Materiál na 4.3. 09

UNIT EIGHT - CONSULTANTS




LISTENING 8.1. , p. 70


TASK Complete the sentences with the words/phrases from the listening exercise.


1. Once a company has identified a problem, consultants can __________________________ _____(3
words)  the exact task of consultancy.

2. Consultants need to establish objectives and principles. Here they often ______________________
 (2 words) SMART which stands for _________________________________________________ (4 words) and
_________________(1 word). Clients need to establish a ______________ (1 word), a budget and a
_______________ (1 word).

3. To choose the best consultant, you come up with a ________________ (1 word) and ask them to
_________________________ (3 words).

4. Once you have ____________________ (1 word) one of these consultants, you need to
_________________________ (2 words) a written contract.

5. The contract needs to contain information about _____________________ (1 word), i.e. the goods
and services that are going to be delivered.

6. Fees usually _________________ (2 words) one or two types. The main difference lies in the
_________________________________________ (6 words).

7. _____________________________ (3 words) contract the consultant
_____________________________________(3 words).

8. The company hiring consultants has to make sure the ___________________ (1 word) between them
and the consultant is right.


LISTENING 8.2. , p. 71


TASK Complete the gaps with prepositions if necessary.


1. What about overseeing____ the work?

2. What delieverables have you agreed________ ?

3. What problems are consultants coming__________ ?

4. It´s best if the consultant reports _________ just one person.

5. Some staff are resistant _________ change.

6. Some critics say consultants just snoop _______ and only produce a report telling you something
you already know.



READING, p. 73


1. Explain the expressions a) “ money for an old rope“, b) jack in  their ordinary jobs

2. Which industries tend to spend most money on consultating services? What do they expect from
consultants?

3. As consultancy business is relatively young, it tends to be less competitive than other
businesses. T/F

4. Which employee target groups do consultancy companies usually try to attract and how? What do
they want in return?

5. What strategies may some consultants be using to get more business?

6. Explain the expressions “unscrupulous“ and “with hindsight“.

7. How do clients sometimes put pressure on consultants?

8. Explain the expression: some companies are “high maitenance“.

9. Why can an inexperienced client find himself in a situation where they are paying a huge fee
for  substandard services from consultants? How does the industry protect itself from
underperforming consultants? Why is the existing protection still insufficient?

10. What general tendency in busines today has made it easier for consultancy business to thrive?

11. It´s not easy for a client company to choose a suitable consultant. T/F

12. Give an example of consultancy service which worked extremely well and failed in two projects
assigned by the same company.