Getting an overview
1. Colin Vickerstaff is a company director. He is speaking to a group of new graduate trainees. Listen and complete the company profile.
Company profile
Name: ______________
Established: ______________
Main activity: ______________
Headquarters: ______________
Turnover: ______________
No. of employees: ______________
Current market share: ______________
Answer & Transcript
Name: AGM Industries
Established: 1989
Main activity: provides microchip technology to computer manufacturers
Headquarters: Cambridge
Turnover: over £250 million
No. of employees: 1100 worldwide
Current market share: 15%
Transcript
First I’d like to welcome all of you to AGM Industries. As you know, we’re fast becoming one of the leading hi-tech companies in the world. Nobody could have foreseen back in 1989 when the company was founded that we would grow so quickly, and so successfully. Today from our home here in Cambridge, AGM Industries controls a multi-million pound business, providing microchip technology to computer manufacturers all around the world. Last year our turnover was in excess of £250 million. We have a total workforce of over 1100 people worldwide, and with you help we aim to grow our 15% share of the market and become even stronger.
2. Now listen as Colin outlines the company’s Mission Statement. Which slogan (a-d) best describes the values of the company?
a Committed to continuous improvement
b Quality, Price and Speed
c The Customer is King
d Investment in People
Answer & Transcript
b
the best products – Quality / the most competitive prices – Prices / in the quickest time frame – Speed
Transcript
At AGM Industries, we pride ourselves on delivering the best products at the most competitive prices ___ and in the quickest time frame to our customers. I know all of you will take on board these values, and work with me to achieve our goals.
3. Listen as Colin describes the management organization of his company. Complete the chart.
Answer & Transcript
b President c Human Resources d R and D
e Technical Support f Sales and Marketing
Transcript
Our company structure here at HQ is fairly traditional. We are headed by the company Chairman, and under him are the President, and the CEO. The CEO is in charge of three divisions; Strategy and Planning, Human Resources and Customer Services. The President has control of four divisions. Operations, which is made up of the Product Management and R and D departments; Technical Services which includes the Quality Control and Technical Support departments ___ the Business Development division, which includes Sales and Marketing, and finally there is division, Finance, which stands by itself.
Introducing new staff members
Listen to this new member of staff being shown around a company. Write the expressions you hear.
Lisa Vickers ________
Carol Parks ________
Tim Starks ________
Helen Green ________
What department do you think all these people work in?
________________
Answer & Transcript
Lisa Vickers: Accounts Administrator
Carol Parks: Accounts Manager
Tim Starks: Payroll Manger
Helen Green: CFO
All these people work in the Finance Department.
Transcript
Peter: Well, this is your office, Lisa. Carol? This is Lisa.
Carol: Hi Lisa. Pleased to meet you. I’m Carol Parks, the Accounts Manager.
Lisa: Hi. Lisa Vickers. I’m looking forward to working with you.
Peter: I’ll just show you around, so you get to meet a few more people ___ Oh, there’s Tim. Tim? Let me introduce you to Lisa Vickers. She’s our new Accounts Administrator.
Tim: Hello Lisa. I’m Tim Starks, the Payroll Manager.
Peter: Tim’s responsible for making sure everyone gets their salary at the end of the month!
Lisa: Ah, so he’s a very important person, then!
Peter: Oh, and I want you to meet Helen. Helen Green. She’s the CFO. Helen?
Roles and responsibilities
1. Listen to four people talk about their jobs. Which department do you think each person works in?
a Finance
b Sales and Marketing
c Human Resources
d Public Relations
e Research and Development
f Customer Services
Michiko _________
Carl _________
Youssry _________
Heidi _________
Show answers
Michiko d
Carl a
Youssry c
Heidi e
2. Listen again and note any words or expressions that helped you to identify the department each person works in.
Michiko ____________
Carl ____________
Youssry ____________
Heidi ____________
Answer & Transcript
Michiko: promoting the company, raise our profile, image
Carl: expenditure, investments, budget allocation, resource management.
Youssry: people, hiring and firing, welfare and professional development, staff
Heidi: design new technologies, research and study, practical testing and trials
Transcript
Michiko
I’m in charge of promoting the company, both within the industry and in the wider community. main responsibility is to raise our profile and to make sure the image we project is a positive one.
Carl
Well, job involves taking tough decisions about our expenditure and any investments we may make. I’m mainly concerned with budget allocation and resource management.
Youssry
I’m interested in people. I’m responsible for hiring and firing, of course, but also for the welfare and professional development of all the staff here.
Heidi
I manage a team of ten people, and together we work to design new technologies that the company can take forward to production. job involves a great deal of research and study, and also a lot of practical testing and trials.