Business Partner B2 Extra activities

UNIT 2 Training and development

Lesson 2.1 Learning on the job

VIDEO A 2.1.1 Choose the correct option. Watch the video again if necessary.
1 What is a major aim of induction training according to the video?
a to use an analytical approach to teach new staff about the business and how it works
b to allow new staff to meet their colleagues and set up networks
c to help new staff be able to do their jobs quickly and contribute to the company
2 What specific information is usually discussed during an induction training?
a policies and procedures of a company
Lucrece b finding out who the key people in the company are
c an explanation of the variety of roles across the organisation
3 How does the company feel about the mentoring programme?
a It is necessary to help people have careers.
b It helps staff members build confidence which is good for the company.
c It provides a network and shows future opportunities to those who recently joined
the company.

Kina 4 What do trainees say about mentors?

a A person outside the company helps a new staff member with their job.
b They advise less experienced staff on skills and help them in their career progression.
c They explain how to solve problems.
5 What are the reasons given for using e-learning to train staff ?
a It is more flexible and keeps costs down.
b New staff enjoy using these programmes on their devices.
c People are only allowed to use e-learning technology while they are travelling.
Ashley
6 What did one employee learn in an online course?
a how to set up a personal network
b how to learn at his/her own pace
c health and safety regulations

B Complete the sentences from the video using words from the box. Some words
are not used.

career company develop flexible function key progress

success suitable systems up-to-date

1 … good training ensures that their staff have skills …

2 Induction training … helps new staff members get to know the company and its
as well as their new colleagues.
3 Mentoring can be a very successful way of helping individuals their careers.
4 It shows them that we are willing to invest the time and expertise in them and their .
5 The biggest benefit of mentoring for me is being able to measure your …
6 It allows people to learn at their own pace and in a more timetable.
7 Online training … means that you can really approach your training when it’s
for you.
8 … training and development is a critical in a modern business.

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UNIT 2 Training and development

Lesson 2.1 Learning on the job

Vocabulary C Complete the text using words and phrases from the box. Some are not used.

benchmarking competency emotional intelligence mentoring motivation

needs analysis online courses rapport skills sets training

Setting up courses including job-related 1 for a large corporation is

generally the responsibility of the HR Department. Before they are set up, companies
usually do a(n) 2 to find out what the employees should learn. Standards are
also set which can be measured by 3 during or after the course. It is also
necessary to decide on the delivery method of the training. This can sometimes take
place using blended learning (a combination of 4 and face-to-face training).
Some courses are seen as essential for the workplace and work on 5 needed
for particular jobs. Examples of these could include learning a computer programme,
presentation skills, or gaining 6 in a particular area of the business. Courses
which drive development are looked at as future investments for the company and may
include one-to-one 7 programmes. It is, however, important to look at both
areas when deciding on setting up programmes. While basic skills are necessary to do
one’s job well, development of young talent can boost employees’ 8 , which
is also essential to the future of a company.

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UNIT 2 Training and development

Lesson 2.2 Human resource strategies

Listening A 2.01 Complete the missing words from the extracts. The first letters are given.
Then listen again to check your answers.
1 I’ve been asked to start work on a global strategy for training and development … It’s a big
i .
2 We feel it’s important to have one strategy for both long-term and short-term goals
r training and development.
3 I’m really interested in your i on both training and development …
4 … how to use these 3D computer programs or be brought u on the latest
version.
5 Training a small group versus a larger group is a s decision …
6 … look carefully at who exactly needs the skill in q for their role .
7 … what other factors have to be taken into a ?
8 So, in general, you’re in f of this type of job-oriented training on skills?
9 I guess I would say that skill training is pretty cost e .
10 … we need to make sure that the subject matter is r to their level of
experience and knowledge.

Grammar B Look at the first sentence in each pair. Complete the second sentence with a
passive so that the meaning does not change.
1 All new employees have to learn our accounting system.
Our accounting system .
2 This will be expensive. We ought to leave the decision to Matthieu.
This will be expensive. The .
3 They should offer us an online course.
We .
4 Management must clarify how many people they want to train.
It .
5 More experienced employees can mentor junior staff.
Junior staff .
6 Long-term development programmes should develop a wide range of skills.
A wide range of skills .
7 A development programme may help an employee to make a career in the company.
An employee .
8 They would teach them communication skills if management thought it was necessary.
Communication skills .

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UNIT 2 Training and development

Lesson 2.3 Communication skills: Team communication

Functional A Look at the following dialogue which comes from a team meeting discussing
language ideas on how to handle a customer complaint. Complete the sentences using
the expressions in the box.

If I can add to that If we do that, then I think the best option here
So, shall we try What’s the best way to

A: 1
handle this customer’s complaint?
B: 2
is to show that we are taking her seriously. She is an
important customer.
A: 3
we have to be careful not to give in to all her requests.
We don’t want to lose any money.
B: You have a point there. 4 , we have to remember that she
does this occasionally to get us to re-negotiate our prices. We mustn’t allow that to
happen this time.
A: 5
to apologise but without offering her a new deal to
make up for it?
B: Yes, let’s do that.

B Think about something you would like to change where you work / at your
place of study. Discuss some ideas on how this change could be introduced.

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UNIT 2 Training and development

Lesson 2.4 Business skills: Facilitating a meeting

Functional A Complete the extracts from the meeting using the phrases in the box.
language
how does that sound to everyone in terms of next steps I want to hear everyone’s views
so if I understand correctly sorry to interrupt thanks, everyone, for today
the two main things we need to decide today we need to come to a decision
what do you think what I suggest is that we first discuss

Part 1: Opening
Facilitator: OK, shall we get started? As you can see from the agenda,
1
are who to appoint as leader on the innovation
project, and which people we want to allocate to the project team.
2
who we put in the team, because decisions here
will impact on the type of project leader we need to run things successfully.
Participant: But isn’t the project leader the main success factor? I think we need to …
Facilitator: OK, 3 . The project leader is the main success factor,
I agree, but we need to match the project leader to the people available for
the team.
Participant: OK, fair enough.
Facilitator: Now, we have a lot of experience around the table and some people new to
the company – Jean, you’ve been here only three months, I think, but
4
. As they say, there are no stupid questions or
ideas so please say what you think as this will help us take the right decision.
So, as I said, Jean, you’re the newest here, 5 ? Who
should we allocate to the project team and who do we need to keep in their
current roles?

Part 2: Discussion
Facilitator: OK, 6 , the consensus is that we can use Mike, Bob
and Sally for the team. Tim is too busy at the moment, yes?
Participants: Yes.
Facilitator: OK, but as we only have scope to appoint two people, 7
between Mike, Bob and Sally. My recommendation would be Mike and Bob.
Sally is tied up with other customer projects and I don’t want to risk delaying
them. 8 ?
Participants: Fine.
Facilitator: OK, then let’s move onto the question of the project leader.

Part 3: Close
Facilitator: OK,9 . We have a clear decision on the project
leader and team members. 10 , what I would
suggest is that I speak to the people involved and let you have their feedback
by email. Then we can confirm a way forward at our meeting next week.
Does that sound OK?

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UNIT 2 Training and development
Lesson 2.5 Writing: A training request
Functional A Match the sentence halves.
language 1 I think it would be very
2 I would therefore ask you if
3 Please could you let me know
4 As I have just been promoted, I
5 I need to develop my skills
6 Would it be possible for me
7 I am interested
8 As I have become team leader,
9 Consequently I request that
10 I would appreciate it
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a if you could reply by tomorrow.
b this course would be really useful.
c in developing my communication skills.
d I attend the next negotiation course.
e I could attend the next course.
f would like to attend a training course.
g helpful to arrange presentation skills training
for my team.
h to attend a customer service course?
i for dealing with conflict.
j if I can have the time off for the course?