Company structure

A. Big companies employing a large workforce have complex internal structures, with separate specialist department in charge of different functions. There are nine such departments at this company headquarters. Match each function with the department responsible for it.

Administration Purchasing Transport

Personnel

Accounts Legal

Research

Production e.g. 1 Sales & &

Marketing Development (R&D)

Ground Plan of Headquarters

Functions

1. carries out market research

2. works with the factory unit

3. runs the mail room for all incoming and outgoing correspondence

4. draws up contracts

5. operates the firm’s lorries, vans and cars

6. works to improve the firm’s product range

7. responsible for recruitment and selection

8. pays wages and salaries

9. in charge of the welfare of employees

10. includes data processing services

11. advises on corporate regulations

12. arranges delivery of goods to customers

13. organizes the activities of the sales representatives

14. provides office services, such as typing and photocopying

15. creates new products

16. keeps a record of all payments made and received

17. brings the firm’s goods and services to the attention of potential customers

18. organizes training courses

19. orders all supplies needed by the firm

20. organizes quality control to maintain product standards

B. Complete this extract from one large company’s annual report. There are twelve missing words and a choice of four possibilities for each.

Open communication with all employees is vital to achieving that sense of personal __1__ in the company, without which our steady __2__ would be impossible. __3__ communication between management and employees has played a key role in building the excellent __4__ relations on which we pride ourselves.

We recognize that professional enthusiasm does not depend solely on pay __5__, but also on the opportunities employees have to participate in the __6__ process and contribute to plans and choices that affect their jobs and careers.

All employees receive regular issues of our __7__ magazine and information booklets on our __8__ and plans, as well as regular __9__ of progress.

Advance __10__ of any changes to the business is given to all employees who may be affected. Managers meet on a __11__ basis with elected staff __12__ to tackle any problems and to ensure efficiency and stability.

e.g.

1. improvement/involvement/ popularity/development

2. share/market/size/growth

3. specific/formal/face-to-face/accurate

4. labour/public/departmental/ external

5. days/scales/claims/demands

6. training/promotion/decentralization/decision-making

7. popular/publicity/in-house/do-it-yourself

8. politics/policies/portfolio/prestige

9. programmes/levels/promises/reviews

10. notice/consideration/help/publication

11. freelance/quick/regular/standard

12. personnel/representatives/staff/executives

C. There are four main types of business ownership in the private sector of the economy: public limited company (PLC), partnership, sole trader & private limited company (Ltd.). Put each one into the correct box to complete the table.

1 Sole trader	2	3	4
one person provides all the capital	owned by two or more people who contribute capital	a registered company with restricted share transfer	a registered company whose shares can be bought and sold on the Stock Exchange
Unlimited liability (the personal assets of the owner(s) can be taken to pay any business debts)		Limited liability (liability for business debts is limited to the amount of capital subscribed)

Follow-Up Activities

1. Describe the general organization of your company or one you know.

2. Choose two departments of a large company and describe their functions in detail.

3. What are the advantages of working for a smaller firm? (wider range of activities etc.)

4. How is internal communication organized in your firm? And how could it be improved?

5. The type of business most likely to fail is that of the sole trader. Why should this be so?