4. Competition.

This unit looks at how competition spurs on business development and makes impact on regulations.

Key words: bid, competitor, minor, advantage, edge, threat, booming.

1. Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.

1) What are some highly competitive professional fields?

2) Name something that may give one company an advantage over another.

Listening / Reading task.

2. Listen and read the memo to employees regarding a competing company. Then, mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F). What advantage does Hewster-Copeland have over Framer Associates?

1) Hewster-Copeland lost an important contract to Framer Associates.

2) Framer Associates had higher profits than Hewster-Copeland.

3) Suppliers suggest that people use Hewster- Copeland’s services.

MEMO

To: Hewster-Copeland, Inc. Employees

From: Ronald Hewster, the CEO

Date: March 11^th

Re: Framer Associates

Since Framer Associates won the bid for the city’s downtown revitalization contract, it has been getting a lot of publicity. That publicity has prompted new clients to seek out Framer Associates’ services and its business is booming. As a result, it has gone from being a minor player to one of our top competitors.

While it may seem like Framer Associates is a major threat to our company, I do not want any of our employees at Hewster-Copeland to think we are no longer a key player in the contracting and construction market. We have the advantage:

1. our reputation is solid;

2. and we have spent years building customer loyalty through hard work and dedication;

3. when it comes to experience and trustworthiness, we have the edge over Framers;

4. we have a good relationship with all of the material suppliers in our area.

Many of suppliers are always happy to mention our names and recommend our services to new customers. Just because we did not land the city Contract does not mean that we are ruined. In fact, earnings reports show that we still are the top grossing contracting and construction firm in the city.

I thank you all for your continued hard work in making Hewster-Copeland the best in the business.

RH

Vocabulary task

3. Fill in the blanks with the correct words and phrases:

bid key player advantage land grossing

1. The company is a ……. in the auto industry.

2. Which company submitted the lowest …….. ?

3. BeautyCo’s line of makeup is its highest ………… product.

4) Ronald’s experience gave him a(n) ………..

5) Mary’s small business is just a ………….. industry.

6) James has been unable to …………. new clients.

4. Match the words with the definitions:

Contract competitor threat edge recommend boom

1. to increase or become more successful;

2. something that is able to cause damage or hurt;

3. to suggest;

4. a quality that helps a company succeed an agreement between two companies;

5. a rival in the same field

Listening task

5. Listen to a conversation between a manager and an employee. Mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F).

1) Janet is employed by Framer Associates.

2) Hewster-Copeland supplies construction materials.

3) The man is not concerned about the competition.

Speaking task

6. With a partner, act out the roles below, based on the dialogue from Task 5. Then switch roles. USE LANGUAGE SUCH AS:

What is it you wanted to talk to me about?

I can assure you...

It’s just been alarming to see ...

Student A: You are an employee who is concerned about how your company is doing. Ask student B about:

• the company’s strength

• why your company has an advantage

Make up a rival company name.

Student B: An employee wants to talk to you about how your company is doing. Answer Student A’s questions. Make up personal details about your employee.

Writing task.

7. You are a manager. Write a memo to your employees about your company’s competition (100-120 words). Talk about:

HEWSTER-COPELAND

• Competition with a key player in the industry;

• An advantage you have over the competition;

• Bidding against your competitors for a project.