MANAGEMENT STYLES 1 BUSINESS VOCABULARY IN USE (ADVANCED)

 

BUSINESS VOCABULARY IN USE (ADVANCED) 2. MANAGEMENT STYLES 1

 

A Motivation 1 I believe that all our employees can find satisfaction in what they do. We give them responsibility, which means that the decisions they take have a direct impact on our success, and encourage them to use their initiative, so they don’t have to ask me about every decision they make. B Motivation 2 I don’t believe in all this talk about motivation. My subordinates, the people working under me, are basically lazy and need constant supervision – we have to check what they are doing all the time. Some people think this is authorisation, but I think it’s the only way of managing. Decisions must be imposed from above without consultation – we don’t discuss decisions with workers, we just tell them what to do. Note: Subordinate is very formal and can be negative C Theory X and Theory Y Xavier has conservative views and believes in what the US management thinker Douglas McGregor1 called the Theory X, the idea that people dislike work and will do everything they can to avoid it. EXERCISES 2.1 Yolanda’s employees are talking about her management style – see A opposite. Replace the underlined phrases with appropriate forms of expressions from A. (Pay attention to the grammatical context. The first one has been done for you.) 1. She knows exactly what’s involved in our jobs. She makes us feel  she understands the effort we make. She makes us feel valued. 2. She encourages us to do things without asking her first. 2.2 Look at the expressions in B opposite and say if these statements are true or false. 1. Authoritarian managers like listening to the opinions of their employees. 2. If people need constant supervision, you have to watch them all the time. 2.3 Managers from different companies are talking about their employees. Look at C opposite and say whether each manager believes in Theory X and Theory Y. 1. You have to keep an eye on employees the whole time. I don’t allow them to work at home. 4. They must be here by 8.30 am and they can’t leave before 5.30 pm. That way I can be sure they are doing the work we are paying them to do.

ANSWER KEY