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Trouble with Teamwork
Mary Owen examines the role and efficiency of teams
Recruiters say that candidates who can give examples ofwork they have done as
members of a successful team are in asstrong a position as those who can point
to significant individualachievement. Indeed, too much of the latter may suggest
thatthe person concerned is not a 'team player' - one of the moreserious
failings in the book of management.
The importance of being a team player is a side effect of the increasing
interaction acrossdepartments and functional divides. Instead of pushing
reports, paperwork and decisions aroundthe organisation, 'teams provide a
dynamic meeting place where ideas can be shared and expertisemore carefully
targeted at important business issues,' says Steve Gardner, in his book
KeyManagement Concepts. He adds, 'Globalisation has added a further dimension to
teamwork.Multinational teams now study policy decisions in the light of their
impact on the local market.'
But is teamworking being overdone? 'Some managers are on as many as seven or
eightdifferent teams', says Dr Cathy Bandy, a psychologist who recently ran a
conference on thesubject. 'They take up so much time that managers can't get on
with core tasks.' Forming teamsand having meetings has, she says, become an end
in itself, almost regardless of purpose. There isalso the danger of an unhealthy
desire to keep the team going after the work has been done. 'People feel the
need to belong, and team membership can provide a kind of
psychologicalsupport.'
The idea behind teamworking is that, when the right group of people is
brought together, a'force' develops which is greater than the sum of their
individual talents. This is often true in sport,where good players can reach
unexpected heights as members of an international team.However,few business
situations have as clear a set of objectives, or as clear criteria of success
orfailure, as winning a match.
'In business, everyone needs to be clear about what the challenge is and
whether a team isthe right way of approaching it', says Steve Gardner.
'Unfortunately, people focus instead on whothe members of the team should be and
what roles they are to play' Dr Bandy agrees. 'There isalways a danger that
teams can turn into committees,' she says. 'In a lot of situations, one or
twoindividuals would be much more effective.'
So what makes a successful team? There are some general qualities that have
been identified.Steve Gardnerrecommends that in every team there should be
someone who is good atresearching ideas and another who is good at shooting down
impractical ones. There should bethose who can resolve the tensions that
naturally occur in a team and others who are focused ongetting the job done.
Also, providing a clear and achievable target at the outset is the best way
ofensuring that the team will move on to greater things.
13、 What point does the writer make about teamworking at the beginning of the
article?
A It is the most successful form of management.
B It has changed the recruitment procedure in companies.
C Well-run teams still allow individuals to demonstrate their talents.
D Being a team player is now considered an essential management skill.
14 、According to the article, teamwork developed within companies as a
response to
A modern office design.
B changing work practices.
C a reduction in administrative tasks.
D the expansion of international business.
15 、In the third paragraph, Dr Bandy suggests that
A many employees do not enjoy working in teams.
B some managers are not very effective team leaders.
C some teams are created unnecessarily.
D few teams are well organised.
16 、According to the writer, teamwork is more effective in the field of sport
because the players
A know what they want to achieve.
B are more competitive by nature.
C have more individual talent.
D can be driven by national pride.
17 、Steve Gardner and Dr Bandy agree that when a business team is created
people do notpay enough attention to
A the structure of the team.
B alternatives to the team.
C selecting the team members.
D directing the team's activities.
18、 What is Steve Gardner's advice on operating a successful team?
A Maintain a flexible approach to membership.
B Allow personalities to develop within the team.
C Select people who fit naturally into certain roles.
D Make every effort to avoid conflict between members.
Part III Cloze
Directions: There are twenty blanks in the following passage. For each blank
there are four choices. Choose the one that best fits into the passage and then
marks your answer on the Answer Sheet.
In 1982, Mark Thatcher, the son of Mrs. Thatcher was reported 61 in the
Sahara Desert while competing in the Grand Prix motor race from Paris to Dakar.
This sad news, so 62 , shook the usually calm and unperturbed seasoned
politician 63 her balance. Though she did her best to pretend as if 64 had
happened and made her public appearances as usual, people could not 65 to notice
that she was no longer the old 66 prime minister who always had everything 67
control. 68 she had become a very sad mother who was unable to recover from her
shock.
One day, when she was to speak at a luncheon party, a reporter caught her 69
her guard by 70 up the subject of her missing son again. She was totally
mentally 71 for the question and lost her self control. Tears were rolling down
her eyes as she sobbingly told the reporter that there 72 still no news of Mark
and that she was very worried about him. She said that all the countries 73 had
promised to do their best to help her find her son. 74 that she broke down
completely and sobbed silently for quite a while. Gradually she 75 down and
started to speak as 76. it was a very moving scene which 77 a new side of Mrs.
Thatcher’s character the public do not usually see, 78 people began to talk
about the Iron Woman’s maternal love, a sentiment that is 79 to all human
kind.
Later Mark returned 80 and sound to his mother’s side, good-humored and all
smiles as usual, as if nothing unusual had ever happened. The Iron Woman,
however, broke down again as was sobbing for the second time.
61. A. missing B. missed C. wanting D. wanted
62. A. expected B. expecting C. unexpected D. unexpecting
63. A. with B. on C. out D. off
64. A. something B. anything C. nothing D. everything
65. A. miss B. fail C. pretend D. expect
66. A. reassured B. self-assured C. assuring D. self-assuring
67. A. for B. beneath C. below D. under
68. A. Instead B. however C. Therefore D. So
69. A. into B. out of C. on D. off
70. A. putting B. bringing C. taking D. giving
71. A. ready B. prepared C. unprepared D. unexpected
72. A. was B. were C. should be D. would be
73. A. concerning B. concerned C. worrying D. worried
74. A. At B. Before C. After D. With
75. A. sat B. broke C. calmed D. became
76. A. planned B. planning C. plans D. a plan
77. A. explained B. exposed C. excluded D. exclaimed
78. A. however B. instead C. so D. but
79. A. universal B. unique C. single D. strange
80. A. safe B. safely C. sight D. hearing
Directions: There are ten blanks in the following passage. You are required
to choose the best one from the given four choices marked A, B, C, and D. Then
write down the correct answer in the brackets. This section totals 10 points,
one point for each blank.
Before marketing yourself globally, it is important to 1 your business is
ready to deal with challenges presented by the international environment 2
language and cultural barriers, foreign laws, order fulfillment, and pre/post
sales support.
Language and Culture - Neither technical accuracy 3 perfect translation is
sufficient when considering the language you will communicate through. It is
important to really understand how a language is used by the people in your 4
market.
Regional Laws - All phases of product 5 are affected by regulations. The
product itself, such as its physical and chemical aspects, is subject to laws
6
to protect consumers with respect to purity, safety or performance. Product
features such as packaging and warranties, advertising, sales promotion
techniques are also subject to local regulations.
Order Fulfillment - How will you deliver your products? What business
partners will you need to ensure smooth logistics of your product? Can you
handle your shipment costs? If you cannot 7 demand or ensure smooth delivery of
your product, you are at risk of negatively affecting your business and its
image. It is important to find and qualify 8
distributors, and pay particular attention to contract negotiation and
distribution management.
Pre and Post Sales Support - 9 with your customers as well as your business
partners is an important consideration when marketing and selling
internationally. Many businesses are able to meet customer expectations through
strategic alliances or foreign distributors who deal with the local customer
base on their 10 .
( )1 A. ensure B. assure C. reassure D. sure
( )2 A. excluding B. excluded C. including D. included
( )3 A. so B. nor C. and D. or
( )4 A. local B. own C. target D. home
( )5 A. sales B. exhibition C. promotion D. development
( )6 A. planned B. proposed C. supposed D. designed
( )7 A. meet B. run into C. encounter D. face
( )8 A. potent B. polite C. ethical D. potential
( )9 A. Connection B. Communication C. Link D. Contact
( )10 A. account B. part C. behalf D. market
