Psychoanalysts treat their patients by delving into their past – often their early years of childhood – in an attempt to help them understand present feelings and behaviour. Consultants try to understand their clients’ history and track record in an attempt to identify the roots of failure or the seeds of success.
In some respects, consultants have an easier job; they can look over past balance sheets and profit and loss statements in order to analyse the management of assets, profitability and cost control. They can follow the company’s history through from its initial successes with perhaps a single product to its present-day range of products or services. They can study the organizational structure of the company, marketing and personnel policies, even the physical layout of offices and factory.
However, putting their finger on why one company fails and another
succeeds is not always so easy. Companies look outside for this advice
because they cannot find the answers themselves. They hope that the
consultant will be able to draw on his or her wider experience –
perhaps recognize a symptom that he has previously encountered. Then
perhaps he or she will be able to diagnose their ills, prescribe a
course of treatment for recovery and recommend a new life-style to
ensure future health and prosperity.
Now answer the following questions:
i. Why do Psychoanalysts and consultants need to delve into the past
of their patients and clients?
ii. Why do you think a consultant’s job is easier than a Psychoanalyst?
iii. Companies evidently want help from consultants from time to time.
Why? Discuss.
iv. Taking the passage as the basis, write in about 100 words. “The
role of a consultant in a company”.
v. Give an appropriate title to the passage.
Q2(a). Match the following words from the text in column A with their meanings in column B:
| i | To delve | a | Bring back to original form |
| ii | Track record | b | Configuration |
| iii | Roots | c | History of achievements |
| iv | Seeds | d | Come across |
| v | Layout | e | Origins, causes |
| vi | To put your finger on | f | Origins, beginnings |
| vii | To restore | g | Dig, try to uncover |
| viii | Encounter | h | Use, refer to |
| i | Identify precisely |
Q2(b). As we saw in the passage, it is possible to draw parallels
between business and human health. Match the common medical terms
with their business equivalents.
| i | Symptom | a | Malaise |
| ii | Diagnose | b | Turn-around |
| iii | Medical history | c | Track record |
| iv | Course of treatment | d | Policy/strategy |
| v | Recovery | e | Identify/conclude |
| f | Sign/indicator |
Q3. You have arranged to meet your colleague Rohit Bajaj for coffee in the evening. However, you have just heard that you must leave for Bangalore immediately on urgent business. Telephone Rohit Bajaj:
tell him you won’t be able to meet him
tell him about the urgent business
fix another tentative date
The answer must be in the form of a dialogue.
Q4. You require 2,000 mobile phone boxes a month of Talktone 1846. Since it is a fast moving item, you are ready to buy boxes for six months at once, provided you get a large enough discount. Write a letter to your distributor negotiating a deal. Make use of the negotiation techniques we discussed in the unit.
Q5. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in brackets:
i. The consultant _____________ (never work) in London before she
got this contract.
ii. She recently _____________ (decide) to move to London.
iii. She ______________ (drive) to London when the storm began.
iv. While the manager _____________ (talk) to the consultant, the
employees _____________ (pack) the prints ready for dispatch.
v. Is that what those men __________ (work) on when I __________(come)
in?
vi. Unless we invest in our staff, they _____________(not stay) with
the company.
vii. After the initial launch, we ___________ (plan) to extend it
to the rest of the country.
viii. We would be doing much better if we ______________ (not waste)
so much money last year.
Q6. Complete the following phrasal verb in the sentences by inserting
an appropriate adverb.
i. I can’t get to Munich this week, so I’m going to put
______________ my visit till next week.
ii. Despite our efforts, the negotiations have broken _____________
again.
iii. I’m very relieved that the workers have called the strike
_______________.
iv. Before you leave, make sure that you shut___________ the computer
system.
v. I look _____________ to seeing you in the near future.
vi. To get through security, you’ll have to fill ________________
a form.
vii. I’m afraid I didn’t understand that point. Could
we come __________ to it afterwards?
viii. We’ve decided to increase our offer; we’ve put it
___________ by $ 30,000.
ix. Let’s throw this idea _________ and see if it has any potential.
x. He ran _____________ an enormous telephone bill.
Q7. Write short notes on the following. Give examples where necessary.
i. A good presentation
ii. Conversation vs. other speech events
iii. Barriers to communication