BEC Higher Speaking Test Part 3
For two candidates:Team Building
The company you work for is about to take over another company and is keen to encourage staff from both companies to work together effectively. You have been asked to prepare a proposal for team building.
Discuss and decide together:
Discuss and decide together:
- what kinds of work projects and leisure activities would be suitable to encourage teamwork
- what benefits effective teamwork could bring to the company
- what arrangements should be made before new colleagues start working together* [for three candidates]
BEC Higher Speaking Test Part 3 Sample Answers
A I think it's important to review the workload of both groups of employees and look for duplication and areas or projects that could be combined. This will make for better efficiency and reduce any duplicate effort.
B Yes, that's a good idea, and by learning more about what each group of workers is doing we'll be able to get a better idea of how to integrate them.
A It would be a good idea to start things off with an integration activity, maybe on a Friday afternoon, or a saturday morning. This will give people a chance to get to know each other in a social and fun setting rather than just in the workplace.
B Ok, that's a good idea, we can ask HHRR to come up with some activities that everyone can participate in so that they mingle and find out a bit more about each other.
A Yes, exactly, some team challenges in the form of games or something similar would be a good idea, and we can make the teams a mixture of people from both companies, you know, try and avoid them choosing their own team mates.
B I agree, if they do that, it won't achieve the same result.
A If we can develop a culture of effective and efficient teamwork then it will make the transition period for both groups of staff much easier and will be good for the new company also. It's important to get off to a good start and also to make sure that everyone is included and feels valuable in the new organization.
C Is there anything specifically we should do before we ask them to start working together?
B We should maybe consider, after the large integration event, and once we have looked at the projects and work being carried out by the group from the other company, working with smaller groups on a more personal integration level to look at the possibility of forming new project teams based on people from both companies. It will be an ideal opportunity for each group to learn from the other as I'm sure although our experience is similar, there will be some areas they are stronger in than we are and vice versa.
A That's a good point and if we're going to make teamwork a focus of the new organization it's important that everyone involved realizes how important it is and the benefits for everyone involved as well as the business.
C So we should plan some integration activities at department level and maybe even project level so as to include everyone and give them plenty of opportunity to meet each other and discuss their reservations and expectations. There are bound to be some rumors of cuts and redundancies so I think it's important to assure everyone that we aren't planning anything like that in the near future. If they aren't worried about their job security, they will probably work a lot better together and it will eliminate any competitive back stabbing that may occur.
B Yes, good point, we don't want them to start working against each other - but with each other.
A OK, so we'll start with an informal integration event, with some team based activities, but with the focus on fun and just getting to know each other. Then we can work our way down through department level and project / team level with different activities to help build new teams and help them bind and work together efectively. We can base these sessions more on business related issues, knowledge aand shared professional experience.
C Sounds good.
B Yes, I think we all agree on that as a proposal.
B Yes, that's a good idea, and by learning more about what each group of workers is doing we'll be able to get a better idea of how to integrate them.
A It would be a good idea to start things off with an integration activity, maybe on a Friday afternoon, or a saturday morning. This will give people a chance to get to know each other in a social and fun setting rather than just in the workplace.
B Ok, that's a good idea, we can ask HHRR to come up with some activities that everyone can participate in so that they mingle and find out a bit more about each other.
A Yes, exactly, some team challenges in the form of games or something similar would be a good idea, and we can make the teams a mixture of people from both companies, you know, try and avoid them choosing their own team mates.
B I agree, if they do that, it won't achieve the same result.
A If we can develop a culture of effective and efficient teamwork then it will make the transition period for both groups of staff much easier and will be good for the new company also. It's important to get off to a good start and also to make sure that everyone is included and feels valuable in the new organization.
C Is there anything specifically we should do before we ask them to start working together?
B We should maybe consider, after the large integration event, and once we have looked at the projects and work being carried out by the group from the other company, working with smaller groups on a more personal integration level to look at the possibility of forming new project teams based on people from both companies. It will be an ideal opportunity for each group to learn from the other as I'm sure although our experience is similar, there will be some areas they are stronger in than we are and vice versa.
A That's a good point and if we're going to make teamwork a focus of the new organization it's important that everyone involved realizes how important it is and the benefits for everyone involved as well as the business.
C So we should plan some integration activities at department level and maybe even project level so as to include everyone and give them plenty of opportunity to meet each other and discuss their reservations and expectations. There are bound to be some rumors of cuts and redundancies so I think it's important to assure everyone that we aren't planning anything like that in the near future. If they aren't worried about their job security, they will probably work a lot better together and it will eliminate any competitive back stabbing that may occur.
B Yes, good point, we don't want them to start working against each other - but with each other.
A OK, so we'll start with an informal integration event, with some team based activities, but with the focus on fun and just getting to know each other. Then we can work our way down through department level and project / team level with different activities to help build new teams and help them bind and work together efectively. We can base these sessions more on business related issues, knowledge aand shared professional experience.
C Sounds good.
B Yes, I think we all agree on that as a proposal.
