LanGYM — Unit 3: On schedule

1 — Reading: A Ride That Runs on Time

Read the article, then answer the questions below.

A Ride That Runs on Time

Theme parks are big business these days. Millions of visitors buy tickets to enjoy the rides at Universal Studios in Florida or Disneyland Paris and each year visitor expectations are higher. To survive in this competitive world, every major theme park needs its new attraction, which requires years of upfront planning.

Phase one in most projects begins with brainstorming. The theme park designers think about the story behind the ride and its imagined geographical location. No idea is considered too crazy at this stage as there are no budget constraints – yet. Once the basic idea is agreed, each part of the ride is storyboarded, like scenes from a film. The images from the storyboard are then transformed into a combination of 3D models of the ride and images on a computer. At this point, the design team presents the concept to the main project manager and tries to provide an accurate forecast of the time needed to complete the project and a realistic budget.

Once the project is given the go ahead, phase two begins and the project team starts to work with other engineers, model makers and sound and lighting designers. In order not to miss the deadline, the project will need a wide range of people with specialist skills, and many parts of the process are outsourced. This is a critical period when it’s easy to run into problems. It would only take one of the teams to fall behind schedule or go over budget and the whole project could be delayed.

Assuming the construction phase stays on track, there then follows a long period of safety testing and assessment of the ride’s performance. Having made the launch date, the park starts to monitor visitor feedback; they survey visitors, and the overall success of the new ride will be calculated over time by the number of visitors choosing to go on the ride every hour.

Exercise 4 — Comprehension questions

2 — Match to make project phrases

Match each word or phrase (1–10) to its partner (a–j) to make a project management collocation from the article.

3 — Match meaning to phrase

Match each bold phrase (1–6) to a project collocation from Exercise 5.

4 — One verb, three phrases

Choose the verb from the box that collocates with all three phrases in each group. Word bank: miss stay go run make

1 — Context: The Tech-Tariff Project

The Tech-Tariff project is a collaboration between MMT-Tec (service provider) and Anvikon (mobile phone manufacturer). The aim is to launch a hi-tech phone with new advanced features. Sarah and Michelle from MMT-Tec and Ian from Anvikon are meeting to discuss the progress of the project.

2 — Listening 3.1: Make notes on the agenda

🔊 Listening 3.1: The update meeting (Part 1)

📁 br2_004_a3_1.mp3

Listen and make notes on the agenda items below. Item 1 has been done for you.

TECH-TARIFF UPDATE MEETING — 2 SEPT

Agenda

1 Update on marketing activities (MMT-Tec):

• Launch date ¹

• Advertising campaign ²

• Launch party: Venue ³

Catering: ⁴

2 Update on Anvikon activities:

• Handset ⁵

3 Project schedule

⁶

2. Fine — set a realistic schedule; planned extra time in case printing takes longer than expected.

3. Booked two weeks ago.

4. Received offers from various catering companies; no final choice yet; most are within budget.

5. Problem with battery life — can run out in six hours under permanent use; basic design problem identified.

6. May have to reschedule.

📋 Listen again — open questions

1. What four phrases does Sarah use to ask for an update on the project?

2. What three phrases do Sarah and Michelle use to clarify the problem with the battery?

3. What phrases does Michelle use to give an update? Underline them in the script below.

Sarah … OK, I sent you a proposed agenda yesterday. Have you had a chance to look at it?

Ian Yes, it looks fine.

Sarah So, the purpose of today is to update each other on progress and consider anything that might affect our schedule.

Ian OK.

Sarah So, Michelle, why don’t you start? How are things with the marketing department?

Michelle Up to now, the launch date has been set for the 15th of November, to capture the Christmas trade – this means we must meet our deadlines.

Sarah Good point. So how’s the advertising campaign coming along?

Michelle That’s fine. We’ve set a realistic schedule and planned in a bit of extra time in case the printing takes longer than expected.

Sarah Great. And how far are you with preparations for the launch party?

Michelle Our events manager says we’re on track. He booked the venue two weeks ago and I’ve already received offers from various catering companies. I haven’t made a final choice yet, but most of them are well within our budget.

Sarah That sounds good, Michelle, thanks. So, how does your side of things look, Ian?

Ian Well, actually, things aren’t running as smoothly as I’d hoped. We’ve hit a problem with the handset battery life.

Sarah OK … so what do you mean exactly?

Ian Well, in some cases, the battery can run out in six hours if its key features are in permanent use.

Michelle So what you’re saying is we’re about to launch a new revolutionary low cost mobile phone and its battery only lasts six hours!?

Ian Well, obviously, that’s an extreme case, but the engineers have identified that there is a basic design problem with the battery.

Sarah So the real problem lies with the battery manufacturers?

Ian Yes.

Michelle But, Ian, what about our deadlines? Can this problem be resolved?

Ian Well, our engineers are looking into it and if it’s fixable, they’ll do it, but they’ll need time. We may have to reschedule.

Michelle But we can’t postpone the launch at this stage! There must be something you can do.

Sarah Are there any alternatives?

Ian Well, I’ve got some suggestions, but you may not like them.

Sarah Ian, you’ve put us in a difficult position – why don’t we get another coffee and then we’ll look at our options?

3 — Listening 3.2

🔊 Listening 3.2: The update meeting (Part 2)

📁 br2_004_a3_2.mp3

📝 Open questions — share in class

1. Why didn’t Ian like the idea of finding another battery supplier?

2. Why didn’t Sarah like the idea of not mentioning the battery life?

3. Which proposal did they finally decide on?

4 — Complete the suggestions and responses

Listen to 3.2 again. Complete the beginning of each suggestion (a–e) and write the response each suggestion receives.

5 — Key Expressions: Running an Update Meeting

“How does your side of things look?”
“How’s the … coming along?”
“What’s the current status of …?”

Ask for update

Give update

“Up to now …” “I’ve already …”
“I haven’t … yet.” “We’re on track.”
“We’ve hit a problem with …”

“So what do you mean exactly?”
“So what you’re saying is …?”
“So the real problem lies with …?”

Clarify

Suggest

“How about (+ -ing)”
“We could (+ verb)”
“Why don’t we (+ verb)”

“That’s a good idea.” “It’s worth a try.”
“I don’t think that would …”
“I’m not convinced.”

Respond

1 📌 Discussion — bring your notes to class

Think about these questions before class. You will discuss them with a partner.

When someone makes a decision, do you ever question it? What does it depend on?

Do you ever question your manager’s decisions? What might happen if we don’t question decisions?

2 — Listening 3.3: Match conversations to topics

🔊 Listening 3.3: Three conversations about questioning a decision

📁 br2_004_a3_3.mp3

Listen to the three conversations. Match each conversation (1–3) to its topic.

budget

staffing

schedule

3 — Listening 3.3 again: Tick the expressions you hear

Listen again. Click each expression you hear in the three conversations.

1 Are you sure that’s the best way forward?
2 I don’t think that would work.
3 That’s not an ideal solution.
4 Is that really the case?
5 Sorry, but I’m not sure I agree.
6 I’m not entirely convinced.

1 — Grammar Hint

Present Perfect

Use to link a present situation with a past action (unspecified time): Ana has sent the new brochure to all our clients.
Use with yet, already, just, since, for, so far, up to now, recently, today.

Past Simple

Use for a finished past action at a specific time: I went to the sales conference last week.
Use with yesterday, last week, at 5.30, in 2002, ago, when.

2 — Identify the tense

Label each sentence as Present Perfect (PP) or Past Simple (PS).

3 — Classify time expressions

Click each time expression to sort it into the correct column, then click Check Answers.

Past Simple

Present Perfect

Both

📖 Working with Words

1 — Replace with project phrases

Replace the italicised phrase in each sentence with a project management phrase from the box. Change the form if necessary.

💬 Business Communication

2 — Complete the conversation (multiple choice)