Transcription
unit7New business‘Three components make an entrepreneur: the person, the idea and the resources tomake it happen.’ Anita Roddick (1942–2007), British founder of The Body ShopoverviewADiscuss these questions.Mstarting upPLEUNITvocabularyEconomic termslisteningNew businessreadingNew business ideaslanguage reviewTime clausesskillsDealing withnumberscase studyTaka Shimizu Cycles1 Would you like to start your own business? Why? / Why not?2 What conditions are important for people starting new businesses? Choose the threeSAmost important from this list. Can you think of any others?B low taxes good transport links skilled staff training courses low interest rates high unemployment cheap rents a strong currency a healthy economy government grants a stable political situation easy access to creditMany economies contain a mix of public- and private-sector businesses.Think of companies you know in the areas below. Which are public-sectorcompanies, and which are private-sector ones? post office railways television water energy telecoms cars banks newspapers airlines roads miningCMany companies in the UK have been privatised. What are the trends in yourcountry? Talk about the business sectors in Exercise B.66M11 MLCB PreInt U7, 04.indd 6626/09/2011 11:43
UNIT 7 NEW BUSINESSvocabularyAEconomic termsMatch the economic terms (1–10) to their definitions (a–j).1 interest ratea) total value of goods and services producedin a country2 exchange rateb) percentage increase in prices3 inflation ratec) cost of borrowing money4 labour forced) price at which one currency can buy another5 tax incentivese) percentage of people without jobs6 government bureaucracyf ) the number of people working7 GDP (gross domestic product)g) low taxes to encourage business activity8 unemployment rateh) money from overseas9 foreign investmenti) official rules/regulations/paperwork10 balance of tradeTry to complete this economic profile without looking back at the termsin Exercise A.NBITj) difference in value between a country’simports and exportsUThe economy is stable following the problems of the past two years. By following a tight1monetary policy, the government has reduced the inflation rate to 2%. For borrowers,2after going up dramatically, the iris now down to 8%. The last six3months have seen a slight improvement in the eragainst the dollar.4For the country as a whole, the Ghas grown by 0.15%. Exports are increasing,5and the bof tis starting to look much healthier.6PLEIn terms of jobs, the urcontinues to be a problem, as it is still 16%.7In order to stimulate the economy and attract fifrom abroad, the8government is offering new ti, as well as making a renewed effort to910reduce gband red tape. Finally, a large skilled lfmeans there could be attractive investment opportunities over the next five years.CThink about some of the economic terms you looked at above in relation toyour own country. Which do you think are going up / going down / stayingabout the same? Also consider the following:MDCD2.1 Listen and check your answers to Exercise B.SA consumer prices (the price of things in the shops)See the DVD-ROMfor the i-Glossary. public spending (the money the government spends) consumer spending (the money people spend)EWhat do you think are the biggest economic problems in your country at themoment? What do you think the government’s priorities should be? Talk to apartner about your ideas.FWrite a short paragraph about the economic profile of your country.67M11 MLCB PreInt U7, 04.indd 6726/09/2011 11:43
UNIT 7 NEW BUSINESSlisteningANew businessCD2.2 Abdirashid Duale is the Chief Executive Officer of Dahabshiil,a global money-transfer company. Listen to the first part of the interviewand answer these questions.1 How many countries does the company transfer money to?2 Dahabshiil helps four types of people or organisations. What are they?BCD2.3 Listen to the second part and complete these notes.All successful new businesses have to:1 have a23 know how they are going to motivate their5 keep their customers maintain theirthat vision46with their customersITAbdirashid Duale have a7N make sure that the customers are happy with their manage the difference between their income and theirCD2.4 Susan Barratt, the CEO of Nature’s Way Foods, talks about the adviceshe would give to anyone starting their own business. Listen and completethis extract from the audio script.UC812EI hope they’ve got lots of. I think it is difficult and quite hard, andneeds a significant level of commitment. I think it’s really, really important to make sure3you understand theand who your customers are going to be. And how you4differentiate yourself, or make yourself different, from any of yourin thatmarketplace.PLSusan Barratt5People will only go to you and buy youror your service if they feel it is added6over and above what they can get elsewhere, or something they can’t getelsewhere.7So, for me, understanding the market and theis absolutely critical to the8success of the business. The other key thing is that you’ve got sufficient.MWatch theinterviews onthe DVD-ROM.DIn groups, discuss these questions.SA1 What sort of problems do new businesses face?2 What advice would you give to someone starting their own business in your country?readingAWhich new business has impressed you most in the last six years?Why did it impress you?BWork in pairs. Student A, read Article A on the opposite page. Student B,read Article B. Make notes in this chart.New businessideasArticle AArticle Bname of new businessname of founderage of founderage of business at time of writinglocation of new business (city and country)number of employeeswhat the new business is/does68M11 MLCB PreInt U7, 04.indd 6826/09/2011 11:43
UNIT 7 NEW BUSINESS510Andrew Mason studied music atuniversity, where he dreamt aboutmaking his riches as a rock star.Instead, the 29-year-old decided to setup an Internet business that offersdiscounts on everything from restaurantmeals to hair transplants and yogaclasses. The big idea is about to turnhim into the latest web billionaire.Google is preparing to buy Groupon,his two-year-old company, for 5.3billion, according to reports. The202530Help with exportsBJust over a year ago, SandraFelsenstein, a 27-year-old formerindustrial engineer, decided to start abusiness that would try to link thesetwo groups. Her approach was to finda series of high-quality manufacturers in her native Argentina – acountry with a good reputation fordesign, yet poor connections to therest of the craft trade worldwide –and link them with shops anddistribution companies elsewhere.Dinka, the four-person companyshe founded in Buenos Aires, isnow showing signs of success.Ms Felsenstein has organised linkswith 30 Argentinian companies thathave agreed to let Dinka promotetheir goods in export markets. Underthese deals, Dinka will find buyersEby Peter MarshSA10Scattered around the world are manythousands of “micro-manufacturers” ofcraft items such as jewellery and handbags, often offering high standards ofdesign and quality. Most, however,have little idea of how to sell theirproducts in international markets.At the same time, retail outlets areeager to get their hands on productsthat look new and different – but findit difficult to discover them.M5PL15202530354045over the past few weeks.Mr Mason appears to be a manwho knows his worth. In April, it wasreported that he turned down a 2billion offer from Yahoo, because thevaluation was too low.Groupon employs about 1,000people, mostly based in Mr Mason’shome town of Chicago. It is activein more than80 countriesand is growing at the rateof 10 per centa week byadding newusers throughFacebook andTwitter.ITby Jonathan Birchall15proposed deal will put Mr Mason in agroup of young Internet billionairesincluding Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and the Google founders, LarryPage and Sergey Brin.The site offers vouchers named“Groupons” that can be spent atparticipating retailers. Every usergets a discount offer based on his orher location and profile, but thesehuge discounts expire unless enoughpeople sign up. The trend, describedas “social buying”, has spread rapidlyacross the Web, and Groupon wasdescribed by Forbes as “the world’sfastest-growing company”.Its explosive growth and healthyprofits have convinced Google to diginto its deep pockets. It is believed tohave started its bidding at 3 billion,a price that has been steadily rising50NInternet whiz-kid’sdiscount ideamakes billionsin two yearsUA35404550for their products and handle shipments and customs formalities inexchange for a proportion of salesrevenues.She has laid the foundations, too,for establishing a network of retailoutlets in other countries, arrangingconnections with retailers in Chile,Peru and Ecuador as a first step, whilesigning up a distributor in Austin,Texas, that she hopes will help thementer the potentially large US market.Ms Felsenstein says she is also“exploring several opportunities”for finding retailers in Europe –particularly in Spain, Italy, Germanyand Switzerland – where she thinkssizeable sales could be establishedfor Argentinian-made goods.CNote down two other interesting pieces of information about your article.DGive your partner an oral summary of your article, then take notes as youlisten to your partner’s summary.EWork in groups of three or four. Think about a business you could startas a group. Consider these questions.1 What kind of business would it be?2 Which country and city would you like to locate your new business in? Think of thefactors mentioned in Starting up, Exercise A.3 What do you already have as a group? Think about skills, experience and contacts.4 What other strengths do you have? What about your gaps?5 What difficulties do you think you may face? How will you overcome them?M11 MLCB PreInt U7, 04.indd 696926/09/2011 11:43
UNIT 7 NEW BUSINESSlanguage reviewTime clauses provide information about actions and events in the past, presentand future.Time clauses1 We often use when to introduce time clauses.She remembers when she first started her business. (past time)When you fly first class, you get more leg room. (present time)When I’m in Geneva, I’ll review all the start-up costs. (future time)2 We can also use while, before, after, until and as soon as to introduce time clauses.He looked at our business plan while we were waiting.We need to have a solid business plan in place before we launch our online business.After we finish this project, we’ll look at new markets.He waited until she finished speaking.3 When we use a time clause to talk about the future, the verb in the time clauseITis in the present tense or the present perfect tense.We’ll deliver as soon as they pay their last bill.When we’ve finished the report, we’ll e-mail it to you.Grammar reference page 147Match the sentence halves to make appropriate sentences.NA1 Could you check the departure timea) until the meeting has finished.2 As soon as interest rates rise,U3 We need to stayb) as soon as you get to the office.c) until we’ve saved enough money.d) while you are still working.5 She will move to Frankfurte) when the conditions are right.6 We won’t open our new officef ) when she finds a good job.7 I think you should save some moneyg) before we leave for the airport.8 We can set up in that countryh) the economy will slow down.PLE4 The Finance Director needs to speak to youBComplete these sentences with when, while, before, after, until or as soon as.More than one answer may be possible in each case.M1 We won’t buy anything newwe’ve paid off all our debts.2 They’ll start the meetingthe manager arrives.3 I was finishing the reportmy boss went out with clients.SA4 It’s urgent, so I’ll phone you5 Can you check the figuresCI get home.you go home?Birgit Scheider is writing to her previous boss, a successful Americanbusinesswoman. Read her questions about starting a new business andchoose the most appropriate option in each case.1I remember before / as soon as / when I first thought about quitting my job and you2advised me to gain some experience as soon as / while / before I started a new business.3I need to earn some profit until / as soon as / before possible, as I don’t have much spare4cash. Or do I have to accept that I won’t have much money as soon as / until / while I’m5starting up my new business? Do I need to have some savings when / while / as soon asI get my new business off the ground? I’m just not sure how I’ll survive as soon as / when /6until my company starts earning money.7Please advise me before / as soon as / while you can.DCD2.5 Listen and check your answers to Exercise C.70M11 MLCB PreInt U7, 04.indd 7026/09/2011 11:43
UNIT 7 NEW BUSINESSskillsADealing withnumbersBCD2.6 Say these numbers. Listen and check after each group.1 a) 362b) 1,841c) 36,5032 a) 3.5b) 2.89c) 9.8753 a) 3/4b) 1/8c)4 a) 15%b) 50%c) 97%d) 100%5 a) 80b) 5,800c) 150,000d) 20,000/76d) 684,321e) 4,537,295d) 1/2e) 2/3Try to answer these questions.1 What is the population of your a) country? b) city?2 How many people work for your company / study at your institution?4 What is the current inflation rate?IT3 What is the average salary in your country?5 Approximately how many people are unemployed?6 What is the interest rate for savings?N7 What fraction of their income do you think people spend on living costs?CU8 What percentage of your income do you spend on transport?CD2.7–2.10 Listen to four extracts from a radio business-news programme.Underline the numbers you hear.1 a) Inflation rate:Eb) Unemployment:2 a) Profits increase:PLb) Sales increase:3 a) Job losses:b) Workforce reduction:4 a) Interest rate reduction:1,258,000 / 1,800,000 1.8 billion / 1.8 million80% / 18%/3 / 1/4115,000 / 5,0000.5% / 1.5%2.8% / 1.8%Mb) Economic growth:2.0% / 1.2 %SADWork in pairs. You work for a marketing department, which is launchinga new range of mobile phones in an overseas market. You are gatheringstati
enter the potentially large US market. Ms Felsenstein says she is also “exploring several opportunities” for finding retailers in Europe – particularly in Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland – where she thinks sizeable sales could be established for Argentinian-made goods. 5 10 5 10 Internet whiz-kid’s discount idea makes billions in two years by Jonathan Birchall 15 20 25 30 15 20 .
