(21.09) Homework Unit 2 (Ebs)

UNIT 2 (ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS STUDIES) – STUDENT'S ANSWER:
UNIT 2: WORK AND MOTIVATION
LEAD-IN: Motivators that would be important for me in my choice of a job:
 Good working conditions (a large, light, quiet office; efficient secretaries)

 Good remuneration (salary, commission, bonuses, perks)
 Job security
 The possibility of promotion
 Responsibility
 Good working relations with your line manager and colleagues
 A challenging job
 A belief in what the organization does
 Contact with people
 Long holidays/vacations
 Opportunities to travel (business class!)
DISCUSSION: ATTITUDE TO WORK:
Statements that I agree with:
 People dislike work and avoid it if they can.

 Work is necessary to people's psychological well-being.
 Most people are far more creative than their employers realize.
 People want to be interested in their work and, given the right conditions,
they will enjoy it.
 Under the right conditions, most people will accept responsibility and will
want to realize their own potential.
READING: THEORY X AND THEORY Y
Statement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Theory X Y X X Y X Y Y
COMPREHENSION:
1. Because they are lazy and will avoid work and responsibility if they can.
2. Because a responsible job is necessary to people's psychological well-
being (they will be creative, ambitious and self-motivated by the
satisfaction of doing a good job).
3. Because there are always people with little self-discipline and they are
unable to take on responsibility.
WRITING: Summary of Theories X and Y (no more than 50 words for each):
 Theory X assumes that people are lazy and try to avoid work and
responsibility if they can, so they have to be closely supervised and
controlled, and told what to do. They have to be both threatened (e.g.
losing their job) and rewarded with monetary incentives.
 As opposed to theory X, theory Y assumes that if people are under right

conditions to work, their psychological well-being will flourish by the
satisfaction of doing a good job. Theory Y is probably more applicable to
knowledge workers (e.g. managers), who is better skilled than people in
unskilled jobs.
DISCUSSION:
 Most temporary summer holiday jobs are outside of office hours, so a

good supervisor who seems to have believes in theory Y will be more
concerned about workers' basic needs as to pursue more achievements
from labor resources.
 As a supervisor, there are actions you can take to motivate subordinates
and help them see the value in their work:
o Encourage autonomy by allow them to work on projects they find
interesting.
o Foster a sense of ownership to make them feel like they have a
stake in the work they are doing and are aware of the impact it has
on the organization.
o Acknowledge their contributions, both big and small.
o Create opportunities for learning and growth to develop new skills
and take on new responsibilities, and encourage them to seek out
training or education opportunities that align with their goals.
o Encourage your subordinates to focus on the positive aspects of
their work (e.g. helping customers and coworkers)
READING: 'SATISFIERS" AND 'MOTIVATORS'
COMPREHENSION:
1 2 3 4 5 6
False False True True True False
VOCABULARY:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Labour Job wages benefits incentives promotion unskilled Job Corporate
relations security rotation culture
DISCUSSION:
Some of my criticisms of Herzberg's theory include:

o It is not exhaustive. While Herzberg's theory identifies several factors that
can act as motivators or satisfiers, it does not cover everything that can
impact employee motivation.
o Herzberg's theory assumes that job factors are the primary drivers of
employee satisfaction. However, other factors such as organizational
culture, leadership, and employee development also play important roles
in employee motivation.
o Motivation is a complex process, influenced by many factors, including

personal background, values, and goals. Herzberg's theory provides a
simplified view of motivation, which may not capture the full complexity
of the topic.
LISTENING 1: MANAGERS AND MOTIVATION
1. The pays are typically really low, compared to banking.

2. By giving them challenging problems and puzzles to solve.
3. Because they are not satisfied with their boss.
4. People are not motivated enough.
5. A manager must also learn how to balance between being a manager and
being a leader, having a vision, inspiring other people, helping them to
develop.
6. He suggests that the organization should do what staff wants (the
manager who is influential, and who is intermediary between senior
management and his staffs, can convince the organization to do what the
staff wants.
7. From his own perspective, he thinks it is a great motivator.
DISCUSSION:
o No, I would not. Being offered challenging problems to solve can make
work more interesting and meaningful, and can provide a sense of
accomplishment and pride. However, not all challenging problems may
be equally satisfying or motivating to all employees.
o It depends. While having a satisfying relationship with one's boss is an
important aspect of job satisfaction, it is not the only factor that
influences an employee's decision to stay or leave a company. Other
factors, such as salary, work responsibilities, opportunities for growth and
development, and the company's culture, can also play important roles.
o Yes, working for a manager who has influence within the organization can
be a motivator for some employees. If an employee feels that their
manager is respected and valued within the organization, they may see
their work as more impactful and meaningful. This can create a sense of
pride and achievement that drives motivation and engagement.
Additionally, having a manager with influence can help open more
opportunities for growth and development within the company.
LISTENING 2: OUT-OF-WORK ACTIVITIES
1. 40 years
2. A detergent factory
3. 12-hour shifts
4. They are bored
5. She set up meetings to find out what they were interested in outside of
work.
6. She found out that some entrepreneurs and others were involved in
helping people with HIV/AIDS
7. Reading books, playing football
8. You need to find out about your staff and be creative when coming up
ideas for motivating people
9. It means things that do not directly contribute to making a profit, or
which even cost the company money, but might make the staff motivated
about their jobs.
10. It means thinking unconventionally from a new and different perspective.
This expression has been widely used by consultants, which is probably
why Janine says she doesn't want to use it.
CASE STUDY: A CAR MANUFACTURER
WRITING:
Dear CEO,
I wanted to share with you a few ideas for improved employee benefits that I
believe will positively impact our employees' engagement, retention, and
overall well-being.
First, I propose that we subsidize the cost of our staff canteen to ensure that our
employees have access to affordable and nutritional meals. This will not only
save them money but also support their overall health and productivity.
Secondly, I recommend that we consider offering a higher salary to attract and

retain top talent in a competitive job market. This investment in our employees
will not only help us attract and retain the best talent but also show our
commitment to their success and well-being.
Thirdly, I suggest that we offer Career Training and Development programs to

support our employees' professional growth. This will not only empower
employees to develop their skills and capabilities but also create a culture of
continuous learning and innovation.
Finally, I propose that we offer discounted cars for our employees as part of our
benefits package. This will help employees save money on transportation and
make their lives easier.
By implementing these improved benefits, we will show our employees that we

care about their well-being and success. I am confident that these changes will
have a positive impact on our employees' engagement, retention, and overall
satisfaction, ultimately resulting in a more productive and successful
organization.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Bui Tran Minh Anh

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UNIT 2 (ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS STUDIES) – STUDENT'S ANSWER:

UNIT 2: WORK AND MOTIVATION

LEAD-IN: Motivators that would be important for me in my choice of a job:

 Good working conditions (a large, light, quiet office; efficient secretaries)

DISCUSSION: ATTITUDE TO WORK:

Statements that I agree with:

 People dislike work and avoid it if they can.

 As opposed to theory X, theory Y assumes that if people are under right

 Most temporary summer holiday jobs are outside of office hours, so a

READING: 'SATISFIERS" AND 'MOTIVATORS'

Some of my criticisms of Herzberg's theory include:

o Motivation is a complex process, influenced by many factors, including

LISTENING 1: MANAGERS AND MOTIVATION

1. The pays are typically really low, compared to banking.

LISTENING 2: OUT-OF-WORK ACTIVITIES

CASE STUDY: A CAR MANUFACTURER

Secondly, I recommend that we consider offering a higher salary to attract and

Thirdly, I suggest that we offer Career Training and Development programs to

By implementing these improved benefits, we will show our employees that we

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Bui Tran Minh Anh

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