Nouns
constraint ; ,
deviation ( , , )
hazard ,
objective ;
port ( )
starboard ()
Adjectives
clear-cut ; , ,
subject to ; , (-.)
Verbs
anticipate , ; , , ,
fancy ,
imply , , ,
I. Complete the sentences with the following words:
hazards, anticipate,clear-cut functions, deviations, orders, decision-making, freedom, targets, constraints
1. A manager gives and tells other people what to do.
2. Sometimes they are given considerable to achieve the in the way they see best.
3. When you drive a car you look as far ahead as you can to see what lie ahead.
4. A manager who is able to problems has more chance of coping with them.
5. The manager has to keep the targets clearly in mind when he is involved in the process.
6. Subject to these a manager has certain .
7. Progress towards the targets needs to be monitored and any corrected.
II. Read the text and entitle it.
So you fancy yourself as a manager? You are not alone in having that ambition. What does it mean to be a manager? I suppose the first thought that comes to mind is that a manager gives orders and tells other people what to do. That is partly true. But it is not quite as simple as that. In fact, managers have to take orders as much as anyone else. The term executive actually implies executing orders - orders perhaps not under their power to influence.
Every business has to decide where it is going. What it is trying to achieve. Words like objectives and targets are used in management theory. Whether these targets are related to items such as sales or budgets, they are broken down into sub-targets as they go further down the organizational hierarchy. The managers at the various levels in the structure are given these targets or objectives to achieve. Sometimes they are given considerable freedom to achieve the targets in the way they see best. Sometimes their independence is limited, perhaps very limited.
Subject to these constraints a manager has certain clear-cut functions. First, he has to plan - to look ahead - to anticipate. When you drive a car you look as far ahead as you can to see what hazards lie ahead. If you see some children playing in the road ahead you start to slow down, check your breaks are working and generally watch for trouble. What would you think of a driver who kept his eyes on the road - six feet in front of his bonnet? A manager who is able to anticipate problems has more chance of coping with them.
Another function of managers is to control. We have already seen that managers are expected to achieve targets of some sort or another. The manager has to keep these targets clearly in mind when he is involved in the decision-making process. Progress towards the targets needs to be monitored and any deviations corrected. It is a bit like the captain of a liner sailing across the Atlantic to New York. Every now and again he will check to see whether or not the ship is on course. If it is beginning to drift to port or starboard he has to bring it back onto course. That is what we mean by control. Managers are expected to get results of one sort or another, in one way or another, but they get their results through people. The manager of the England football team never kicks a ball in an international football match, but he is expected to get the best out of his team. Everyone in the team is expected to co-operate to get the ball in the back of the opposing team's net. All have to be persuaded to pull together - in the same direction. In management terminology this aspect of a manager's work is called coordination.
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III. Choose key words and phrases from each paragraph which best describe the atmosphere and its meaning.
IV. Write down possible headlines which best express the main idea of each paragraph.
V. Give the main points of the text in 8-10 sentences.
