THE FUNCTlONS OFAN EXECUTIVE

Dialogue

Anna is having lunch with her sister Barbara, Anna has just accepted a position as an Administrative Assistant. Her boss is an executive with a firm that manufactures heavy machinery used in construction.

Barbara You've got a new job, Anna. My congratulations.

Anna Thanks, Barbara.

Barbara Tell me a few words about your boss. What does he do?

Anna 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?

Anna I am afraid Т can hardly tell you the difference. I

think these words are interchangable and they

really aren't different in many companies. Barbara What about your company?

Anna 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?

Anna 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.

Anna You are right.

Barbara But it would be interesting to know more about the

functions of an executive like your boss.

Anna 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.

Anna It is important. It's evident that making careful

decisions is the basis of good management.

Barbara But do, you work under much pressure?

Anna 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.

Anna 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.

Active Vocabulary

an executive руководитель,
администратор

manager управляющий
администратор

an administrator управляющий,
администратор

vice president вице-президент

head of department руководитель отдела,

foreman мастер, руководитель,

position должность

to setobjectives ставить цели

to delegate authority распределять обязанности

to work under pressure работать по принуждению

red-tape зд. бюрократическая, канцелярская работа

to be competent быть компетентным

Vocabulary Exercises.

Exercise 1. Transformthe sentences according to the model

Model: I'm accustomed to setting objectives. I'm used to setting objectives.

1. We are accustomed to having unlimited liability.

2. He is accustomed to delegating authority.

3. They are accustomed to firing and hiring people.

4. She is accustomed to working as a head of the department.

5. You are accustomed to working under pressure.

6. The executive is accustomed to making decisions.

Exercise 2. • Change the modal verb according lo the model

Model: We ought to set objectives this month.
We should set objectives this month.

1. They ought to talk about the functions of an executive.

2. A manager ought to make careful decisions.

3. An executive ought lo be very competent.

4. A vice president ought to decide on hiring, firing,
vacation, hours.

5. The board of directors ought to plan objectives and changes.

6. They ought to have a meeting with a head of the department.

Exercise 3. Your executive is a very tough man. What should his staff do to please him?

For ideas:

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