1. Read the text and answer the following questions.
1. What management function was most lacking in the case?
2. In order to have a target so that the cost of films would not be too high, what should United Artists have done for each film?
3. What was a key missing ingredient between the management of United Artists and its then parent company, Transamerica Corporation?
A Long Wait for Heaven’s Gate
One of the worst movie flops of all time occurred in 1981. It was Heaven’s Gate, produced for United Artists’ Corporation by Michael Cimino. Estimated originally to cost $12 million, the film cost almost triple that figure. Then it turned out to the box office poison. Heaven’s Gate was only the most dramatic boo-boo by United Artists. Of ten films produced in 1980, seven cost twice as much as they drew from rentals. Experts in the industry criticized United for not having the “expertise to select, coordinate, and monitor difficult firm projects.” United, unlike other film companies, did not have a full staff of production-liaison executives closely monitoring costs as a film was being shot. In fact, most films were not planned with a specific cost limit in mind.
United Artists at the time was a company owned by another giant corporation, Transamerica Corporation. (Later Transamerica sold United Artists to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.) Insiders in the industry said that Transamerica’s management was never aware of how bad the situation was with Heaven’s Gate. Otherwise, they would have cut off funds early on.
2. After reading and hearing about management, do you think you have the right skills to be a manager? Would you be able, for example, to set objectives, motivate and coordinate the staff, and manage a department store, or a computer manufacturer? Writing
Letter writing
1. Study the relevant section in Writing file (pp. 210-212). Then rearrange these items so that the letter is correctly laid out. Add anything that is obviously missing.
(a)
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LGM/hp
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(b)
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Presser UK Limited
199 Knightsbridge
London SW7 1RJ
Tel: 071 586 5733
Telex: 22498
Fax: 071 586 9474
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(c)
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Linda Morgan (Mrs)
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(d)
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Miss Juliette Rocache
84 Ave du General de Gaulle
91160 Longjumeau
France
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(e)
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Yours sincerely
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(f)
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Managing Director – Administration
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(g)
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Thank you for your letter of 6 May which has been passed on to me by Mr Webb.
Mr Webb has asked me to inform you of your conditions of employment regarding Social Security arrangements. In cases like yours where we provide work experience facilities for overseas students, an individual is not covered by UK Social security as he/she is not considered as an employee.
If you have any questions to ask on this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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2. Study the phrases in the Useful Language box.
Starting a letter
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Thank you for
We acknowledge receipt of
Further to
With reference to
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your letter
order
enquiry
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of
dated
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2 May
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I am writing to
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inform
advise
tell
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you that....
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Informing
This is
I am pleased to
I regret
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inform
advise
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you that....
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Making a request
Would you please
Would you be so good as to
Kindly
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let me know as soon as possible.
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I would be grateful
It would be appreciated
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if you could.....
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Ending a letter
If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to visiting you again shortly.
An early reply would be greatly appreciated.
I look forward to hearing from you
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soon.
in the near future.
| 3. Complete this letter using some of the phrases from the Useful Language box.
F. Lynch & Co. Ltd.
(Head Office). Nesson House, Newell Street, Birmingham B3 3EL
Telephone № 021 236 6571 Fax: 021 236 8592 Telex: 341641
Mr J. Strazzulla 6 February 1998
Satex S.p.A
Via di Pietra Papa
00146 Roma
ITALY
Dear Mr Strazzulla,
1 ………………….. a recent order of ours arrived in a damaged condition and has been pillaged.
We duly made a claim on the insurance purchased by you but 2……………….. that the claim has not been settled.
Settlement has been delayed for several reasons but principally because Global Transport had gone into liquidation.
We have recently learnt that IPP, our present insurer, had accepted our claim and paid compensation to Global even though they were in liquidation. However, none of this money has ever been passed on to us.
3…………………….. contact Global or their liquidators to attempt to recover the money owing to us.
4……………………………………
Yours sincerely,
L. Crane
L. Crane
Chief Buyer
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4. Write the answer to the above letter using the guideline below.
1. Acknowledge the letter (show understanding)
2. Apologize for the problem caused.
3. Describe the actions you are planning to take.
4. Offer compensation.
5. Apologise again.
Useful Language
Showing understanding
I am very sorry to hear that...
I am sorry that you were .......
Apologising
I would like to apologise for the inconvenience you suffered.
the problem you experienced.
Please accept our sincere apologies.
Indicating action
I will look into the matter.
I will check with the staff involved.
Offering compensation
To compensate you for the inconvenience, we would like to offer you...
Ending the letter
Thank you for bringing the matter to my attention.
Once again, my apologies for the inconvenience caused.
We very much regret the embarrassment/annoyance you experienced.
I very much hope that you will continue to use our company in the future.
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