Unit 10 Achieving Perfection

Reading

Listen and read the article from a business magazine. Then, read the summary of the dialogue. Fill in the blanks with the correct words and phrases from the word bank. What did you learn from the text?

According to the article, the key to a good management strategy is to use every available tool. Benchmarks should measure owners' businesses, their competitors and even other industries. The best practice followed in other industries may benefit other industries as well. For optimąl results, owners should study all available methods.

Speaking

With a partner, act out the roles below, based on the dialogue from task 6. Then switch roles.

B: Hi Pete. What were the results from the benchmarking study?

A: We got great results. In fact, were better than our competition.

B: That's great news. But how can you be sure?

A: I compared production numbers. We're a smaller company so naturally produce smaller amounts overall.

B: see. But why is that better?

A: Because we're way more efficient. We spend about a quarter of our budget on production. But the bigger competitors spend almost twice that. B: see. They produce more overall, but our methods save more money than theirs.

A: Exactly. In fact, the quality management standards on our production line could be applied elsewhere.

B: How so?

A: Inoticed it while checking the internal benchmarks. As efficient as our production line is, our marketing department needs work

B: So what are you suggesting? A: We take the production best practices and apply them to the marketing department.