Changes in Business Operations: Complete The Gaps in These Sentences Using The Words From The Box

EXERCICE 1
Complete the gaps in these sentences using the words from the box.
bankruptcy / venture capital / rating / recession / statement / refund
1 Would you like to receive your bank _statement_ monthly or annually?
2 Like many other entrepreneurs in the 1990s, Simon Nixon never received any _venture capital
_ to help him establish his business.
3 The company can’t pay its debts – I think it’s heading for bankruptcy
4 Buyers and sellers on Amazon.com give a _rating_ for the quality of service provided.
5 The economy’s still doing badly. The country’s been in a recession_ for years and I can’t see the
situation improving.
6 I returned the faulty goods to the wholesalers and they gave me a full __refund__
EXERCICE 2
Complete the gaps in the sentences using one of these words.

at / by / to / in / of
1 Sales increased nine percent from €1.2m to €1.4m.
2 Profits have grown by ten percent in only eight months.
3 Employee numbers reached a peak of 1,049 in the year 2002.
4 There has been a general increase in sales over the last quarter.
5 Last month turnover stood at $2.9m.
Reading
Changes in business operations
By Alan Rodger
British companies are investing huge amounts of money in making changes to their traditional
business practices. The main aims behind this investment are to increase the quality of
services provided, while reducing prices.
The demand for available and skilled IT resources in the UK is so great that many customer
services companies have decided to outsource contracts to low-cost countries, such as India,
in order to meet this demand.
So, what are the challenges and opportunities that outsourcing presents? There have been
many newspaper stories of failed projects and broken-down relationships between customers
and the service companies who have outsourced contracts. Probably the most famous of these
stories was LS, who had agreed a ten-year deal to provide services for Tilkin. This ended
earlier this year, when LS was replaced by Calcot. However, it was not all bad news and LS
behaved professionally and helped to ensure the successful takeover of the service by its rival,
so the only problems reported were minor ones.
The main goal of investing in outsourcing is to improve the quality of customer services, and
to lower the cost of operations at the same time. One example of a successful outsourcing
partnership is Bilton’s. Almost two years ago the company started outsourcing services to a
consortium of companies. The deal with the consortium is for five years. Payments are made
to the consortium if it reaches its targets – it has to deliver a two percent improvement in
customer satisfaction annually.
There are huge opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses to make savings by using
shared services. For instance, organisations with similar requirements can negotiate to use the
same service provider. This would mean that the costs for each company would be reduced
through savings of scale. This is the model behind a deal recently announced for a joint
venture between Parts-2-go and Delkon.
Partnerships are great opportunities to show what can be achieved with open minds, shared
interests, and a commitment to better and cheaper services. Perhaps the experience of the past
can actually help make changes for the future.
From the Financial Times
Read the article and decide if these statements are true or false.
1 British companies are failing to spend money on modernising their businesses.
 False: “British companies are investing huge amounts of money in making changes to
their traditional business practices”
2 Large numbers of companies have invested in new IT equipment.
 True: “The demand for available and skilled IT resources in the UK is so great that
many customer services companies have decided to outsource contracts to low-cost
countries”
3 The press have reported on many unsuccessful projects.
 True: “There have been many newspaper stories of failed projects”
4 LS took over Calcot.
 False: “LS was replaced by Calcot”
5 LS recently took over its rival.
 False: “LS behaved professionally and helped to ensure the successful takeover of the
service by its rival”
6 Bilton’s is a successful partnership.
 True: “One example of a successful outsourcing partnership is Bilton’s.”
7 Small and medium-sized businesses need to negotiate better.
 True: “For instance, organisations with similar requirements can negotiate to use the
same service provider”
8 Parts-2-go and Delkon are working closely together
 True: “a joint venture between Parts-2-go and Delkon.”
Skills
A Complete the gaps in the conversation with appropriate phrases (a–j).
Sandra: John, what’s your opinion 29? When would be the best time to launch
the new sun cream range? July?
John: Maybe, but 30 I think May would be better. That’s when most people start
going on holiday.
Sandra: That’s true 31 but I’m not sure we’d be ready by then. There’s still a lot
of work to do.
John: I know what you mean 32 So, what do you suggest?
Sandra: How about 33 June? That gives us three months to prepare.
John: Are you saying that 34 we need three months to prepare?
Sandra: Two months would be too little, I think. How do you feel 35 about that?
John: Three months will be fine. Well, I think so 36 anyway.
Sandra: Great. I propose that we 37 ring Martin and see if he agrees.
John: Hold on 38 for a minute. Can we discuss something else first before you
call?
a) what you mean
b) what’s your opinion
c) How about
d) I propose that we
e) That’s true
f) Well, I think so
g) Maybe, but
h) How do you feel
i) Are you saying that
j) Hold on

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EXERCICE 1

Complete the gaps in the sentences using one of these words.

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