BEC剑桥高级英语听力原文

1、ThefutureofhumanresourcesIthinktheproblemisthatinthelastfifteenyears,employershaventshowntheiremployeesmuchvehiredandfiredprettymuchatwill,accordingtowhetherthemarketdictatedthattheyneedtoincreaseorreducetheflipsideofthisisthatemployeesnow,particularlythoseinthe25to35agegroup,dontfeelmuchloyaltytoth

2、eiremployerstrategiestoholdontohighlyskilledandhighlyqualifiedpeoplehasbecomethenumberonepriorityinhumanresources-inallbigcompanies,infact.Theresnodoubtthatinthenexttenyearstherewillbeamoveawayfromtheninetofiveoffice-basedmodelofwork.Infact,itsalreadyhappeningwithwomen,whooftenfinditchallengingtobal

3、anceworkanddomesticschedules.Thiscouldmeanmoreteleworking,inotherwordsworkingathomeandbeinglinkedtotheofficebycomputer;oritcouldmeanshorterworkingweeksorjustmoreflexiblehours,Unlesscompaniesofferthesepossibilities,alotofpeoplewilllookforalternativetypesofwork.Companiesarefindingthatgraduatesandschoo

4、lleaversarentwellenoughpreparedforworkinglife.Thisisgoingtodrivetwochanges,Ithink.Oneisagreaterco-operatingbetweencompaniesanduniversitiesorcollegestoensurethatatentryleveltothecompany,peoplehavetherightskills.Wellalsoseemoreinvestmentincorporatetraining-corporateuniversitiesandsoon-sothatemployeess

5、killscanbemouldedtotheneedsofthecompany.4)Asthebirthratedecreasedandlifeexpectancyincreases,therewillbeshortagesinthejobmarket.Consequently,alotofex-employeeswhothoughttheyhadfinishedtheircareersat60orwhatever,willbecalledbacktowork.Thiswillsuitthecompanies,butitwillsuittheemployeestoo,becausetheirp

6、ensionswillprobablybeinadequatetofundtheirlongerretirement.5)Atthemomentpeopleintheir50sand60sare,onthewhole,verypoorlyvaluedincompanies.Firmswanttorecruityoungeremployeeswhoarecheapertoemployandmoreadaptabletoachangingbusinessenvironment.Butasthesupplyoftheseyoungerworkersdriesup,wellhavetoconsider

7、olderstaffdifferently.Ihopethatinfuturethewisdomandexperienceofthisgroupwillbecomemorevalued.AnenvironmentaccidentJ=JournalistS=SpokespersonJ:So,canyoutellmehowthishappened?S:Well,itwasaveryunfortunatecombinationofevents.Asyouknow,weatherconditionshavebeensevereintheeasternAtlanticforthelastcoupleof

8、days.Theshipscaptainreportedthattheshipwasintroubleat11pmlastnightandwasorderedtomakeforportasquicklyaspossible.At2:30pmhereportedthatshewasgroundedonsomerocksjustofftheCornishcoast.J:Butthisisntthefirsttimethisparticularshiphasbeeninanit?Shehasbeeninvolvedintwoincidentsinthepast,butthesehadnothingt

9、odowithhersea-worthiness,Sheisawell-maintainedshipinexcellentworkingorderwithanexperiencecrewonboard.Andwhatareyouintendingtodotolimitthedamagetotheenvironmentnow?Unfortunately,whileconditionsremainsohostile,thereisverylittlewecando,butthemomentthestormssubsidewewillbemountinganoperationtotransferth

10、eoilofftheshipusingtugs.J:Doyouthinkthatthiskindofaccidentisacceptable?S:Ithinkitneedstobeputintoperspective.Accidentsatseaarefarlesscommonthanrailorroadaccidents.Theproblemisthattheyattractmuchmorepublicity.Well,yes,Whicheverwayyoulookatit,itsaPRdisasterforyourcompany,isntit?S:AsIvesaid,thistypeofi

11、ncidentdoesattractalotofmediaattention.Ijusthopethatthepubliccansee.ThePeopleSofttakeoverCOMMENTATORIthinkyoucouldsumupPeopleSoftsapproachtotheiremployeeslikethis:Wewantyoutobehappy,wewantyoutodothethingsyouvegoodatandthatyouenjoydoing.VeryfewbigITconsultingcompaniesarelikeusuallythrowpeoplestraight

12、inatthedeepend:putthemonjobswheretheydontnecessarilyhavemuchskillorexperience,arguingthatitsgoodforthemtolearn.ButIthinkthatalthoughtheyhavetalkedalotaboutcaringfortheirpeopleandhavingfun,PeopleSoftputalotofresponsibilityonthemtoo.Liketheyweresaying,Heresajobyoucandoandwillenjoydoing,butyoullbeaccou

13、ntablefortheresults.Toenforcethattheygenerallystartedpeopleonlowsalaries-andImeanlow-andexplainedthatgreaterrewardswouldcomeintime.Infairness,itwasdirectandhonest.InDecember2004,whenOracletookover,alotofemployeesdecidedtoleave.Forastart,thefeelingwasthattheirapplicationsjustwerentasgoodasPeopleSofts

14、-infacttheywereprobablyjustmoredifficulttouse-andsecondlypeoplethoughtthatOracledidntrespectemployeesasmuch.TheCEOofPeopleSoft,DaveDuffield,hadaverypaternalisticapproach-heusedtosignhisemailsDAD(whichwerehisinitials).Itwasntwell-paidworkbutpeoplefeltvalued,whichisoftenmoreimportant.Alsotherewasarela

15、xedatmospherearoundthemomentthemergerwasannounced,thatkindofevaporated.Itseemedtobecometense,peoplewonderingifthenewCEOwasgoingtoliveuptohisreputationforwieldingtheaxe.And,inretrospect,youwouldhavetosaytheywererighttobeworried!INDUSTRYANALYSTOraclegetsalotofflakbecauseofitsaggressivegrowthstrategy,b

16、utimafraidinthissectoronlythebigguysaregoingtosurvive.ThemergerwithPeopleSoftwasabusinessnecessity.Itdidnthappenbecausethetwocompaniesweresoalike-theircultureswereveryOracletheresagreatersenseofurgency.Itsastressfulenvironment,buttherewardsarehuge.Iknowsomerepstherewhoaremakingmillionsofdollars.Sure

17、,ifyoudontcutit,youvetoastprettyfast,butthatsbusiness.Itssurvivalofthefittest.Thedifferencesreallycomefromthenatureofthetwobusinesses.Oraclescoreproductisdatabasesandwithdatabasesthecustomeroftenmakeadecisionwhethertobuyornotinamatterofweeks.WithERPapplications,whichismorePeopleSoftterritory,youcanb

18、eindiscussionswithcustomersformonths,analysingtheirneedsandthenproposingbeforeyouvereallygottoknowthebride.So,ofcoursepeopleareuncertain.Ithinkintheend,though,asbothsetsofemployeesadapttoeachotherswayofworking,thingswillsettledown.FallingsharesCEOok,hieveryone.Illmakethisbrief,becauseIhaveanothermee

19、tingtogetto,butwhatIhavetosayisnolessimportantforbeingshort.Asyouknow,inourthree-yearplanwehadatargetof20%growthbytheendofthisyear.Asthingsstand,wevegoingtobequiteabitshortofthat-tradingcircumstanceshaventbeeneasy.Andunlesswedosomethingaboutitinthenextfewmonths,theconsequencesonoursharepricecouldbep

20、rettysignificant.Themarketsarealreadygettingabittwitchyasyouwillhavereadinthefinancialpress.Itsunrealistictothinkthatwearegoingtotradeourwayoutofthis.Alltheindicationsarethatthemarketisgoingtoremainflatforatleastthenexttwelvemonths.So,whatIneedyoutodoistocomeupwithsomepossibletargetsforacquisition.W

21、erelookingforamedium-sizedbusiness,reasonablywellestablishedinthemarket.Itdoesnthavetobeatoybusiness,butitmustberelated.inotherwordsintheleisureretailsector,becausethatiswhereourexpertiseis.Idontneedtotellyouyourjobs,Iknowyoullbediscreet,butdogetonwithit-timesnotonourside.Illscheduleameetingforamont

22、hstimetohearwhatyouvecomeupwith.DealingwithproblemsCCO=CallcentreoperatorC=CustomerCCO:Hello,PencoTelecommunications.C:Atlast.Iwasjustabouttohangup.Ivebeenonthephonefortenminutesgoingthroughvariousoptions.NoneofwhichIwanted.CCO:Idoapologizeforthe.HowcanIhelpyou?Ivebeenwaitinginalldayforanengineertoc

23、omeandrepairmyline.Hewasduetocomeattenoclockthismorning.Itsnowthreeintheafternoon.Itelephonedattwelveoclockandoneofyouroperatorspromisedtocallmeback,butshehasnt.IvewastedmydaywaitingaroundandworsethanthatIstillreceiveanycalls.CCO:Imverysorry.CanihaveyournumberandIlllookintoitstraightaway?C:Yes,its01

24、889245624.CCO:Ok.Onemoment-Imgoingtoseewhotheengineeristhathasbeenassignedtothejob.Ok,Ihavehisnumber.Imgoingtoputyouonholdandtrytofindoutwhatshappened.cantPleasedontdisappear.Asisaid,ittookmetenminutestogetthroughinthefirstplace.CCO:Dontworry,Illcomestraightbacktoyou.Onemoment.Right,Imafraidnormally

25、worksuntil5pmbuthesofferedtoworklaterthiseveningtofitjob.Hecanbethereby6pm.Wouldthatbeconvenient?C:No,itwouldnot.Imgoingouttothecinemathisevening.CCO:Iquiteunderstand.Inthatcase,Imgoingtohavetoreschedulehimforday.Canyoutellmewhenwouldbeconvenient?C:Well,firstthingtomorrowmorning,but.inyouranotherCCO

26、:IllseewhatIcando.PleasejustbearwithmeforamomentwhileIspeaktohimagain.Rightthatsarrangedfortomorrowmorningatnine.Thatsallverywell,ButwhatamIsupposedtodointhemeantime?CCO:Doyouhaveamobilephone,sir?Yes.CCO:WhatIcandoistodivertanycallscomingintoyourofficenumberontoyourmobilephoneuntilyourlineisrepaired

27、.Wouldthatbeacceptabletoyou?C:Isupposeso.Whencanyoudothat?CCO:Ifyoudliketotellmeyourmobilenumber,IcangetthatactivatedimmediatelyOk,thenumberis.ExampracticeIimaginemostofyouareheretodaybecauseyouwanttofindoutmoreaboutthejobofacoach.Someofyouwillbescepticalaboutitsbenefits,otherswillhavealreadystarted

28、makingacareeroutofcoaching.Imyselfhavebeenacoachsincethelate90s,butouracademywassetupmorerecentlyin2004inresponsetoademandformoreformaltraininginthefield.Weareaprivateinstitutionanddontrelyonanygovernmentfunding.Ouraimwastotrytoprofessionaliseanindustrywhichuntilthenhadbeen,inthiscountryatanyrate,ar

29、atherdisorganisedandunregulatedindustry.Wenowhaveover450membersandruntwelvecoursesayearinvarioustypesofcoaching.Theserangefromdayseminarsforpeoplewhoarealreadypractisingascoachestofour-weekcoursesorthebeginner.Sowhatisacoachexactly?Well,therearemanydifferenttypesofcoachofferinghelpinmanydifferentasp

30、ectsofbusinessandpersonallife:fromfinancialormanagementcoachingthroughtoparentcoachingandwork-lifebalancecoaching.Butthebasicprinciplesremainthesamewhateverthefield:usingsimplepsychologyandsimpledirectiontohelppeopletobelieveinthemselvesandtoachievetheirgoals.Thegreatthingaboutcoachesisthatnotonlydo

31、theyhelpyoutoidentifyyourgoalsandtheobstaclestoachievingthem,buttheystaytherecheeringyouonfromthesidelines.Inotherwords,theyalwayshelptheclientstolookforward.Thisisveryunliketraditionalcounselling,whichtendstofocusmoreonpasteventsandmistakesandhelpingthepersontogetoverthesebeforetheycanmoveon.Imgoin

32、gtoshowyouashortfilmofacoachingsessioninamoment,butbeforeIdo,Iwilljustmentionsomethingabouttherewardsofthejob,andthequalificationsandresourcesthatyouneedforitbecausethesearequestionsthatwillbeconcerningmanyofyou.Therewards:Well,jobsatisfactionis,ofcourse,veryhigh.Imean,howoftendoyoucomehomefromworka

33、ndareabletosay,wow,Ireallymadeadifferencetosomeoneslifetoday?Astofinancialrewards,sessionswithcoachesusuallystartatabout70perhourbutexperiencedcoachescanearnanythingupto400perhour.Astoqualifications,youwillneedtofollowanaccreditedcoachingcourse,suchastheoneswerunhereattheacademy,andalsoyouwillneedco

34、nsiderableexperienceinthefieldthatyouarecoachingin.Ifyoudonthavethisbackgrounditwillbedifficultfortheclienttohaveconfidenceinyou.Whatelsedoyouneedtosetupasacoach?Mostcoachingisdoneattheclientsofficeorhome,butsomecoachesalsoseepeopleattheirownhomes.Infacttheresnoneedalwaystomeetface-to-face.Iknowofse

35、veralcoacheswhoconductsessionbyphoneoronline,evensometimesbytextmessage.SalestechniquesSarahWemakefinancialsoftwareformedium-sizedcompanies.Competitionisstrong-notnecessarilypricecompetition,becauseinoursector,quality,reliabilityandservicearefarmoreimportantfactors.Weuseasalestechniquethatscalledrel

36、ationshipselling.Inotherwords,wespendalotoftimegettingtoknoweachprospectsindividualneeds:theirbusinessprocesses,theirstrategicaims,andum.Alsotheissuesandconstraintstheyface.Theideaisthatthecustomerseesusasapartner,someonewhosgoingtoworkwiththemandhelpthemfindthebestsolutionfortheirbusiness.Workingth

37、isway,therearetimeswhenIhavetofreelyadmittopeoplethatourproductsmaynotbebestsuitedtotheirparticularneeds,buttobehonestIdmuchprefertobedoingthatthanusingsomehard-selltechniquetopushsomethingIdontreallybelieveinmyself,youknow.PresenterThankyou,Sarah.Now,DaleFreidman,Iknowyouhaveaverydifferentapproach.

38、DaleIwouldsayso,yes.Inmylineofbusiness,itsallaboutperceivedbenefits-therearesometangibleoneslike,forexample,useofnaturalingredientsinourdeodorants,buteveryoneintheindustrycopiesideas,soitsdifficulttosustainanykindoftechnicalcompetitiveadvantageforlong.So,IusealotofanecdoteswhenIsell;Itellstories,get

39、peoplelaughing,Myapproachisdirect-Iguesssomemightsaypushy,butIgetresults.Idealonlywiththedecisionmaker,whosgenerallyabuyerforachainofstores.Youdbeamazedhowmuchtimepeoplewastetalkingtothewrongguy.Ialwaysstartbypresentingthemwiththemostexpensiveoptions,becausethisincreasesouraveragesales,andassoonasIg

40、etabuyingsignalfromthem-itcouldbeanything,youknow,justaquestionlikeWhatsyourmostpopularproduct?-Imoveinandclosethesalebydiscussingquantitiesrequired,specialdeliveryarrangements,favorablepaymentterms,thingthatmakethemfeeltheyregettingaddedvalue.AsalesforecastAnkeReiglIseveryoneready?Good,thenIllbegin

41、.Ok.Well,basedonaveragegrowthinsalesoverthelasttwoyearsandgiventherelativelystablestateofthemarketatthemomentasfarascompetitionisconcerned,wereforecastingafairlymodestincreaseinthefirstquarter,about2to3%.Weexpectthistorisetobetween7and10%inthesecondandthirdquarters,afterthelaunchofthenewslow-release

42、versionofthedrug.Marketingtellsme-thanks,Wernerforyourhelpwiththis.WernerYourewelcome.AnkeReigl.Thatdemandforthisversionisstrongandshouldbereflectedinsalesmoreorlessimmediately.Sothatsthebasicpicture.TherearejustacoupleofmonthlyvariationstothistrendwhichIllexplainnowIfyoulookatthegraph,youllseethati

43、nMarchlastyearsaleswetupquitesharplyandthatthefigurepredictedforthisyearismuchlower.ThereasonforthisisthatBayerhaddistributionproblemsandwerentabletosupplytherequiredquantitiestotheircustomers.Wewerefortunate,becausewewerecartingextrastockandwerefortunate,becausewewerecarryingextrastockandwereableto

44、takeadvantageofthesituation.Ithinkitsworthnothingthatdisruptionsinthesupplychaincanaffectanyoneanditreallydoespayforustoholdareasonableamountofstockinreserveforeventslikethese.Asyouknow,salesgenerallydeclineinAprilandMat-itsjustaseasonalfactor-burasIalreadymentioned,thelaunchofthenewversionthisyeari

45、sexpectedtoboostthemconsiderably,especiallyinAprildirectlyafterthecampaign.Theylldropbackalittleafterthat,butinJulywellhavetheusualearlysummerphenomenonwhendistributors.AcultureofdebtEconomistPerhapsthegreaterlegacyofFederalReserveChairmanAlanGreenspanisthewayhetransformedpeoplesattitudetocreditandd

46、ebt.DuringhistermofofficenotonlythenationaldebtofAmerica,butalsopersonaldebt,increasedsubstantially.SincetheGreatDepressionofthe1930s,peopleinAmericahavebeennaturallyreluctanttoborrowmoney.Butforthisgeneration,intheUSandincreasinglyglobally,debthasbecomerespectable.Fromanearlyage,youngpeopletakeoutl

47、oanstopaytheirwaythroughcollegeandborrowingagainstequityinrealestateisnowatrecordlevels.Re-mortgagingyourhomewasunheardofgenerationsago:asecondmortgagewasanindicationofahouseholdintrouble.Buttodayitisroutine.Allthisispossiblebecausecreditiseasyandinterestratesarelow.Banksareencouragedtolend,andoften

48、dosoirresponsibly.Insomestatesitspossibletogeta100%mortgageinotherwordswithnodownpaymentequivalenttofourtimesacouplescombinedannualsalary.Themarketisconstantlycomingupwithnewfinancialproductsandnewwaysofextendingcredittoordinarypeople.GeneralMotors,whoseautomotivebusinessisindecline,nowsellshomeequi

49、tyloansthoughasubsidiary:itstheonlypartofcompanythathasbeenconsistentlyprofitableinrecentyears.Thereasonforthisboominmoneylendingiscleartofundconsumerspending.Aslongaspeoplearespending,economicgrowthcontinues.Inothermoreconservativeborrowingcultures,likeGermany,economicgrowthhasslowedbecauseintimeso

50、funcertaintypeopletendtosavetheirmoney,ratherthanborrowingandspendingtomakethemselvesfeelbetter.Sodoestheaccumulatingdebtmatter?Somesaythataslongasassetvaluesrisefasterthandebt,theresnoproblem.In2005Americansweretwelvetrilliondollarsindebt,buttheirpersonalassetsstoodat64trilliondollars.Othersargueth

51、atwearesittingonatime-bomb.Assetvaluewillnotcontinuetoriseindefinitelyandwhentheycrash,millionsofpeoplewillbeplungedintonegativeequity.Liabilitiesremainthesamebutassetscangoupanddowninvalue.Thiswasthecasewithstockmarketvalues,whichsawsharpfallsaround2000.Crisiswasavertedonlybecauseinvestorsmovedthei

52、rmoneyintorealestate.FormillionsofAmericansthisonlyconfirmedthecultureAlanGreenspanhadbeenpromotingdebtisgood.Andifheturnsouttobewrongwell,weallhadfuninthemeantime.discussingcostsCA=CostaccountantGM=GeneralmanagerCALook,wewilljustgetsqueezedmoreandmore.GMOk.Whatdoyousuggest?CAPersonally,Idrecommendc

53、uttingthewagebilleitherbylayingsomepeopleofforbyfreezingsalaries.GMNeitherofwhicharegoingtobeverypopularoptions.CANo,butthealternativesareprobablyworse:reducingmaterialcostswilldefinitelyhaveanimpactonproductqualityandcuttingbackonadvertisingexpenditureisonlyashort-termsolutionitwillhurtusinthelongr

54、un.GMNo,Iseeaboutadministrativecostsorotheroverheads?Insteadofcuttingstaff,wecouldtryanddosomethingaboutgettingourenergybillsdownforexample.CAIvealreadydoneasmuchasIcaninthoseareas.Ihavethoughtaboutthisalotandforme,theonlyrealsolutionistotacklelabourcosts.Itmaybepainful,buttheadvantageofitwouldbetha

55、t,oncedone,wecouldgetbacktoconcentratingonselling.GMOk,Ihearwhatyouresaying,butIthinkitmightcreatemoreproblemsthanyouthink.Imgoingtogoawayandthinkaboutitseeifthereisanacceptablewayofdoingit.Matchingwinner.Ithinkalotofusingovernmentarehopingthatifwejustholdonabit,thensoonerorlateranothersolutionwillp

56、resentitself.Exampractice1)Idontbelieveinthecapitalmarkets.Forastarttheyareunpredictableandforanotherthing,noteveryonehasthepossibilitytotakesuchriskswiththeirmoney.Ihavealwaysbeenoftheviewthatyoupaytaxesthroughyourworkinglifeinordertoenjoycertainbenefitsfromthestateandcertainprotectionagainstdiffic

57、ulttimes.Forexample,incaseofunemploymentorsicknessorforyourretirement,forthatmatter.SowhenIretire,Iwillliveonwhatthegovernmentisduetogiveme.IfIcantaffordcruisesintheCaribbean,thenthatstoobad.2)Imveryluckytohaveworkedinthecivilservice,whichhasitsownpensionscheme.Mysalaryhasneverbeenasgoodasitmighthav

58、ebeenintheprivatesector,butyouacceptthatwhenyouworkforapublicservice.Whatyoudogetisjobsecurity,longerholidays,goodmedicalinsuranceandanexcellentsveryrareintheprivatesector.Usuallyprivatecompaniestakeyouraveragesalaryoveraperiodof,say,twentyyears.SoallinallIexpecttobeverycomfortablewhenIretire,evenif

59、Ihaventhadthatmuchdisposableincomeduringmyworkinglife.3)Peoplethinkthatasacompanydirector,Imboundtohaveallsortsofprivilegedpensionbenefitsandcompanyschemesgoingonsomespecialexecutiveplan.Butitsnotthecase.WehaveacompanyschemeforallouremployeesbutIdontactuallyparticipateinit.Instead,Iveputmostofmymone

60、yinalong-termsavingsaccount,thatgivesagoodrateofreturnifyoukeepitinforlongenough.ItseemsbizarreIknow,butImakefarmorethanIneedtospendandIguessImnaturallycautiouswithmymoney.4)TheresasayingIdontknowwhobythatyoushouldinivestinland,becausetheydontmakeitanymore!Ithinkthatsgoodadvice.Around2004therestarte