IELTS Handbook 10 – Test 2

Well, I’ve been talking to managers in a number of businesses, and reading surveys about the future of management. And what I’m going to present in this seminar is a few ideas about how the activity is likely to change in the next ten years. It isn’t a scientific, statistical analysis – just some ideas for us to discuss.

One area I want to mention is business markets, (Q31) and I’m sure a really significant development will be a major increase in competition, with companies from all round the world [một sự phát triển thực sự quan trọng sẽ tạo ra sự gia tăng lớn trong cạnh tranh giữa các công ty từ khắp nơi trên thế giới] trying to sell similar products. Consumers will have much more choice – for instance, food products sold in Australia might be manufactured in the USA, China, Finland and dozens of other countries. At the same time, mergers (Q32) and takeovers mean that governments are actually losing power to major (=power of large ) global corporations [chính phủ đang thực sự mất đi quyền lực vào tay các tập đoàn toàn cầu lớn]. We can probably all think of companies that exert a great deal of influence, which may be good for consumers. (Q33) A third point I want to make about markets is that in the rapidly expanding economies, such as India, China, Brazil and Russia, demand is growing (=rising ) very fast [ở các nước có nền kinh tế đang phát triển nhanh chóng chẳng hạn như Ấn Độ, Trung Quốc, Brazil và Nga, thì nhu cầu đang tăng rất nhanh]. This is putting pressure on resources all over the world.

I think businesses are becoming more open to external influences. (Q34) In particular, companies are consulting customers more (=more discussion with) and more before making their business decisions [các công ty ngày càng tham khảo ý kiến khách hàng nhiều hơn trước khi đưa ra các quyết định kinh doanh của mình]. Companies are finding out what they want and providing it, instead of making products and then trying to sell them, which is the model of years ago.

(Q35) Another influence is that concerns about the environment will force manufacturers to extend product life cycles, to reduce the amount of pollution and waste (=environmental concerns). And in some cases, regulation will need to be strengthened (= may lead to more) [mối quan tâm về môi trường sẽ buộc các nhà sản xuất phải kéo dài vòng đời sản phẩm để giảm lượng ô nhiễm và chất thải. Và trong một số trường hợp, quy định sẽ cần phải được tăng cường]. 

Many societies are much more fluid and democratic, and the structure of companies is changing to reflect that. (Q36) I think we’re going to see a greater emphasis within companies on teams created (=teams will be formed) with a specific (= particular) project in mind [Tôi nghĩ rằng chúng ta sẽ thấy các công ty chú trọng nhiều hơn vào việc tạo ra các nhóm với từng dự án riêng biệt.]. And when they’re completed, the teams will be disbanded and new ones formed.

More and more people see work as simply one part of their lifestyle, and not the most important one, and as the workforce is shrinking in some countries, businesses are having to compete for staff instead of being about to choose among a lot of applicants. (Q37) Typical examples that will attract and retain staff are traditional ones like flexible hours [Điển hình cho những thứ có thể sẽ thu hút và giữ chân nhân viên đó là giờ giấc linh hoạt] and – something that has been made possible by advances in technology – remote working, with people based at their home, abroad, or almost anywhere they choose.

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Management styles will almost certainly continue to change. (Q38) Senior managers will require a lot more than the efficiency that they’ve always needed. Above all they’ll need great skills (=good) in leadership [Các nhà quản lý cấp cao sẽ đòi hỏi nhiều hơn hiệu suất mà họ luôn cần có. Trên tất cả, họ sẽ cần kỹ năng lãnh đạo tuyệt vời], so that their organisation can initiate and respond to change in a fast-moving world, where they face lots of competing requirements and potential conflicts.

In most of the world, the senior managers of large businesses are mainly men in their fifties and sixties. (Q39) The predominant style of management will almost certainly become more consultative and collaborative, caused above all, by more women moving into senior management positions (= taking senior roles) [Phong cách quản lý chủ yếu gần như  sẽ mang tính tư vấn và hợp tác hơn, trên hết là do việc nhiều phụ nữ chuyển sang các vị trí quản lý cấp cao].

Many of the changes are influenced by developments in the wider economy. The traditional emphasis of business was manufacturing, and of course the service sector is very important. But we shouldn’t overlook the growing financial contribution of IP, that is, intellectual property. Some books and films generate enormous sums from the sale of related DVDs, music, games, clothes, and so on.

Another point I’d like to make is that although I’ve been talking about companies, one trend that they have to face is the move away from people working for the same employer for years. (Q40) Instead, more and more people are becoming self-employed [Thay vào đó, ngày càng có nhiều người trở thành lao động tự do], to gain the freedom and control over their lives that they’re unlikely to get from being employed.

OK, well that’s all I want to say, so let’s open it up for discussion.