Английский для экономистов (учебник английского языка)
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TEXT 4
What is meant by «organizational climate»? Why is it important? What part does an organization’s culture play in the daily lives of its members?
Read the text and be ready to discuss each point of cultural values. Can you add any more?
ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE
Although the concept of organizational climate is somewhat nebulous, it is valuable in understanding several aspects of organizational behavior. Organizational climate is the overall favourability of member attitudes and perceptions with reference to specific activities and featuresof an organization.
Organizations tend to have their specific culture: a peculiar mix of values, attitudes, norms, habits, traditions, behaviors and rituals. Some organizations are well aware of their culture and regard it as a powerful strategic tool, used to orient all units and individuals toward common goals, mobilize employee initiative, ensure loyalty, and facilitate communication. They aim at creating a culture of their own and making sure that all employees understand it and adhere to it. The specific cultural values of an organization may concern, for example:
• the organization’s mission and image ( high technologies, innovative spirit, superior quality);
• seniority and authority (respect for seniority; seniority as a criterion of authority);
• the treatment of people ( concern for people and their needs, equitable treatment or favouritism, privileges, respect for individual rights, training and developing opportunities, how people are motivated);
• the importance of different management positions and functions (authority of personnel department; importance of different vice-presidents’ positions; respective role and authority of research and development);
• work organization and discipline (voluntary versus imposed discipline; punctuality; use of time clocks; flexibility in changing roles at work; use of new forms of work organization);
• decision making process (who decides; who has to be consulted; individual or collective decision making; need to reach consensus);
• circulation and sharing of information (employees amply or poorly informed; information readily shared or not);
• communication pattern (preference for oral or written communication; rigidity or flexibility in using established channels, use of meetings; who is invited to what meeting; established behaviour in the conduct of meeting);
• ways of handling the conflicts (desire to avoid conflict; preference for informal or formal ways; involvement of higher management);
• performance evaluation (confidential or public; by whom carried out; how results are used);
• socialization patterns (who socializes with whom during and after work; facilities such as separate dining rooms or reserved clubs);
• management and leadership style (paternalism; authoritative, consultative or participative style; flexibility and adaptability);
• identification with the organization (manager and stuff adherence to company objectives and policies; enjoying working with organization).
TEXT 5
Read the text and be ready to define: 1. what a business entity is and 2. three main types and forms of business organizations.
TYPES AND FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
A business organization is frequently referred to as a business entity. A business entity is any business organization that exists as an economic unit. Business entities can be grouped according to the type of business activity they perform.
1. Service companies perform services for a fee. This group includes companies such as accounting firms, law firms, repair shops, and many others.
2. Merchandising companies purchase goods that are ready for sale and sell them to customers. They include such companies as auto dealerships, clothing stores, and supermarkets.
3. Manufacturing companies buy materials, convert them into products, and then sell the products to the companies or to the final customer. Examples are steel miles, auto manufacturers, and so on.
The business entity concept applies to all forms of businesses – single proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation.
A single (sole) proprietorship is business owned by an individual and often managed by that same individual. Single proprietors include physicians, lawyers, electricians, and other people who are ‘in business for themselves’. In a single proprietorship, the owner is responsible for all debts of the business. Operating as a proprietorship is the easiest way to get started in a business activity. Other than the possibility of needing a local license, there are not any prerequisites to beginning operations.
A partnership is a business owned by two or more persons associated as partners. Partnerships are created by an agreement. Included in the agreement are such terms as the initial investment of each partner, the duties of each partner, the means of dividing profits or losses between the partners each year, and the settlement to be made upon the death or withdrawal of a partner. Accountants, attorneys, and other professionals frequently operate their firms as partnerships.
A corporation is a business owned by a few persons or by thousands of persons. The owners of the corporation are called shareholders or stockholders. They buy shares of stock. If the corporation fails, the owners lose only the amount they paid for their stock. The personal assets of the owner are protected from the creditors of the corporation. The stockholders do not directly manage the corporation; they elect a board of directors to represent their interests. The board of directors select the president and vice president, who manage the corporation for the stockholders.