voice mail strong corporate identity
e-mail frequent meetings
mobile phones staff parties
2. Read the article and do the task below.
COMMUNICATION – IT’S MUCH EASIER SAID THAT DONE
By Glare Gascoigne
Trust is key in an open organization.
Getting staff to talk to each other ought to be the least of your problems, but internal communication can be one of the hardest nuts to crack in business. “Communication comes up in every department. The repercussions of not communicating are vast,” says Theo Theobald, co-author of “Shut up and Listen!
The Truth About How to Communicate at Work.”
Poor communication can be a purely practical problem. Gearbulk, a global shipping business with branches around the world, faced language and geographical difficulties, as well as a huge amount of paperwork.
Installing an automated system means data is now entered only once but can be accessed by anyone in the company, whenever they are.
Given today’s variety of communication tools, it seems strange that we still have a problem communicating. But the brave new world of high-tech can create barriers – senior managers hide behind their computers, staff use voice mails to screen calls, and employees sitting next to each other will send e-mails rather than
speak. “Managers should get up, walk round the office and talk to people,” says Matt Rogan, Head of Marketing at Lane4, a leadership and communications consultancy. “Face-to-face communication can’t be beaten.
Another problem is simply hitting the “reply all” button, bombarding people with information. “We had unstructured data coming at staff from left, right and centre, leaving it up to individuals to sort out,” says Ramon Ferrer, Vice President
of Global IT AT Gearbulk. “Our new system has reduced e-mails and changed the way people work.”
Information overload also means people stop listening. But there may be a deeper reason why a message fails to get through, according to Alex Haslam, Professor of Psychology at Exeter University.
“Everyone thinks a failure to communicate is just an individual’s error of judgment, but it’s not about the person; it’s about the group a group dynamics,” he says. “Just training people to be good communicators isn’t the issue.”
The problem is that employees develop common loyalties that are far stronger that the need to share information. This can even extend to questions of safety.
A company is particularly at risk when cost-cutting is in the air. Individuals withdraw into departmental loyalties out of fear. Sending such people on yet another “how to communicate” course will be pointless. Instead, Haslam believes that identifying the subgroups within an organization and making sure each group feels valued and respected can do far more to encourage the sharing of information. The key to communication is trust’ he says.
Task 1. Complete the chart below.
A. High Tech B. Information overload C. Common loyalties
consequences consequence consequence
Task 2. Read the article again and answer the questions.
1. What communication problems did Gearbulk have?
2. How did Gearbulk overcome the problems?
3. What solutions does Theobald recommend for the above problems?
4. According to the author, why does staff often receive too many e-mails?
5. Why weren’t the two government departments (responsible for air safety) communicating?
6. What does the author think about sending people on communication
VOCABULARY.
1. Which word in each group does not form a word partnership with the first word?
1. waste time resources information
2. face trouble problems difficulties
3. duplicate information time work
4. install systems factories equipment
5. save money time experience
6. develop truth loyalty motivation
7. share support information resources
8. allocate time ideas resources
9. interrupt e-mails conversations meetings
LANGUAGE REVIEW. (optional)
A. Complete these idioms with the missing words from the box.
Use a dictionary to know the words.
| point | bush | grapevine | stick | wavelength |
| wires | nutshell | picture | tail | purposes |
1) to put it in a ………………………………
2) to get straight to the ………………………
3) to hear it on the ………………………..….
4) to put you in the ……………………….….
5) to get the wrong end of the …………….…
6) to be on the same ……………………….
7) can’t make head or …………………….of it
8) to talk at cross……………………………..
9) to beat about the …………………………..
10) to get our …………………….……crossed
B. Which of the idioms in Ex. A mean the following?
a. to fail to understand anything …….
b. to share similar opinions and ideas ……
c. to summarize briefly ……
d. to misunderstand ….
e. to delay talking about something ……
f. to give the latest information …….
g. to talk about the most important thing …….
h. to hear about something passed from one person to
C. Complete the sentences with the idioms from Ex. A.
1. Ok, I’ll …………….……………. I’m afraid we’re going to have to let you go.
2. “You and your boss seem to agree on most things.”
3. I think we are …………………………..… I mean next month, not this month.
4. Some important decisions were taken at yesterday’s meeting. Let me …………
6. I ………………………………………………… that he’s been fired, is it true?
7. It’s a very complicated system, but to ………………………………………….. it works exactly like a big kettle.
8. If you think our biggest problem is market share then you have …………….…
9. This report makes no sense at all. I ………………………………..………….
D. Ask your partner the following questions.
1. What have you heard on the grapevine recently?
2. When was the last time you got the wrong end of the stick?
3. When is it necessary to put someone in the picture?
4. In what situations is it good to get straight to the point?
5. In what situations is it good to beat about bush?
6. Can you give an example of when you were talking at cross purposes?
7. Is there anything you can’t make head or tail of?
COMMUNICATION – IT’S MUCH EASIER SAID THAT DONE
By Glare Gascoigne
Trust is key in an open organization.
Getting staff to talk to each other ought to be the least of your problems, but internal communication can be one of the hardest nuts to crack in business. “Communication comes up in every department. The repercussions of not communicating are vast,” says Theo Theobald, co-author of “Shut up and Listen!
The Truth About How to Communicate at Work.”
Poor communication can be a purely practical problem. Gearbulk, a global shipping business with branches around the world, faced language and geographical difficulties, as well as a huge amount of paperwork.
Installing an automated system means data is now entered only once but can be accessed by anyone in the company, whenever they are.
Given today’s variety of communication tools, it seems strange that we still have a problem communicating. But the brave new world of high-tech can create barriers – senior managers hide behind their computers, staff use voice mails to screen calls, and employees sitting next to each other will send e-mails rather than
speak. “Managers should get up, walk round the office and talk to people,” says Matt Rogan, Head of Marketing at Lane4, a leadership and communications consultancy. “Face-to-face communication can’t be beaten.
Another problem is simply hitting the “reply all” button, bombarding people with information. “We had unstructured data coming at staff from left, right and centre, leaving it up to individuals to sort out,” says Ramon Ferrer, Vice President
of Global IT AT Gearbulk. “Our new system has reduced e-mails and changed the way people work.”
Information overload also means people stop listening. But there may be a deeper reason why a message fails to get through, according to Alex Haslam, Professor of Psychology at Exeter University.
“Everyone thinks a failure to communicate is just an individual’s error of judgment, but it’s not about the person; it’s about the group a group dynamics,” he says. “Just training people to be good communicators isn’t the issue.”
The problem is that employees develop common loyalties that are far stronger that the need to share information. This can even extend to questions of safety.
A company is particularly at risk when cost-cutting is in the air. Individuals withdraw into departmental loyalties out of fear. Sending such people on yet another “how to communicate” course will be pointless. Instead, Haslam believes that identifying the subgroups within an organization and making sure each group feels valued and respected can do far more to encourage the sharing of information. The key to communication is trust’ he says.
Task 1. Complete the chart below.
A. High Tech B. Information overload C. Common loyalties
consequences consequence consequence
Task 2. Read the article again and answer the questions.
1. What communication problems did Gearbulk have?
2. How did Gearbulk overcome the problems?
3. What solutions does Theobald recommend for the above problems?
4. According to the author, why does staff often receive too many e-mails?
5. Why weren’t the two government departments (responsible for air safety) communicating?
6. What does the author think about sending people on communication
VOCABULARY.
1. Which word in each group does not form a word partnership with the first word?
1. waste time resources information
2. face trouble problems difficulties
3. duplicate information time work
4. install systems factories equipment
5. save money time experience
6. develop truth loyalty motivation
7. share support information resources
8. allocate time ideas resources
9. interrupt e-mails conversations meetings
LANGUAGE REVIEW. (optional)
A. Complete these idioms with the missing words from the box.
Use a dictionary to know the words.
| point | bush | grapevine | stick | wavelength |
| wires | nutshell | picture | tail | purposes |
1) to put it in a ………………………………
2) to get straight to the ………………………
3) to hear it on the ………………………..….
4) to put you in the ……………………….….
5) to get the wrong end of the …………….…
6) to be on the same ……………………….
7) can’t make head or …………………….of it
8) to talk at cross……………………………..
9) to beat about the …………………………..
10) to get our …………………….……crossed
B. Which of the idioms in Ex. A mean the following?
a. to fail to understand anything …….
b. to share similar opinions and ideas ……
c. to summarize briefly ……
d. to misunderstand ….
e. to delay talking about something ……
f. to give the latest information …….
g. to talk about the most important thing …….
h. to hear about something passed from one person to
C. Complete the sentences with the idioms from Ex. A.
1. Ok, I’ll …………….……………. I’m afraid we’re going to have to let you go.
2. “You and your boss seem to agree on most things.”
3. I think we are …………………………..… I mean next month, not this month.
4. Some important decisions were taken at yesterday’s meeting. Let me …………
6. I ………………………………………………… that he’s been fired, is it true?
7. It’s a very complicated system, but to ………………………………………….. it works exactly like a big kettle.
8. If you think our biggest problem is market share then you have …………….…
9. This report makes no sense at all. I ………………………………..………….
D. Ask your partner the following questions.
1. What have you heard on the grapevine recently?
2. When was the last time you got the wrong end of the stick?
3. When is it necessary to put someone in the picture?
4. In what situations is it good to get straight to the point?
5. In what situations is it good to beat about bush?
6. Can you give an example of when you were talking at cross purposes?
7. Is there anything you can’t make head or tail of?
UNIT 3.
CROSS – CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING.
TEXT 1. Read the text below. Identify the basic message implied by the text.
Research EYE CONTACT.
Search for the In many Western societies, including the United
keywords “NVC” States, a person who does not maintain “good eye non-verbal com- contact” is regarded as being slightly suspicious,
munication) to learn or a “shifty” character. Americans unconsciously
more about this associate people who avoid eye contact as unfriendly
subject. insecure, untrustworthy, inattentive and impersonal.
However, in contrast, Japanese children are taught in school to direct their gaze at the region of their teacher’s Adam’s apple or tie knot, and, as adults, Japanese lower their eyes when speaking to a superior, a gesture of respect.
Latin American cultures, as well as some of African cultures, such as Nigeria, have longer looking time, but prolonged time contact from an individual of lower status is considered disrespectful. In the US, it is considered rude to stare- regardless of who is looking at whom. In contract, the polite Englishman is taught to pay strict attention to a speaker, to listen carefully, and to blink his eyes to let the speaker know he or she has been understood as well as heard. Americans signal interest and comprehension by bobbing their heads or grunting.
A widening of the eyes can also be interpreted differently, depending on circumstances and culture. Take, for example, the case of an American and a Chinese discussing the terms of a proposed contract. Regardless of the language in which the proposed contract is carried out, the US negotiator may interpret a Chinese person’s widened eyes as an expression of astonishment instead of as a danger signal (its true meaning) of politely expressed anger.
Ex.1. If necessary, read the text again. Then comment on the following:
(the Russian language is possible).
1. observations about many people from the US
2. observations about the English
3. an observation about Japanese children
4. the meaning of lowering one’s eyes in Japan
5. why looking at someone for a long time may be considered disrespectful
6. the meaning of widened eyes in Chinese culture.
Ex.2. Suggest some basic research that you should do before receiving your visitor or before traveling. What issues should you think about?
Ex.3. Compare your ideas from Ex.2 with the ideas given in the Checklist below.
SKILLS CHECKLIST
A. Before meeting business partners and fellow professionals from other countries, you could find out about their country:
a) the actual political situation
b) cultural and regional differences
d) the role of women in business and in society as a whole
e) transportation and telecommunications systems
g) the main companies
h) the main exports and imports
i) the market for the business sector which interests you
You might also want to find out:
a) which topics are safe for small talk
b) which topics are best avoid
B. If you are going to visit another country, find out about:
a) the conventions regarding socializing
b) attitudes towards foreigners
c) the extent to which public, business and private lives are missed or are kept
d) conventions regarding food and drink
e) attitudes towards gifts
C. You might also like to find out about:
b) public holidays
c) the conventions regarding working hours
d) leisure interests
f) body language
WRITING.
Make recommendations to your staff (in a written form) about cultural issues that may affect the communication.
TEXT 2.
1. The following text is about cultural diversity. Read it through once and decide which of the three statements (A, B or C) given below the extract offers the most accurate summary.
Механическое удерживание земляных масс: Механическое удерживание земляных масс на склоне обеспечивают контрфорсными сооружениями различных конструкций.
Организация стока поверхностных вод: Наибольшее количество влаги на земном шаре испаряется с поверхности морей и океанов (88‰).
Общие условия выбора системы дренажа: Система дренажа выбирается в зависимости от характера защищаемого.
Pramesti Cahyaningtiyas
Tugas Softskill Bahasa Inggris 1 Bulan Ke-3
UNIT 8 : COMPANIES
A. Do the Companies Quiz. Discuss your answers with partner. Then turn to page 137 to check your answers.
Page 79 : Leanguage Focus 1
A. Comeplate these sentences with the present continuous form of the verbs in bracket.
B. Complete the article about the food group Pret a Manger. Use the present continuous form of the words form the box.
The number of Pret a Manger (PaM) shops is increasing not only in London, but also in other parts of the UK. At present PaM is expending its overseas business, particularly in China. currently it is translateing its advertising material into chinese. PaM is exporting its winning formula to HongKong and Japan. PaM is planning to open new shops in New York.
Page 80: Vocabulary
A.These sentences describe two companies, Autotech and Green Fingers. Choose pairs of sentences which describe similar things and match them with the correct company.
A large car parts company
A small garden products company
B. Now underline the verbs which mean the same thing in each pair of sentences in the box in Exercise A.
Jhon Smith started Autotech in 1960
George and James Hawkins began Green Fingers in the 1920s
It has a workforce of 2,500
It employs about 35 people
Autotech exports to over 12 countries
Green fingers sells some of its products abroad
It manufactures car parts
It makes garden product
It launches twelve new products a year
It introduces one or two new components each year
Autotech provides components for the car industry
Green fingers supplies the gardening industry
Page 81 : Reading
A. What products do you think of when you see these brands?
B. Read the first paragraph of the article about LVMH and complete the fact file.
Read the first paragraph of the article about LVMH and complete the fact file
Head office : France
Number of stores : 1.500 stores
Products : accesories, watches, luggage, clothes
Number of brands : 60 brands
C. Answer these questions.
D. Mark each statement true or false.
Page 82 : Leanguage Focus 2
A. Underline the present simple or the present continuous form of the verb to complete these sentences.
B. Complete this article with the present simple or the present continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
THE INDITEX GROUP
The Inditex Group owns (own) six fashion chains including Zara. It has (have) around 1.500 stores worldwide. It operates (operate) in 44 countries. Inditex employs (employ) 27.000 people and has (have) more than 200 fashion designers.
Currently the fashion designers are working (work) on next year’s designs. The Inditex Group is doing (do) very well at the moment, and it is trying (try) to become a global fashion leader.
Amancio Ortega, the founder of Inditex, also invests (invest) in property and hotels. Most of this year’s investment staying (stay) in Spain.
UNIT 9 : THE WEB
How do you get started on the internet? First you log on (1). Then, a good way is to go to an efficient search engine (2), for example, Yahoo! Or Google. You type in a keyword (3) to show what you are looking for. Very quickly you receive a list of websites (4) to choose form. Sometimes the list is long enough to keep surfers (5) happy for many hours. When you find the right website, you can either download (6) information or print it out. If you download a file with a virus in it, your computer may crash (7).
Tick the plans below which are true for you, add four more plans to each list
Page 95: Vocabulary 2 time expression
Page 95: Language focus 2 will
| Carat Hotel & Resort To : Mr. Taehyung Kim From : Mrs. Rami Hwang Date : 21 November 2016 Subject : Confirmation Thank you for your reservation in the their hotel Replay E-Mail soon as possible. We look forward your visit. Regards Mrs. Rami Hwang Advance Reservation UNIT 10 : JOBS I think had I had / have had an intersting career. I studied / have studied at Oxford University from 1997 to 2000. Then I applied / have applied for jobs abroad. I worked / have worked in HongKong for a year, and then I went / have been to japan in 2001. I did / have done a number of different jobs. I sold / have sold computer software in HongKong. I taught / have taught English in Japan. I wrote / have a wrriten a book, and I ran / have run my own business. Twice For two hours √ Last year This afternoon Since 2 o’clock √ At 2 o’clock Two weeks ago Recently UNIT 11 : COMMUNICATION Select three of the items below which, in your opinion, best contribute to improving communication. rather than speak Pramesti CahyaningtiyasTugas Softskill Bahasa Inggris 1 Bulan Ke-3UNIT 8 : COMPANIES A. Do the Companies Quiz. Discuss your answers with partner. Then turn to page 137 to check your answers. Page 79 : Leanguage Focus 1 A. Comeplate these sentences with the present continuous form of the verbs in bracket. B. Complete the article about the food group Pret a Manger. Use the present continuous form of the words form the box. The number of Pret a Manger (PaM) shops is increasing not only in London, but also in other parts of the UK. At present PaM is expending its overseas business, particularly in China. currently it is translateing its advertising material into chinese. PaM is exporting its winning formula to HongKong and Japan. PaM is planning to open new shops in New York. Page 80: Vocabulary A.These sentences describe two companies, Autotech and Green Fingers. Choose pairs of sentences which describe similar things and match them with the correct company. A large car parts company A small garden products company | |
| Jhon Smith started Autotech in 1960 | George and James Hawkins began Green Fingers in the 1920s |
| It has a workforce of 2,500 | It employs about 35 people |
| Autotech exports to over 12 countries | Green fingers sells some of its products abroad |
| It manufactures car parts | It makes garden product |
| It launches twelve new products a year | It introduces one or two new components each year |
| Autotech provides components for the car industry | Green fingers supplies the gardening industry |
B. Now underline the verbs which mean the same thing in each pair of sentences in the box in Exercise A.
Jhon Smith started Autotech in 1960
George and James Hawkins began Green Fingers in the 1920s
It has a workforce of 2,500
It employs about 35 people
Autotech exports to over 12 countries
Green fingers sells some of its products abroad
It manufactures car parts
It makes garden product
It launches twelve new products a year
It introduces one or two new components each year
Autotech provides components for the car industry
Green fingers supplies the gardening industry
Page 81 : Reading
A. What products do you think of when you see these brands?
B. Read the first paragraph of the article about LVMH and complete the fact file.
Read the first paragraph of the article about LVMH and complete the fact file
Head office : France
Number of stores : 1.500 stores
Products : accesories, watches, luggage, clothes
Number of brands : 60 brands
C. Answer these questions.
D. Mark each statement true or false.
Page 82 : Leanguage Focus 2
A. Underline the present simple or the present continuous form of the verb to complete these sentences.
B. Complete this article with the present simple or the present continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
THE INDITEX GROUP
The Inditex Group owns (own) six fashion chains including Zara. It has (have) around 1.500 stores worldwide. It operates (operate) in 44 countries. Inditex employs (employ) 27.000 people and has (have) more than 200 fashion designers.
Currently the fashion designers are working (work) on next year’s designs. The Inditex Group is doing (do) very well at the moment, and it is trying (try) to become a global fashion leader.
Amancio Ortega, the founder of Inditex, also invests (invest) in property and hotels. Most of this year’s investment staying (stay) in Spain.
UNIT 9 : THE WEB
How do you get started on the internet? First you log on (1). Then, a good way is to go to an efficient search engine (2), for example, Yahoo! Or Google. You type in a keyword (3) to show what you are looking for. Very quickly you receive a list of websites (4) to choose form. Sometimes the list is long enough to keep surfers (5) happy for many hours. When you find the right website, you can either download (6) information or print it out. If you download a file with a virus in it, your computer may crash (7).
Tick the plans below which are true for you, add four more plans to each list
Page 95: Vocabulary 2 time expression
Page 95: Language focus 2 will