Text II. Ex. 1. Skim the texts (a, b) and formulate the main idea of them in one sentence

■ Skimming

Ex. 1. Skim the texts (a, b) and formulate the main idea of them in one sentence. Choose one of these beginnings:

The following abstract gives the idea of … /or

The text below presents the information about … /or

The main message of the text is to show …

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a) A Multinational Corporation (MNC) or Enterprise (MNE), is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has defined an MNC as a corporation that has its management headquarters in one country, known as the home country, and operates in several other countries, known as host countries. Some multinational corporations are very big, with budgets that exceed some nations' GDPs. Multinational corporations can have a powerful influence on local economies, and even the world economy, and play an important role in international relations and globalization.

A Transnational Corporation (TNC) differs from a traditional MNC in that it does not identify itself with one national home. Whilst traditional MNCs are national companies with foreign subsidiaries, TNCs spread out their operations in many countries sustaining high levels of local responsiveness. An example of a TNC is Nestlé who employ senior executives from many countries and try to make decisions from a global perspective rather than from one centralized headquarters. However, the terms TNC and MNC are often used interchangeably.

Enabled by Internet based communication tools, a new breed of multinational companies is growing in numbers. These multinationals start operating in different countries at the very early stages. These companies are being called micro-multinationals. What differentiates micro-multinationals from the large MNCs is the fact that they are small businesses. Some of these micro-multinationals, particularly software development companies, have been hiring employees in multiple countries from the beginning of the Internet era. But more and more micro-multinationals are actively starting to market their products and services in various countries. Internet tools like Google, Yahoo, MSN, EBay and Amazon make it easier for the micro-multinationals to reach potential customers in other countries.

b) In today's business environment, top managers in the international company are faced a challenge that may be described as "the managing of mixed marriages." There are several of these so-called mixed marriages to contend with: the mixed economies involving government either through subsidy or nationalization; the interdependent economies of the industrial nations strongly affected by variances in trade patterns and exchange rates; the conflicting political interests that affect trade and monetary policies; and of course, widely varying social customs and contrasting cultures. All of these elements converge within the international corporation aspiring to conduct a global business.

Conducting business on a global scale requires the dedicated attention of management at all levels. Even the plant floor supervisor and his or her workers must focus on operations from a worldwide perspective, if for no other reason than to understand the forces that influence the markets for their products and the security of their jobs. However, global business particularly challenges the key executives who, in an increasingly complex environment, are required to satisfy demands that exceed the knowledge and experience of the traditional corporate manager.

■ Scanning

Ex. 2. Scan the texts and answer the following questions:

1) How big is the list of all planned expenses and revenues of some multinationals?

2) How many countries should a multinational operate in to be called such?

3) What is the difference between a multinational corporation and a transnational one?

4) What was the prerequisite to the appearance and growth of micro-multinationals?

5) What kind of “mixed marriage” is considered in text B?

6) What should every manager of a multinational concentrate on?

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences according to the texts: