Passage 7: Managing a Problem

PASSAGE -7-

MANAGING A PROBLEM

Read an email managing the problems faced by a member of an international team and answer the questions given below:

Before Reading

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task 

Match the phrases (1-8) with the definitions (a-h).

READING TEXT: MANAGING A PROBLEM

From: Jo Backhouse

To: Karl Anderson

Date : 17 October

Subject : Support for Judy

Dear Kari,

I received a call from Judy a couple of days ago to discuss some of the issues that she was having and I thought I'd give you a heads-up on what was said, seeing that you are Judy's project team leader.

Tasks

Task-1

Circle the best answer:

1. Why is Jo writing to Karl?

a. To suggest that his management style is not suitable for the current members of his team. 

b. To let him know about the issues his team member is facing and help him manage them. 

c. To tell him how to solve his problems.

d. To ask him to take it easy on Judy and not give her too much work. 

2. What is Judy used to?

a. Being told what to do 

b. Collaborating with people internationally 

c. Being left to do things on her own

d. Delegating work to other people 

3. Why is Judy confused by the changing targets?

a. She feels as if she needs to understand the reason for changes. 

b. She has simultaneous deadlines from the Tokyo office 

c. She doesn't want to know the bigger picture, just her part

d. She doesn't like meeting deadlines 

4. Who might benefit from having a better overview of the project and a better understanding of how the individual tasks fit together to achieve the group target?

a. Only Judy 

b. Judy and the Tokyo office 

c. Judy and Karl

d. Judy and the rest of Karl's team 

5. What does Jo think of Judy?

a. Judy works well independently but isn't a good team player 

b. Judy is lazy and prefers managers to tell her exactly what to do 

c. Judy is very hard working and capable and will go far in the company 

d. Judy is very enthusiastic but not very experienced

6. Which of these does Jo do in her email?

a. Mix positives in with the negatives

b. Focus on the solutions 

c. Use language to show that she's expressing her own opinion or a possibility and not hard facts 

d. All of the above

Task-2

Match the problems (a-d) with the solutions (1-4) that Jo suggests.

Problems

a. Judy is feeling stretched with multiple deadlines. 

b. Judy can't see the big picture. 

c. Judy is not used to so much autonomy. 

d. Judy find the changing targets and deadlines confusing.

Solutions

1. Karl could outline the team and individual targets during the next week. ________ 

2. Karl could give her more direction until she learns the ropes. ________ 

3. Karl could touch base with her regularly and make sure she's up to date with the changes. ________

4. Jo could write to Judy's Tokyo office to make them aware of her deadlines and coordinate her tasks. ________

Discussion

How do you deal with problems at work? Have you ever had to write an email similar to this one?