UNIT 1                                            TARGET   FOCUS

1.1          Discussing general and specific objectives

Functions:

Referring to   initiatives and general objectives

Discussing   the implementation of initiatives

Referring to   measurable targets

Target   Language:

Language for   discussing initiatives and objectives

Terms for   discussing measurability

Theme:

A   continuous-improvement initiative

1.2          Explaining targets

Functions:

Explaining   specific targets

Target   Language:

Verbs for   describing targets – Present Continuous and Present Simple usage

Theme:

Setting   targets for the continuous-improvement initiative

1.3          Assessing targets and expectations

Functions:

Assessing   the achievability of objectives

Discussing   limitations

Target   Language:

Words   and phrases for describing achievability, and their opposites

Idioms   for referring to objectives and expectations

Theme:

Target   overload

UNIT 2                                            PROBLEM-SOLVING

2.1          Focusing on problems

Functions:

Drawing   attention to problems

Referring   to key issues

Referring   to side issues

Target   Language:

Collocations:   verbs and adjectives used with problem

Idioms   for describing problems

Theme:

Virtual   teams

2.2          Considering solutions to problems

Functions:

Focusing on   possible solutions to problems

Assessing   possible solutions to problems

Target   Language:

Collocations:   verbs and phrases used with option(s)

Words and   phrases for discussing options

Theme:

Virtual teams

2.3          Reacting to suggestions

Functions:

Expressing   reactions to proposals

Emphasizing   positive and negative reactions to proposals

Target   Language:

Phrases   for reacting to proposals

Theme:

Virtual   teams

UNIT 3                                            MOVING   FORWARD

3.1          Recommending courses of action

Functions:

Suggesting   action to be taken

Emphasizing   the importance of action

Target   Language:

Cleft   sentences

Theme:

Core   business and outsourcing

3.2          Building consensus

Functions:

Referring   to comments made by others

Target   Language:

Verbs   and collocations for referring to comments made by others

Theme:

Core   business and outsourcing

3.3          Discussing commercial projects

Functions:

Referring   to stages of commercial processes

Target   Language:

'Verbing'   (using nouns as verbs)

Terms   for referring to commercial processes

Theme:

Core   business and outsourcing

UNIT 4                                            TEAM   DYNAMICS

4.1          Coordinating teamwork

Functions:

Arranging   contact with others

Reporting   on plans and progress

Target   Language:

Phrasal   verbs and phrases with get

Theme:

Changing   a meeting agenda

4.2          Communicating positively

Functions:

Phrasing   statements positively

Target   Language:

Words   and phrases for adding a positive tone

Theme:

The   psychology of positive communication

4.3          Discussing team interaction

Functions:

Describing   how people interact

Discussing   team problems

Target   Language:

Phrasal   verbs and phrases with get

Words   and expressions for describing team problems

Theme:

Defining   professionalism

UNIT 5                                            KNOCKOUT   PRESENTATIONS

5.1          Linking and contrasting arguments

Functions:

Linking   points and arguments

Contrasting   opposing arguments

Target   Language:

Words   and phrases for linking and contrasting

Theme:

Acting   versus presenting

5.2          Illustrating points

Functions:

Using   parallels to illustrate points

Simplifying   and condensing

Target   Language:

Words   and phrases for drawing parallels

Words   and phrases for simplifying and condensing

Theme:

The   role of slides in presentations

5.3          Highlighting important points

Functions:

Referring   to obvious-but-important issues

Signaling   especially important issues

Target   Language:

Phrases   for referring to obviousness

especially,   particularly, notably, chiefly and related phrases

Theme:

Presentation   training

UNIT 6                                            BUSINESS   PROPOSITIONS

6.1          Pitching proposals

Functions:

Using   question-and-answer explanations

Linking   subjective and objective arguments

Target   Language:

Words   and phrases for linking answers to questions

Theme:

Making   pitches to potential investors

6.2          Asking probing questions

Functions:

Asking   sophisticated questions

Intensifying   questions

Softening   questions

Target   Language:

Question   forms

Theme:

Seeking   funding for a new invention

6.3          Responding to proposals

Functions:

Explaining   thoughts on proposals

Qualifying   degrees of agreement and disagreement

Target   Language:

Words   to describe feelings about proposals

less   than / not 100% / overly / more than a little + adjective

Phrases   for describing agreement and disagreement

Theme:

Seeking   funding for a new invention

UNIT 7                                            SKILLS   AND QUALITIES

7.1          Describing personal qualities

Functions:

Describing   personal qualities

Target   Language:

Personal   qualities: nouns and related adjectives

Theme:

Personal   qualities of entrepreneurs

7.2          Assessing professional performance

Functions:

Discussing   acceptability and satisfaction

Target   Language:

Adjectives   and opposites with prefixes un- and -in

Theme:

Evaluating   candidates in recruitment interviews

7.3          Discussing imaginary scenarios

Functions:

Describing   hypothetical scenarios

Target   Language:

Review   of zero, 1^st and 2^nd conditional

Use   of zero and first conditional in 'scenario discussions'

Theme:

Behavioral   interviews

UNIT 8                                            ORGANIZATIONS

8.1          Describing types of organization

Functions:

Referring   to specific types of organization

Categorizing   organizations

Target   Language:

Terms   and abbreviations for types of organizations

Theme:

Different   types of company in different countries

8.2          Assessing organizations

Functions:

Describing   positive and negative organizational characteristics

Target   Language:

Adjectives   for assessing organizations, and prefixes for opposites

Theme:

Assessing   organizations as potential investments, and as suppliers

8.3          Weighing advantages and   disadvantages

Functions:

Discussing   advantages

Discussing   disadvantages

Target   Language:

Phrases   for discussing and weighing advantages and disadvantages

Theme:

Private-sector   versus public-sector organizations

UNIT 9                                            BEATING   THE COMPETITION

9.1          Comparing competing products and   services

Functions:

Making   emphatic comparisons

Describing   degrees of quality

Describing   price levels

Target   Language:

Idioms for making   comparisons

Idioms for describing   price and quality

Theme:

Magazine   reviews, investing in a new production line

9.2          Discussing competitive strategies

Functions:

Describing   similarities and differentiation

Discussing   price competition

Target   Language:

Business competition:   terms, phrases and idioms

Theme:

Competing   on price v differentiation

9.3          Making complex comparisons

Functions:

Referring   to specific criteria

Discussing   comparable criteria

Target   Language:

Synonyms for criterion

Words and phrases for   comparing criteria

Theme:

Airline   competition, Edward de Bono's 'surpetition'

UNIT 10                                         SEEDS   OF SUCCESS

10.1        Discussing potential

Functions:

Assessing   potential

Target   Language:

potential – usage and phrases

Theme:

Business   potential of green energy

10.2        Describing growth and contraction

Functions:

Describing   empirical changes and trends

Target   Language:

Words, phrases and   idioms for describing trends

Theme:

Crocs

10.3        Explaining ideas

Functions:

Describing   the origins of ideas

Target   Language:

Words and phrases for   discussing ideas

Theme:

Jibbitz

UNIT 11                                         PLANS   AND SCHEDULES

11.1        Discussing priorities

Functions:

Describing   priorities

Contrasting   ideal situations and real constraints

Target   Language:

Phrases related to priority

Phrases for referring   to ideal situations

Theme:

Scheduling   a project at a chemicals plant

11.2        Discussing detailed schedules

Functions:

Using   specific scheduling terms

Explaining   interrelationships between plans

Target   Language:

Schedule terminology

Words for describing   interdependence

Theme:

Critical   Path Analysis

11.3        Stressing important points

Functions:

Stressing   important points verbally

Stressing   important points in writing

Target   Language:

Words and phrases for   stressing important points verbally

Words and phrases for   stressing important points in writing

Theme:

Planning   the design phase of a project

UNIT 12                                         WHEELS   IN MOTION

12.1        Discussing work in progress

Functions:

Referring   to ongoing activities

Referring   to the current state of affairs

Target   Language:

Words and phrases for   referring to the present

Theme:

Opening   a new sales office

12.2        Discussing planned progress

Functions:

Referring   to future points in time

Discussing   targets in relation to future timeframes

Target   Language:

Review of future   perfect and future continuous tenses

Phrases for referring   to future points in time

Theme:

A   publishing schedule

12.3        Reporting on progress

Functions:

Describing   tasks currently being completed

Discussing   delays

Target   Language:

Phrasal verbs and word   pairs relating to progress

Theme:

Publishing   schedule problems

UNIT 13                                         POLICY   AND CULTURE

13.1        Describing controls and restrictions

Functions:

Describing   authority limits

Describing   restrictive measures

Target   Language:

Controls and   restrictions: verbs and nouns

Theme:

Security   of information

13.2        Discussing causes and effects

Functions:

Discussing   causes

Discussing   effects

Referring   to sources of motivation

Target   Language:

Verbs to describe   influences and motivation + to ... / + from ...ing

Theme:

Effects   of open-plan offices on communication

13.3        Discussing codes of conduct

Functions:

Describing   cultural behavior

Describing   personal judgments

Target   Language:

Passive forms for   describing attitudes and judgments

Idioms and   collocations for describing attitudes and judgments

Theme:

Cultural   attitudes to working hours

UNIT 14                                         ECONOMIC   REALITY

14.1        Referring to economic variables

Functions:

Referring   to specific economic variables

Referring   to sectors of the economy

Target   Language:

Economic vocabulary

Theme:

Business   news

14.2        Discussing the economic climate

Functions:

Referring   to points in the economic cycle

Describing   changes in the economic climate

Target   Language:

Language for   describing economic ups and downs

Theme:

Economic   history from the dotcom boom to the subprime mortgage crisis

14.3        Discussing strategic responses

Functions:

Describing   strategic reactions

Target   Language:

Phrasal verbs:   strategic changes

Theme:

Reacting   to a downturn, determining the location of a new plant

UNIT 15                                         ROLES   AND RESPONSIBILITIES

15.1        Describing responsibilities and   functions

Functions:

Describing   professional functions

Target   Language:

Verbs and phrasal   verbs for describing professional functions

Theme:

Appointing   a new director to push through change

15.2        Attributing and interpreting job   titles

Functions:

Transforming   descriptive language into titles

Understanding   inferences of specific titles

Target   Language:

Suffixes in job   titles: -er, -or, -ant, -ist

Common job titles

Theme:

Embellishing   job titles

15.3        Discussing time-management issues

Functions:

Discussing   time commitments

Discussing   time-management strategies

Target   Language:

Time-management   phrases

Theme:

Juggling   commitments