In this third step, listen to the
conversation again while you read the transcription. Finally,
read the glossary information, phrasal verbs (highlighted in yellow) and
notes at the bottom. This step also means good practice for your reading
comprehension skills. To get information in Spanish, just place the
arrow of your mouse on any highlighted word without clicking.
(In
Hector Grant's office)
GRANT
Ah,
good morning everyone. Are we all here? Peter? John? Ian? Good. Let's
sit down. Now, to work, gentlemen. Let me first introduce Mr. Scott,
from Smith‑Weston Consultants. As you know, I have been thinking for
some time that we ought to have an 0. & M. and work study review. Mr.
Scott has
come along to tell us what his firm could do for us if we
decide to have a productivity study made in the company. Mr. Scott...
SCOTT
Good
morning, gentlemen. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what improved
productivity involves. It means, for a start,
analysing jobs
throughout a firm with a view to reorganising them in order to
decrease time and expenditure and increase efficiency and production.
We would propose starting work study in the factory
in conjunction
with a scheme under which the employees could share some of the
benefits of improvement.
We all
agree, of course, in
maximising productivity, but when you study and
time a job isn't it normal to find an
operator going as slow as
he can so that you'll allow him more time for the job?
SCOTT
That,
of course, can happen. But our
investigators are experienced.
We'd first do asample study in a selected area of the works,
and this would demonstrate how we think productivity could be
increased as a result of our proposed activities.
PETER
Well,
that seems a fair answer. But I have another question. Don't you find
workers dislike your investigators telling them they aren't doing the
job in the most efficient way?
SCOTT
That
is, of course, a big problem. But
soluble, I think, if our survey is
conducted in conjunction with an
incentive payments scheme. If
operators know they'll be paid more as a result of increased
productivity, they'll want to co-operate.
We would suggest, for example, putting everyone on group rates as a
spur to productivity.
GRANT
Good.
Well, now, Mr. Scott, I think you've covered some of the main points.
Perhaps I could now ask you to tell us in detail how you
would
set
about your investigation? I understand you were
looking round the
works yesterday...
(After the meeting, John and Peter get together)
JOHN
Well,
I'm amazed! I really am.
What on earth has happened to the old man?
You'd have thought he'd be the last person to consider a thing like
work study or group bonus schemes.
I gather there was a major battle
years ago to get him to agree to piece rates even in the few areas
where they operate now.
PETER
Yes,
he's suddenly decided to change with the times. I think our new
advertising manager may have had a hand in it! Joanna is always
talking about things like corporate planning, operational research,
critical path analysis and so on.
JOHN
That's
just what this firm needs.
PETER
Yes,
but you know, the story's not finished yet. I don't think H.G. has
quite realised the full implication of all this.
JOHN
What
d'you mean?
PETER
You
wait and see. Some of these consultants never know where to stop...
JOHN
Well,
we shall see.
(Later
Mr. Scott reports to Hector Grant)
GRANT
So, Mr.
Scott, this seems very satisfactory. I'm very interested in this
sample survey. I think we should like you
to go ahead and do the full
review.
SCOTT
Er...
there is one other point we've not yet mentioned.
GRANT
Oh,
what's that?
SCOTT
We
haven't yet done anything on the management side.
GRANT
Management! Surely that's not necessary?
SCOTT
In our
experience it's as vital as it is in any other department. Perhaps
more vital. Just as a matter of interest, would you mind if I gave you
the results of some research I did myself, while waiting for you this
morning.
GRANT
Well?
SCOTT
(Mr.
Scott reads from his notebook)"10
a.m. Managing Director arrives at office. Finds
mail has not been
correctly sorted. Two letters are for other people to deal with.
To answer the next letter, it was necessary to refer to a previous
letter which could not be found in the file.
Diary was not to
hand. This caused delay and confusion over making an engagement by
phone while the secretary was out of the room
looking for the missing
letter".
GRANT
Well,
really! Do your methods usually include listening to private
conversations through open doors?
SCOTT
No. But
this time I could hardly help it. Our job, Mr. Grant, is to observe
and report objectively.
GRANT
I see.
Well, thank you very much, Mr. Scott, for your report, and I
look
forward to studying it carefully. But as to...
SCOTT
... As to including
a
survey on the organisation of your management...?
GRANT
I
hadn't bargained for that, you know. I shall have to think about it.
Hmm, yes, I don't quite like the idea of being told how
to run my own
business, but... well, I'll let you know, Mr. Scott. Good morning.
GLOSSARY
& NOTES
to come along
To appear on the scene, to present oneself formally
(acercarse, aparecer).
to analyse a job
To
study it in detail, to break it down into its various parts
(analizar un trabajo).
in conjunction with
Together with
(junto con, simultáneamente con).
by all means
Definitely, certainly
(claro, desde luego, por cierto).
to maximise
To make the most of
(sacar el mayor provecho de).
operator
A
worker
or agent,
particularly someone who operates a machine
(operario).
investigator
Someone
who examines something in detail, an
employee of the firm of consultants who investigates the
different jobs done by different workers
or
operators(investigador).
sample study
A
sample
or
specimen
is
a part of something which shows what the whole is like
(muestra, muestreo).
works
Another word for
factory, industrial plant or manufacturing plant
(fábrica).
soluble
Susceptible of
solution or of being solved or explained
(solucionable).
incentive payment scheme
A
bonus plan. An incentive is offered to encourage employees to work
harder, and more efficiently(plan
de bonificaciones o incentivados).
spur
A stimulating
verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
(estímulo).
to set about
To begin to deal with,
to take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
(encarar, abordar).
to look round
To visit
a place looking here and there
(visitar, inspeccionar).
what on earth...?
Used with question
words to convey surprise
(¿Qué diablos...?, ¿Qué demonios...?).
to gather
To conclude from
evidence
(sacar como conclusión).
critical path analysis
Method
of planning the undertaking of a complex project in a logical way, by
analysing the project into its component parts, and recording them on
a diagram which is then used for planning and controlling the
interconnected activities which carry the project to
completion. A further benefit of Critical
Path Analysis (also called CPA) is that it helps you to identify the
minimum length of time needed to complete a project. Where you need to
run an accelerated project, it helps you to identify which project
steps you should accelerate to complete the project within the
available time. This helps you to minimize cost while still achieving
your objective (análisis
o evaluación de progreso).
to go ahead
To proceed (with a plan or action)
(continuar, proseguir).
to sort the
mail
To
arrange all the letters on arrival in different groups for the people,
or departments, who will deal with them
(clasificar el correo recibido).
diary
A
daily written record, a
book containing the days and dates of any year. In this case an
engagement diary of the current year in which appointments, etc. are
written, with one page, or part of a page, for each date(libro diario).
to look for
To try to locate
(buscar, tratar de ubicar).
to look forward
To expect or hope for
(esperar ansiosamente).
survey
An
analysis covering all aspects of a subject. It can apply to the actual
work of investigation or the final written report(encuesta, estudio, peritaje).
