Personal Robot

1. Do you think people are going to use robots in everyday life in a few years?

2. Is it good or bad to have a machine which works instead of you? Why?

3. Are the robots going to change man in some professions (doctors, teachers, drivers)?

Unit 3. Competition

,Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in people,

David Sarnoff (1891-1971), American businessman

Warm-up

Do you think you are:

a) very competitive?

b) fairly competitive?

c) not at all competitive?

Vocabulary

Competition idioms

1.There are many idioms from sport used in business, particularly when talking about competition. Use the nouns from the box to complete these idioms.

Game field ball seat horse goalposts race neck

1. a level playing …………………5. move the ………………………..

2. in the driving …………………..6. keep your eye on the ……………..

3. to be neck and …………………7. ahead of the ……………………...

4. flogging a dead ………………. 8. a one horse ………………………

2. Which of the idioms in Exercise 1 refer to:

a) a situation of fair competition?

b) being in front of the competition?

c) being at the same level as the competition?

d) being the only competitor?

e) wasting your time on a hopeless situation?

f) staying focused?

g) a change in the rules?

h) being in control?

3. Complete the following with the most suitable idiom from Exercise 1.

Remember to choose the correct verb form where necessary.

1.It's not a level ……………. any more. As a small company it is difficult for us to compete with the big multinationals.

2. They are so far ahead of their competitors in terms of new products that it has become…………………. . It will be years before they face any serious competition.

3. We have left all our competitors behind. We spend a lot of money on R&D so we can stay ………………. .

4. The government have changed all the rules for exporters. They have ........................ , so we will have to rethink our international operation.

5. It's a waste of time continuing with the project. It will never work. We are …………………. .

6. With our market dominance in the US, we are really ………………….. .

7. We have exactly the same market share as our nearest rival. We .................... in terms of our profits so far this year, too.

8.We really need to concentrate on what our competitors are doing. In today's market you need to…………….. at all times.

4. Discuss these questions.

1. Have you ever felt you were flogging a dead horse

a) at work? b) in your private life?

2. Which companies are ahead of the game in your industry or the industry you would like to work in?

3. How do you feel when

a) someone moves the goalposts?

b) you are in the driving seat?

Reading

Discuss these questions. Then read the article.

1. Who are the main competitors of the following companies?

Coca-Cola Nike Levi-Strauss Nokia Evian

2.What actions can a company take to compete against its rivals?

3. Suggest five words or phrases which you associate with Nokia.