WHAT IS A MANAGER?

A number of different terms are used for «manager», including «director», “administrator» and «president». The term “manager” is used more frequently in profit-making organizations, while the others are used more widely in government and non-profit organizations such as universities, hospitals and social work agencies.

What, then, is a manager?

When used collectively¹ the term «management» refers to those people who are responsible for making and carrying out decisions within the system.

An individual manager is a person who directly supervises people in an organization.

Some basic characteristics seem to apply to managers in all types of organizations; they include hard work on a variety of activities, preference for active tasks, direct personal relationships.

Almost everything a manager does involve decisions. The reason for making a decision is that a problem exists. In decision making there is always some uncertainty and risk.

Managing is a hard job. There is a lot to be done and relatively little time to do it. The engineer can finish a design on a particular day, and the lawyer can work or lose a case² at a certain time. But the manager's job is like «Old Man River»³ — it just keeps going.

Notes:

1.collectively — в собирательном значении

2.case — зд. дело

3.«Old Маn River» — the name of a song.

b) Say what you have learned from the text about:

1. different words which mean «manager»;

2. the meanings of the words «management» and «manager»;

3. characteristic features common to all managers;

4. the job of a manager.

c) Think and answer

1. What individual managers make up management in an organization?

2. What concrete activities is a production manager (financial manager, personnel manager, marketing manager) responsible for?

3. What type of information does a manager need to make deci­sions?

4. What magazines (reference books, etc.) does a manager have to see on a regular basis?

Ex. XX a) Read and translate the text

Remember: shark — акула

to explosive — взрываться) to sink — тонуть constant — постоянный

JAWS¹

«Jaws», one of the most successful films ever produced, features a great white shark — one of nature's most effective killing machines. «Jaws» is also an efficient entertainment machine and a great financial success. In the film a shark terrorizes a small town by attacking swimmers. Three men, including a police chief and a professional shark killer, try to kill the shark.

Steven Spielberg was twenty-six when he was selected to direct the film. For 4 years he had managed television productions and progressed to directing films. His chiller 2 was a great success and got him the job of directing «Jaws». Although the film was successful, its filming took twice as long as originally scheduled. The delay was due to a lot of managerial problems that Spielberg had to solve.

One of the first problems was the location for shooting the film. Martha's Vineyard, a small island, was chosen because it looked very much like the fictional town. However the choice was made in the winter. What Spielberg did not know then was that in summer, when the filming was actually to take place, Martha's Vineyard is one of the most popular places on the Atlantic Coast.

Hundreds of boats enter and leave the harbour³ each day. The filming had to be frequently interrupted. How do you maintain suspense⁴ if a family of four is picnicking only fifty feet away from a «dramatic struggle»?

Another managerial problem was Bruce, the mechanical shark. Actually there were three sharks. Each weighed 15 tons and cost about $150,000 and each was used for different move­ments (right-to-left, left-to-right) and different scenes. Thirteen technicians controlled the shark by means of a long cable from a special platform. The first time out Bruce sank, the second time, the hydraulic system exploded. Only constant repairs kept Bruce in action.

Planning and coordination were major managerial problems. Each day, several ships started out to sea. One ship was for Bruce. Another for the technicians. Still others were for the camera crews and actors. The travel was made six days a week from May to October. Some days they came back with no film at all. The failures were caused by Bruce, the weather and a variety of other problems.

Real sharks were hard to find; a dead one, needed for the finale, was funally brought by plane from Florida. It hung on the dock for four days creating a powerful stench⁵. Local people in return left dead fish at the doors of the houses where the members of the cast were living.

Almost everything that could go wrong did. Nevertheless, the daily trips continued until the last scenes were filmed.

Spielberg never left the island. He was afraid that if he did leave, he would never come back. Finally, the job was done and he left the island saying firmly that he would never return. He has since directed several more films.

Notes:

l.Jaws— «Челюсти», название фильма

2.chiller — фильм ужасов

3.harbour — гавань

4.suspense — напряжение

5.stench — смрад

b) Say what you have learned about

1. the American film «Jaws»;

2. Steven Spielberg;

3. the managerial problems Steven Spielberg faced during the shooting of the film;

4. the problems caused by the shark.

c) Think and answer

1. Was Steven Spielberg an effective manager? Why do you think so?

2. Did he like his job? What information can you use to prove that he did?

3. What would you find attractive in being a manager?

Ex. XXI Read and translate the text