LINE AND STAFF POSITIONS

(Peggy Forman is talking with Jaff Downing, another administrative

assistant in her company.)

Jaff How are you today, Peggy?

Peggy Oh, fine, thanks.

Jaff Glad to hear that. By the way, are you familiar with the organizational

chart for the company?

Peggy No, I am not. What is it like actually?

Jaff Well, the chart shows how the employees are devided into groups. It gives one an overview of the chain of command in the company.

Peggy I see- The positions can be line and staff ones.

Jaff Yes. The subject is not new to you. What else do you know about it?

Peggy As far as I know a worker in a line position receives orders from his immediate subordinate.

Jaff Exactly, that's the line chain of command.

Peggy A worker in a staff position reports directly to a line worker but he neither gives nor receives orders for line workers. Am I right?

Jaff Yes, you are. But someone may have line authority over people in his department and not be considered a line administrator.

Peggy How can it be?

Jaff That's possible when a whole department is a staff department. For example, in our company the head of the credit department or the personnel department can hardly ever be president of the company.

Peggy And what do the people in staff departments do, how is their work different?

Jaff Well, they are usually busy with services and they could do the same service for any company. So they are not in the line.

Peggy It seems to be rather complicated.

Jaff It only seems so. I think the chart should help.

Peggy Oh, sure. But, Jaff, would you explain me what span of control is?

Jaff Oh, span of control refers to the number of people whom one manages directly.

Peggy Can you give me an example?

Jaff Well. The President of our company directly manages the Vice-President of Production, the Vice-President of Marketing and the Controller. Thus, his span of control includes three people.

Peggy Yes, now I see. Thank you for your help.

Jaff Not at all. Why don't we go to the coffee stall and have a snack together?

II. Answer the questions.
1. What is the the organizational chart for the company?
2. What does a worker in a line position receive?
3. What are the responsibilities of a worker in a staff position?

4. What do the people in staff departments do?
5. What is span of control?

III. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense form.
1. His sister (to know) Spanish very well. 2. My friend (to get) up early yesterday. 3.The bus usually (to run) quickly.
4.Mary (to switch) already the light.
5.My relatives (to receive) the parcel by next week.. 6.The (to see) already "Swan Lake" at the Bolshoi Theatre. 7.I (to work) in the field at that time. 8.He (to swim) in the river now.
9.We (to discuss) the novel now. 10.I said that I (to have) my breakfast at 7 a.m.

IV. Test. 1.Football... a popular sport.

a) are b) is c) have d)had

2.This room is not so... as that one on the first floor. a) comfortable b) more comfortable

c)the most comfortable d) the comfortablest

3.In summer Nick usually... tennis twice a week. a) play b) plays c) is playing d) was playing 4.The bridge... long ago. a) will be built b) was built c) built d) was being built 5.If you eat too many sweets... gain weight. a) you will b) you would c) you are d) you have
6. … I ask you to do me a favour? a) May b) Will be able c) Have d) Am 7.He insists that the fact should... at the meeting. a)to mention b) mention c) to be mentioned d) be mentioned
8. He was born in the... of Sosnivka. a)country b) village c) pencil d) lamp
9. Find a mistake. Lessons are as a rule attending by all the pupils.a)a b) attending c)by d) pupils
10. This is the boy you wanted to speak to. a) Це хлопець, з яким ви хотіли поговорити. b) Цей хлопець хотів поговорити з вами. c) Це хлопець, з яким ви хотіли би поговорити. d) Це хлопець, про якого хочуть поговорити.

V. Insert preposition where necessary.

1. He's not independent... any means. He depends... his fa­ther... everything.
2. He has a picture... Picasso (Picasso painted the pic­ture) and he can't decide whether to hang it... the hall... the right as you come... or... the sitting room... the fireplace.
3. I'm tired... hearing about Tom and his Picasso. He can hang it... his garage... all I care! 4. He said he was... debt and asked me... a loan... £50.
5. What's the cheapest way... getting... London... Edin­burgh? ~ Well, you could hitch hike there... next... nothing, or you could go... coach... about £20. 6. I was horrified... his appearance. He looked as if he hadn't slept... weeks. 7. When he gets back... the office he expects his wife to meet him... the door... his slippers, and have a hot meal waiting... him. 8. Yesterday the children went... a walk and didn't get back... 10 p.m. Their mother was furious... them... coming in so late. 9. Passengers who get... or... a bus (i.e. who board or leave it) except... the official stops do so... their own risk. 10. The rows are lettered... A to T, beginning... the row nearest the stage. So if Tom is sitting... B26, and Jack is sitting... C26, Tom will be directly... front…Jack.

ВАРІАНТ № 14

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