Ann is having lunch with her sister Barbara. Ann has just accepted a position as Administrative Assistant. Her boss is an executive with a firm that manufactures heavy machinery used in construction.
Barbara: You've got a new job, Ann. My congratulations.
Ann: Thanks, Barbara.
Barbara: Tell me a few words about your boss. What does he do?
Ann: Well, he is one of the vice presidents of the company, so he's rather important. He is an executive.
Barbara: Do you know the difference between an executive, a manager and an administrator?
Ann: I am afraid, I can hardly tell you the difference. I think these words are interchangeable and they really aren't different in many companies.
Barbara: What about your company?
Ann: In our company the top officers are called administrators. The next highest group - the vice presidents, the heads of major departments and branch plant managers - are executives like my boss.
Barbara: Is that all?
Ann: The group below consists of managers, they are general managers and foremen.
Barbara: So I see that an organization has a number of positions
and some people have more authority than others.
Ann: You are right.
Barbara: But it would be interesting to know more about the
functions of an executive like your boss.
Ann: I'd say he makes a lot of important decisions. He sets objectives, coordinates work, delegates authority, makes hiring, firing, evaluating and just general leading.
Barbara: It seems to be important.
Ann: It is important. It's evident that making careful decisions
is the basis of good management.
Barbara: But do you work under much pressure?
Ann: Barbara, you know I am quite used to working under pressure from my last job. I am also accustomed to lots of paper work and red tape.
Barbara: Good for you.
Ann: And what's more important I feel that I can learn a lot because my boss is very competent.
Barbara: Good, I think we'd be in a hurry not to get late for the work.
Notes
1. to work under pressure - работать по принуждению
2. to delegate authority - распределять обязанности
3. red-tape - зд. бюрократическая, канцелярская работа
Exercise 2. Your executive is a very tough man. What should his staff do to please him?
to be creative - быть с творческим отношением к делу
to be well-organized - быть хорошо организованным
to keep fit - держать себя в форме
to be punctual - быть пунктуальным
to be enthusiastic - быть энтузиастом
to obey the rules - подчиняться правилам
ТЕМА 3 (15 часов)
Read the text. Give Russian equivalents to the underlined words and word combinations.
