Business English 3, 2013/14

Motivation
1. One of the most important functions of a manager is to motivate the employees under his or her authority. But
how? What kind of things would motivate you at work?
2. How would you motivate people in the folowing positions:
a bus driver in a big city, who has to work irregular hours, including early morning, evening and night shifts
3. How would you motivate people in the folowing positions:
a nurse who works with seriously ill children
4. How would you motivate people in the folowing positions:
a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company, who visits hospitals and doctors
5. How would you motivate people in the folowing positions:
a primary school teacher
6. How would you motivate people in the folowing positions:
a manual worker in a printing house
7. Which benefits do you think would be most attractive to someone who has just finished their studies and is
looking for their first job?
8. Which benefits/factors do you think would be most attractive to someone who has already worked for 10-15
years?
9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Why?
Work is necessary to peoples psychological well-being.
People avoid responsibility and would rather be told what to do.
10. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Why?
People are motivated mainly by money.
People are motivated by anxiety about their job security.
11. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Why?
People dislike work and avoid it if they can.
People want to be interested in their work and, given the right conditions, they will enjoy it.
Organizations
1. What are the functions of the following departments?
a) Accounting Department
b) Marketing Department
2. What are the functions of the following departments?
a) Administration Department
b) Legal Department
3. What are the functions of the following departments?
a) Human Resources Department
b) Production Department
4. What kind of corporate culture would suit you? (think about the following: relationship with your colleagues,
relationship with your managers, attitude to tradition)
5. Would you prefer to work for a big or small company or organization? Why? What are the advantages of each?
6. What are the characteristics of a sole trader? What are its advantages/disadvantages?
7. What are the characteristics of a partnership? What are its advantages/disadvantages?

8. Do the companies in your country prefer employing younger or older people? Why?
What counts more in the companies in your country seniority or creativity, taking initiative and good performance
at work?
Managers and leaders
1. What does the work of a manager consist of?
2. What do you think makes a good manager? Which qualities do you think are the most important for a manager?
3. What are the characteristics of a good leader?
4. What are the characteristics of a bad leader or manager?
5. One of the most important functions of a manager is to motivate the employees under his or her authority. Which
of the following do you think a manger should do? Why?
stimulate
support
supervise

listen
encourage
instruct
advise
provide training

shout
reward

criticize
threaten

help
empower

Marketing
1. What is the purpose/function of marketing? What is the purpose of market research?
2. What is Marketing Mix? What is product mix?
3. What is branding? What is the function of packaging?
4. What does the price depend on? What is penetration pricing? What is price skimming?
5. What are the four major promotional tools? What is the target market?
6. How would you promote the following: a new, small family-run hotel in your town/city
7. How would you promote the following: a new private kindergarten in your town/city
8. How would you promote the following: a new furniture company
9. How would you promote the following: a new clothes shop
10. How would you promote your business school?
Banking
1. What are banks? What are the traditional banking activities?
2. What are the forms of e-banking? What are their advantages/disadvantages?
3. What are advantages and disadvantages of credit cards?
4. What are advantages and disadvantages of using ATMs?
5. Student loans
Business ethics
1. What is the purpose of a business, in your opinion? Is it just to make money?
2. Can the following professions be unethical? Give examples of their possible unethical activities.
a) accountant
b) journalist

3. Can the following professions be unethical? Give examples of their possible unethical activities.
a) civil servant
b) lawyer
4. Can the following professions be unethical? Give examples of their possible unethical activities.
a) doctor
b) police officer
5. Can the following professions be unethical? Give examples of their possible unethical activities.
a) college/university professor
b) banker
6. Discuss the list of unethical activities. In your opinion, which are the worst?
a) avoiding paying tax
b) accepting praise for someone elses ideas or work
c) selling a defective product
7. Discuss the list of unethical activities. In your opinion, which are the worst?
a) using your influence to get jobs for relatives (nepotism)
b) employing people illegally
c) using work facilities for private purposes (e.g. personal phone calls)
8. Discuss the list of unethical activities. In your opinion, which are the worst?
a) accepting bribes to let students pass the exam
b) claiming extra expenses
c) expecting and taking gifts or money in order to provide a better medical treatment to patients
9. What is corruption? Why is it more common in some countries than in others?
10. What are the consequences of corruption?
11. Give some examples of corruption in your country.