Английский разговорный язык. Практическое пособие по развитию устной речи

Afterwards, the American team became discouraged by the loss and their morale sagged. Corporate management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found. A Continuous Measurable Improvement Team of «Executives» was set up to investigate the problem and to recommend appropriate corrective action.

Their conclusion: The problem was that the Japanese team had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, whereas the American team had 1 person rowing and 8 people steering. The American Corporate Steering Committee immediately hired a consulting firm to do a study on the management structure.

After some time and billions of dollars, the consulting firm concluded that «too many people were steering and not enough rowing.» To prevent losing to the Japanese again next year, the management structure was changed to «4 Steering Managers, 3 Area Steering Managers, and 1 Staff Steering Manager» and a new performance system for the person rowing the boat to give more incentive to work harder and become a superb performer. «We must give him empowerment and enrichment.» That ought to do it.

The next year the Japanese team won by two miles.

The American Corporation laid off the rower for poor performance, sold all of the paddles, cancelled all capital investments for new equipment, halted development of a new canoe, awarded high performance awards to the consulting firm, and distributed the money saved as bonuses to the senior executives.

Слова и выражения:

afterwards – после, впоследствии

appropriate – соответствующий

award – награда; награждать

boat – лодка

bonus – поощрение, бонус

canoe – каное

competitive – соревновательный, состязательный

corrective – коррекционные

defeat – поражение

empowerment – полномочия

enrichment – обогащение

halt – останавливать

investigate – исследовать

morale – моральное состояние

paddle – весло

peak

– пик; пиковая, высшая

race – гонки

row – грести ( веслами на лодке )

rower – гребец

sag – оседать, провисать

steer – рулить, управлять с помощью руля

superb – превосходный, непревзойденный

whereas – в то время как

by a mile – на милю

crushing defeat – сокрушительное поражение

A Continuous Measurable Improvement Team of Executives – Постоянный Совет Директоров по Обеспечению Измеримых Улучшений

The American Corporate Steering Committee – Американский Корпоративный Совет Рулевого Управления

prevent losing – предотвратить поражение, проигрыш

Steering Manager – Менеджер Рулевого Управления

Area Steering Manager – Зональный Менеджер Рулевого Управления

Staff Steering Manager – Менеджер Персонала Рулевого Управления

performance system – система исполнения

That ought to do it.  – Этого должно хватить.

lay off – увольнять

senior executives – старшие управляющие

Exercise 5

Answer the questions:

1. What did the two companies decide to have?

2. What did the teams do to perform at their best?

3. Who won and by how far?

4. What happened to the American team\'s morale after the defeat?

5. What was made to investigate the problem?

6. What was the conclusion?

7. Who did the Americans hire to perform a study of the managerial structure?

8. How much money could it actually take to make the conclusion which the consulting firm had made?

9. What structural improvements were made in the American team?

10. Who of the Americans profited mostly from the whole thing?

Japanese Management Lecture