Business English Certificate (BEC) Higher Level C1 / Reading / Part 2

PART TWO

Questions 9 – 14

•    Read this text taken from an article about helping the people who manage change.

•    Choose the best sentence from the opposite page to fill each of the gaps.

•    for each gap 9-14, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.

•    Do not use any letter more than once.

•    There is an example at the beginning, (0).

Is it change, or the past preserved?

Last week, I received a letter from a reader who was concerned that the people who were leading the change effort in his company were not competent to do so. He asked: "How can I show them what they really need to do if they don't see it themselves?" (0) …H… About the only way to ensure people decide to do something differently is to help them see the gap between what they do now and what they need to do in the future. (9)…… [A/B/C/*D/E/F/G/H]  This means that, if you can help them see the gaps between where they want to go (and why), and where they are now and what skills they need to drive change, the potential for improvement is increased.

To identify the gap, assemble a small group of managers and discuss what the goal is and why. (10) ……. [A/*B/C/D/E/F/G/H]  The numbers are just the end result. What you want to be able to see are the dimensions of the organisation that will drive those results. You should do this with more than one group, (11) …… [A/B/C/D/E/F/*G/H]  What you have to consider is all aspects of the organisation. Try questions such as, "What systems and processes will be needed in the future?" Or, "What reward structures will be needed?" Or even, "What competencies will be needed?" When you get some consensus, compare it with what is in place at the moment. (12) ……. [*A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H]  But because your competition is closing their gaps, you have to as well.

Next, sit down with the managers who have to implement the change programme and show them the consensus on what has to be achieved. (13) …… [A/B/C/D/E/*F/G/H]  If you want this effort to succeed, ask them what they will do differently in four managerial competency areas: how they think, how they influence, how they achieve and how they lead.

After they have done this, they need to do a peer and subordinate review. Historically, when doing this review, managers discover that what they have done in the past will not cut it in the future. Yes, you may experience rejection or looks of bewilderment. (14) …… [A/B/*C/D/E/F/G/H]  If the organisation is to change for the better, managers need to realise that the only way it will happen is if they do things differently. And the only effective way for them to do this is to see it themselves.

 

A   Rest assured, there will be a gap and, in some organisations, the gap is rather intimidating.

B   This is important; they need to look at more than just the financial aspects.

C   But managers need to realise that the organisation is the way it is because of past decisions and the way they acted on them.

D   All the talking in the world about changing the way people work will not carry any weight compared with managers and employees discovering the gap themselves.

E   This is lame, old thinking that is not sustainable nor workable.

F   Then ask them what they are prepared to do differently, beginning tomorrow, to close the gaps.

G   Different managers have different perspectives and it is always good to see if there is a consensus in how the challenge is seen.

H   My experience is that you can't.

[answer-table]