Making a decision

Listen to a meeting in which colleagues make a decision to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Matching_MjMzNDY=

Transcript

Jani: Thanks for coming, everyone. So, we're here today to define the timeline for our new project.

Emiko: Yes, Jani, that's a great idea.

Carolina: OK. What do you need from us?

Emiko: Hold on a moment. I think we need to decide between us what to do, to make sure it works for all departments.

Jani: Yes, exactly, don't worry. We're going to discuss this and make a decision together. Let's first think about the scheduling of each project phase. What do you think, Emiko?

David: Can I interrupt? I think we should first be clear about the process we'll use to make the decision. How are we going to do it?

Jani: Ah, yes. Good point. Well, I think the best way is for each of you to give your opinion and then we can discuss and make a decision.

David: OK. That sounds good.

Emiko: Yes, that works for me too. I know we're still planning the structure of the later phases of the project, but I think we should begin phase one as soon as possible. We can work out the rest later, as we go along.

David: I'm sorry, I don't think so. How can we start phase one if we're not fully clear on where the rest of the project will take us? We might make a wrong decision and waste time.

Jani: I agree with you on that point, David. However, we'll waste too much time if we wait until everything is planned before we actually start working on the project. I think we should take an agile approach.

David: Agile approach?

Jani: Well, it means that we start quickly and then adapt as we go along.

Emiko: That's right.

Jani: Carolina, you've been very quiet.

Carolina: Um … I'm sorry. I didn't want to interrupt. I'm listening … and thinking.

David: Do you agree we should get the plan right first, and then start with phase one?

Carolina: I'm sorry, David. I don't think I agree with you. It's important to have a good plan. But plans can change, even the good ones – and business changes often. We need to be flexible, and we also need to move quickly.

Jani: OK. So should we take a vote?

Emiko: Well, you're the project leader. Let's go with your decision.

Carolina: Yes, I'll follow your lead, Jani.

David: Well, I guess that's decided then. We'll follow your agile approach, Jani. Start quickly and keep planning the later stages of the project.

Jani: Yes, that's right.

David: I still don't think this is the right decision, but I'm happy to go with the majority. We should add some space into the schedule later for additional work this 'flexibility' will need.

Jani: Don't worry, David, we will. OK, so it's decided then. We'll start phase one as soon as possible, and in the background we'll continue planning the later phases and adapt them as we go along.

Task 1

MultipleChoice_MjMzNTQ=.xml

Task 2

Grouping_MjMzNDc=.xml

Discussion

How are decisions usually made where you work?

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Language level

B1 Intermediate

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the decisions are made by bosses.

I'm a student currently but I discuss project work given by professor. He make five students in a group. We are discussed about our topic and do survey. it's very intersting for me.

The decisions are made usually in vote and we like to discuss and to choose the best that we consider in consensus.

Generally, decisions are made by discussing and ask everyone to give his opinion and then vote to choose which one you're adopting. On the other hand, some people follow their leader's decision. They still share their opinions but the last word is their leader.

In our job place usually we make decisions through the majority of opinions. This is why most of our decisions become more sucessfull.

How are decisions usually made where I work? Given that it's in a public institution, it depends of the level of the choices, that is if the choice concerns the politicians or the general management office or the middle managers.

I don't have a work currently,but in the past when I was in the university , I and my discuion group spok together about some projucts at our free time , actually that was freindly discussion with laugh and eat something

I am a student now but I could work one year ago in events organization. My boss used to make all decisions. However, he also used to ask to us for suggestions.

I work at a Laboratory of Soils and I'm an employee so I don't participate in the taking of decisions but my opinions are very important and often they are taken into account. Actually, the decisions are taken by the main engineer and the technician, they get together in a meeting and make the decisions.

Here in my workplace, usually the decision is made by relevent project staffs who involve reporting and evaluating the project consequences and outcomes.