4 Feedback

 character descriptions 4.2 Vocabulary  Managing people and projects

 adjectives to describe
character

 collocations relating to
project management

Discussion
1 With a partner, match the character types in the box with the descriptions a–e. Which
type would be the most difficult to manage, and why? Which type are you?

the bully   ​the leader   ​the maverick   ​the team player   ​the workaholic

a) This character does things their own way. They may be effective, but they’re difficult to
control.
b) This person has a natural ability to encourage others and take a project through to success.
c) This person doesn’t know when to stop, and they often believe the office would collapse
without them.
d) This person imposes their personality on others, making other people feel bad in the
workplace.
e) This person has a natural ability to fit in. They make positive contributions and build good
relationships.

2 Which character types in Exercise 1 do you associate with the adjectives in the box?

aggressive   ​anxious   ​charismatic   ​confident   ​cooperative   ​decisive   ​easy-going   ​
friendly   ​helpful   ​impatient   ​independent   ​individual   ​motivating   ​obsessive   ​
over-critical   ​single-minded   ​stressed   ​unpredictable

Listening
3 1:59 Listen to an HR manager and a line manager talking about three members of
their team. Decide which of the character types in Exercise 1 describes each person.
Anna      Bjorn      Katia

4 1:59 Listen again. Which adjectives do you hear that confirm your answers in
Exercise 3?

Expressions
5 The expressions in bold were all in the recording. Match expressions 1–8 with the
replies a–h. Use a dictionary to help you if necessary.
1 Marion is in danger of burning out. a) Except Rob, but he doesn’t like anyone!
2 How are you settling in? b) I wish I could, but things are just too hectic.
3 If we want to succeed, we must pull c) I know. He asked me to do his report for him!
together. d) No, you can rely on me.
4 He’s always passing the buck! e) Perhaps we should run a team-building course?
5 She gets on well with everyone. f) Yes. She’s a workaholic. It’s affecting her health.
6 Don’t let me down, will you? g) You’re right, and that means more work for us!
7 Dave isn’t pulling his weight! h) Fine, thanks, though I still don’t know everyone.
8 You should learn to take it easy.

50 2.0
 Defining words
6 Match the people involved in a project in 1–5 with the definitions a–e.
1 Sponsor
2 Project manager
Search for the keywords
project management
3 Project team members
tips and decide whether 4 End users
you would make a good 5 Key stakeholders
or bad project manager. a) The people who will benefit from the end results of the project on a day-to-day basis.
Prepare a one-minute
b) The person or group of people who decided the project was needed in the first place.
talk to the class to
c) Anybody who might be affected by the project, whether positively or negatively.

4.2 Vocabulary
explain your decision.
d) The person responsible for running the project and delivering on time and within budget.
e) Staff chosen for the skills they can bring to the project, often from different departments.

7 Read the list of people or groups involved in or affected by a motorway construction

project. Match them with the key players 1–5 in Exercise 6.
a) truck and car drivers
b) the Ministry of Transport
c) a senior engineer in a major civil engineering company
d) a plant hire company, an environmental protection group and villagers living near the
proposed route
e) a civil engineer, a surveyor, an environmental engineer and a transport consultant

Collocations
8 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in the box. In some sentences,
more than one verb is possible.

achieve establish fix meet miss reach set stick to

1 Unless the team really pulls together, we’ll never the deadline on the Malaysian order.
2 The project has been difficult so far. However, once we the next milestone, everything
should get easier.
3 To make sense of our tasks, we need to a timeframe within which we can all work.
4 Frank is such an unreasonable boss: he always our targets for overseas sales too high.
5 Congratulations! We’ve our targets for quality this year due to all your hard work.
6 We’ve been vague about the schedule for too long. It’s time we a date for definite and
moved on.
7 In the end, I my deadline for my accountancy project, but it didn’t matter: everybody
Glossary pAGE 153
else was late too.
8 Sam’s excellent at getting things done on time, but she finds it impossible to her budget.
appraisal interview
bully Discussion
hectic
9 In small groups, take turns to describe your personality, your strengths and weaknesses,
loner
maverick and what you would be good or bad at doing in a project.
milestone
pass the buck
pull your weight

2.0 51