English for Business
Level 4
Past Papers 2004
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Contents
English for Business
Level 4
Past Papers 2004
Series 1 & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & 3 - 10
Series 2 & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & ..11 - 19
Series 3 & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & ..20 - 28
Series 4 & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .29 37
Model Answers for some papers are available free of charge. Contact info@lccieb-
germany.com
LCCI CET
The material contained in this booklet may be reproduced and/or photocopied for
examination preparation purposes only.
2
SERIES 1 EXAMINATION 2004
ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS
LEVEL 4
(Code No: 4041)
THURSDAY 11 MARCH
________
Instructions to Candidates
(a) The time allowed for this examination is 3 hours.
(b) Answer all 4 questions.
(c) All questions carry equal marks.
(d) All answers must be clearly and correctly numbered but need not be in numerical order.
(e) While formal accuracy is expected, adequate and appropriate communication is essential and
candidates must judge the length of their answers in this light.
(f) When you finish, check your work carefully.
(g) The use of standard English dictionaries and cordless non-programmable calculators is
permitted. Candidates whose first language is not English may use a bilingual dictionary.
______
3
QUESTION 1(a)
Task
Read the following article and answer the questions that follow it. Credit will be given for answering
the questions in your own words and demonstrating comprehension, rather than quoting directly from
the text.
The Data Revolution
Managers use data the same way a drunk uses a lamp post: for support, not illumination.
We all know how to create a spreadsheet to support a business proposal. We start at the bottom
right hand corner. So if senior management or investors want a return of 15%, we make sure there
is a plausible-looking 15.7% in the bottom right-hand corner of the spreadsheet. With the wonders
of spreadsheet software, we can go on changing assumptions, growth rates and costs until the
desired result is achieved. We want the data to support us: whether it provides any real illumination
on the business proposal is irrelevant to us.
It is not only middle managers CEOs are just as guilty as the drunkard. Even reputable
businesses use a whole panoply of accounting techniques to massage the figures. Goodwill write-
offs, capitalisation of expenses and one-off charges alone give plenty of room for manoeuvre. Last
year, 247 of the top 500 companies reported one-off items that never really seemed to be one-off.
One blue chip company announced EBITDA profits (earnings before interest, tax and depreciation)
of Ł7 billion. To the cynical these are earnings before the bad stuff: the next step is to announce
earnings before costs. Closer inspection of the accounts showed that in the same period, the
company announced a Ł10.6 billion loss, defined as retained loss for the company and its share of
joint ventures and associated undertakings. There was nothing underhand about this not
surprisingly the company chose to highlight the Ł7 billion rather than the Ł10 billion, but hey! what s
Ł17 billion between friends?
Playing the numbers game is as old as management itself. But there are three possible reactions:
challenge, credibility and control.
Challenge
Most managers realise that spreadsheets are no more than a starting point for discussion.
Experienced managers have highly-tuned garbage-detectors which can recognise rogue numbers
and implausible assumptions in a plan. Managers should test assumptions in order to throw light on
data which the spreadsheet itself does not illuminate.
Credibility
Venture capitalists and many senior executives judge a plan largely on the credibility of the people
presenting it. If a successful executive with a track record of over-delivering against promises
produces a marginal plan, it is likely to be more acceptable than an exciting plan produced by an
executive who has not delivered in the past. This clearly makes it essential for managers and
businesses to maintain their reputation for integrity and delivery.
Control
Greater control is a trap. A typical reaction to manipulated data is to seek ever tighter controls and
ever more detailed rules about how data can be presented. But, like the generals who always fight
the last war, the rules are rarely able to keep up. Increasing bureaucracy to enforce the rules slows
down decision making, but does not prevent the creativity of management in finding ways to make
the data support their case. Some control is essential, but it is not a substitute for intelligent
challenge and high credibility.
4041/1/04 4
QUESTION 1(a) CONTINUED
Effective managers will always be strong advocates of their business, so they will always use data
to support their businesses. They should not be denied the right to be cheerleaders for their
business through ever greater control and bureaucracy. Data only becomes illuminating when it is
tested and the assumptions behind the data are challenged. While the drunk can only use the lamp
post for support, strong managers know how to use data for support and illumination.
(Adapted from an article in Business Age magazine)
(i) Explain in your own words the general meaning of the metaphor about the drunk.
(2 marks)
(ii) What is meant by the wonders of spreadsheet software (Para. 2)?
(2 marks)
(iii) In relation to manipulating the figures:
(1) What is the significance of the example about one-offs ?
(2 marks)
(2) Why is the next step earnings before costs ?
(2 marks)
(iv) Which two types of managers are contrasted in the paragraph on 'Credibility' and in what way are
they contrasted?
(2 marks)
(v) Explain in your own words why, according to the writer, Some control is essential, but it is not a
substitute for intelligent challenge and high credibility .
(2 marks)
(vi) Explain what is meant in this context by the following phrases:
(1) garbage-detector (paragraph 5)
(2) generals who always fight the last war (paragraph 7)
(3) cheerleaders (last paragraph)
(3 marks)
(15 marks)
QUESTION 1(b)
Situation
You are a senior manager in a company. You are becoming increasingly concerned about the way
company results are being manipulated to present the best, but not always the most accurate, image
of the state of the company. You feel that the credibility of the company is in danger of being
damaged if this continues. The senior management have decided to hold a two-day discussion and
training workshop on the issue which all middle management must attend.
Task
Using ideas from the text above, write a memo to the middle management of the company to outline
the problem, the opinion of senior management and to give notice of the workshop intended to
address it.
Invent any further content as necessary.
(10 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/1/04 5 OVER
QUESTION 2
Situation
You work in the marketing department of a major supermarket. You have sent out by mail a
customers survey to regular customers of your store. The survey has general questions and ones
about specific products and activities which the supermarket is considering introducing or developing
further.
Task
Write a report for the Board of Directors summarising the following findings from the survey. Draw
any conclusions and make specific recommendations about improvements in what the supermarket
offers which could increase customer satisfaction.
SOMERWAYS SUPERMARKET
SHOPPERS SURVEY FINDINGS
Number of shoppers completing the questionnaire: 6,203
Period of survey: 1 30 November 2003
1 How far is the store you use from your house?
(a) Less than 1 kilometre 25%
(b) 1-5 kilometres 60%
(c) More than 5 kilometres 15%
2 How much do you spend on groceries every week?
(a) Under Ł15 5%
(b) Ł15-24 17%
(c) Ł24-Ł50 60%
(d) More than Ł50 18%
3 How satisfactory overall do you find the store?
(a) Poor 2%
(b) Average 14%
(c) Very good 80%
(d) Excellent 4%
4 Why do you shop there?
(a) Most convenient distance, travel connections, parking etc 56%
(b) Best quality of produce 12%
(c) Best range of produce 28%
(d) Other facilities children s crŁche, restaurant etc 4%
5 Have you bought the following products in the past 3 months?
(a) Recycled 30%
(b) Environmentally friendly 30%
(c) Organic 67%
4041/1/04 6
QUESTION 2 CONTINUED
6 Which of the following have you bought from or arranged through a supermarket?
(a) Insurance 14%
(b) Bank loans 12%
(c) Mortgages 13%
7 If you have not bought from or arranged any of the above financial products through a
supermarket, would you consider it?
(a) Yes 28%
(b) No 72%
If no, why not?
(a) Prefer to use a specialist 84%
(b) Unaware of the availability of these products 0%
(c) Do not need these products 16%
8 Do you have, or are you considering, an Internet connection in your home?
(a) Yes 54%
(b) No 11%
(c) Considering it 35%
9 If you have an Internet connection, have you ever considered doing your weekly grocery
shopping via the Internet?
(a) Yes 53%
(b) No 47%
10 If your answer to 9 is No, why not?
(a) Prefer to make decisions about purchases in the store, rather than on the computer,
because of lack of information 35%
(b) Enjoy the experience of shopping 42%
(c) Practical difficulties eg delivery times are not convenient 16%
(d) Other 7%
(25 marks)
4041/1/04 7 OVER
QUESTION 3(a)
Situation
You are a financial advisor. One of your clients has written to you to ask why you have not
recommended that he invest in a variety of companies which he has heard about that are currently
showing high growth and paying large dividends. All of the companies he mentions (although they are
not the ones mentioned in the text below), are small companies with a strategy of growth through
acquisition.
Beware the Acquisitive Small Company
One type of share that should come with a wealth warning is the fast-growing small company with
a penchant for acquisitions. Unfortunately, novice investors are particularly attracted by such
businesses. Enchanted by great earnings records and forecasts of further profit jumps, investors
can end up paying top dollar for rather shaky growth prospects. More often than not, acquisition
sprees undertaken by smaller companies eventually result in earnings growth disappointment.
A good example is Pendon Group. The accountancy group has made sixteen separate
acquisitions over the past two years. However, the corporate activity came to a head late last year
when the group issued a profits warning. Pendon admitted that a consequence of the pace of its
acquisition process was the cost of integrating all of its businesses. The activity required greater
than expected IT investment and caused the group s fee-earning personnel to become
sidetracked. Unsurprisingly, Pendon s Finance Director recently resigned.
Another example is software firm Designations Group. It too made sixteen acquisitions over the
past two years, with another announced this morning. A recent update from Designations stated
that the group s trading had remained positive with significant new contracts having been signed.
Nevertheless, trouble looks to be on the cards.
As Pendon proved, acquisition hungry companies can suffer indigestion pains. For small
companies with limited resources, logistical and integration problems can dog even the most
skilled of management teams. Furthermore, shareholder risks are enhanced by the chance of
buying a bad business or diversifying into unfamiliar areas. In addition, acquisitive companies
tend to have complex accounts. That gives additional scope for investors to miss a deteriorating
underlying performance.
Rather than get involved in the likes of Pendon and Designations, investors would do better
searching for companies whose growth is largely organic. Such businesses generally present less
operational risk and are not dependent on suitable purchases to keep their growth rate intact.
Indeed, companies growing organically imply they have no need for their rivals people and
products. That in itself suggests these businesses ought to be fundamentally stronger than their
acquisitive counterparts.
(Adapted from Motley Fool website)
Task
Write a letter to your client, summarising the text of the article to explain the reason for your advice.
You may assume that headed notepaper is used, but set out the rest of the text as a letter. The
client s name and address is John Bedding, 48 Martle Road, Swindon, Wiltshire SW12 9TT.
(12 marks)
4041/1/04 8
QUESTION 3(b)
Situation
You work in a consumer research company. You have been asked by your client, a major company
which is considering sponsoring a professional football team, for some basic information about
attitudes to football.
Task
Using the following 2 graphs, write a comparative analysis of people s attitude to football focusing on
the difference between the positive and the negative comments.
ATTITUDES TOWARDS FOOTBALL, POSITIVE COMMENTS
I watch lots of football on TV 28
I sometimes watch football in the pub 16
Satellite TV s good for football 13
I buy football strips for me/my family 12
I support a professional team, not local 11
Watching live football s a hobby 9
I support a professional local team 7
Football is the reason for my having satellite TV 7
I would like to buy my team s products 6
I buy things in my club shop 6
I would like a season ticket 6
I go to professional matches regularly 5
I go to amateur matches regularly 5
I watch football on pay-per-view basis 4
I have a season ticket 2
I regularly attend away matches 2
I would have a credit card linked to a club 2
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Source: BMRB/Mintel
%
Base: Adults aged 15+
ATTITUDES TOWARDS FOOTBALL, NEGATIVE COMMENTS
Football clothing is too expensive
50
Big clubs rip off supporters
36
Pro clubs change strips too often
36
There s too much football on TV
34
I avoid watching football
27
It s become a rich, middle-class game
27
The violence puts me off
25
I ve never had interest in football
13
I used to go to matches a lot more
12
0 10 20 30 40 50
%
Source: BMRB/Mintel
(12 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/1/04 9 OVER
QUESTION 4
On the basis of the two following openings and according to the instructions accompanying them,
continue and complete each extract in an appropriate way.
(a) Situation
You are the Survey Manager in the marketing department of the supermarket referred to in
Question 2. You are responsible for mailing out the survey to the regular customers of the store.
Task
Write a short covering letter to go with the survey. You may assume headed notepaper is
used, but set out the letter in an appropriate way for individually named customers. For the
purpose of this task the customer is Jenny Blackman, 89 Tyler Road, London SE5 8GT.
Some or all of the following key words and phrases may, but do not have to be, used in your
answer.
Key words and phrases:
Enclose the survey / largest in the country / improve our stores / improve our decision-making /
incentive vouchers / further incentive / data protection / free pen enclosed
(Salutation etc)
As a regular customer of Somerways Supermarket we are very glad that you appreciate the
products and services available at our stores.
However, we need your help in making the supermarket even more what you want it to be ....
(12 marks)
(b) Situation
You are a small business/start-up advisor in Harkney s, a major retail bank. You are trying to
attract more customers to use your bank s advice and services to small business start-ups. To
this end you are planning an open evening for current bank customers who are considering
starting their own business.
Task
Write a flyer which will be available on the counter of the bank advertising the open evening.
Invent any further content as necessary.
Some or all of the following key words and phrases may, but do not have to be, used in your
answer.
Key words and phrases:
Get information / run your own business / open evening / expert presentation / informal meeting
with successful entrepreneurs / small business advisory team available / contact details
(appropriate heading)
How often have you wished your boss were as nice as you?
(12 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/1/04 10 LCCI CET 2004
SERIES 2 EXAMINATION 2004
ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS
LEVEL 4
(Code No: 4041)
THURSDAY 29 APRIL
________
Instructions to Candidates
(a) The time allowed for this examination is 3 hours.
(b) Answer all 4 questions.
(c) All questions carry equal marks.
(d) All answers must be clearly and correctly numbered but need not be in numerical order.
(e) While formal accuracy is expected, adequate and appropriate communication is essential and
candidates must judge the length of their answers in this light.
(f) When you finish, check your work carefully.
(g) The use of standard English dictionaries and cordless non-programmable calculators is
permitted. Candidates whose first language is not English may use a bilingual dictionary.
______
4041/2/04 11
QUESTION 1(a)
Read the following article and answer the questions that follow it. Credit will be given for answering
the questions in your own words and demonstrating comprehension, rather than quoting directly from
the text.
Sick? You will be when you ring the office.
Thinking of taking a sickie though you are not really sick at all? Think again. Most companies are
adopting controversial measures to ensure that their staff come to work. What s more, they appear
to be having an effect. New research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reveals that
absenteeism levels are now 7.8 days a year down by almost a full day since last year.
Companies have had no choice, says a spokesperson for the CBI. Absenteeism can cost a
company 3% of its payroll a national total of more than Ł10 billion a year. In fact, over the past
decade, absenteeism has become one of the biggest problems facing the British workplace.
Among the latest anti-sick strategies is paying staff not to be ill. Workers with a full attendance
during the year now receive a Ł100 bonus, explains Deirdre Devereux, administration services
manager for Marsden Building Society, who claims the figure is reviewed annually and the results
have been highly successful. Because there are only 200 staff, absence was having a major
impact on day-to day business, she says.
Other organisations have started providing a figure for the number of 'acceptable' days absence.
Malcolm Smyth, a business psychologist specialising in absenteeism, claims this is particularly
effective. It sounds 19th century, he admits. You can imagine staff coughing away at their
manager s desk pleading I know I ve reached my quota of flu days but can t you put this down as a
virus or something? But in reality it is a simple way of monitoring patterns of time off. If, say, this is
your sixth Monday off in 3 months, your manager has a right to ask questions.
Surveys consistently show that the most common day for sickies is Monday, probably following an
over-active weekend. This comes as no surprise to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and
Development. Our research shows that just over a third of all sickness absence has nothing to do
with genuine ill health, says Diane Sinclair, adviser in employment relations. Younger staff have
the worst reputation when it comes to attendance, according to the latest research from the
Department for Education and Employment.
But Dr Martyn Dyer-Smith, principal psychologist at the University of Northumbria, and a specialist
in absenteeism, is not convinced that today s remedial methods are the solution. He says,
Monitoring does nothing more than dehumanise the workforce, and the policies that companies put
in place seem to be based on fear and bribery which will in the end decrease loyalty and
productivity rather than increase it.
Instead, he suggests, employers must try to find the root of the problem. In fact, he cites one
supermarket that has found that its efforts to understand why people take time off have cut absence
rates by half in some of its stores. Anyone who phones in sick is now put through to someone
trained in managing absence rather than the colleague who happens to answer the call, says
human resources policy manager, Keith Ricks. Their aim is to find out in a caring way why the
employees isn t in work, and if there is anything we can do to prevent it happening again.
Andrew Marker, a business psychologist, adds that some companies need to go further still by
assessing the culture of the organisation. Consider , he says, the fact that absence rates in the
public sector far outweigh those in the private sector. Studies show the reason could be that
employees perceive the former as not being owned by anyone and so do not feel they are letting
anyone down by taking extra days off.
4041/2/04 12
QUESTION 1(a) CONTINUED
However, one communications company, TST 2000, believes it has found the most innovative
solution. It has introduced duvet days 2 extra days off a year for employees who occasionally
just can t bring themselves to crawl out of bed. Unsurprisingly, it has an almost 100% take up
rate. We respect our employees need to have those added sickies and they respect us for it.
Everyone s happy, said a spokesperson.
(Adapted from an article in The Independent on Sunday)
(i) What was the approximate figure for absenteeism last year and how does it compare to this
year?
(2 marks)
(ii) What do the following figures represent in the article?
(1) 3%
(2) Ł10 billion
(3) 1/3 (= one-third)
(4) 100%
(4 marks)
(iii) In your own words explain what is meant by 19th century in this context, and why Malcolm Smyth
defends the policy discussed.
(2 marks)
(iv) Do younger staff take more time off sick?
(1 mark)
(v) Explain why Dr Martin Dyer-Smyth opposes these developments in absenteeism policy.
(2 marks)
(vi) Who is Keith Ricks and what is the policy of his company?
(2 marks)
(vii) Paraphrase Andrew Marker s contribution to the discussion.
(2 marks)
(15 marks)
QUESTION 1(b)
Situation
You are the owner and Managing Director of a small manufacturing company (100 employees). There
has been increasing absenteeism during the last 2 years and you have decided to introduce an annual
bonus for staff (excluding managers) who maintain 100% attendance throughout the year.
Task
Using ideas from the text above, write a memo to the staff explaining the background to your decision
and giving details of the scheme.
(10 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/2/04 13 OVER
QUESTION 2
Situation
You are an assistant in the Small Business Advisory (SBA) Department of Harkney s Bank. You follow
up initial meetings between your boss and people from start-up companies who are potential clients of
the bank. You were recently present at a meeting between your boss, Mr Bob Adams, and
Ms Patricia Brown who is interested in opening a corporate account for her new business with your
bank. If she became a customer she would also benefit from the services of the SBA Department.
Task
Read the transcript of part of the meeting, at which you were present, and the memo, giving you
instructions, from your boss.
(a) Write the follow-up letter to Patricia Brown and
(b) Write the memo to Mary Williams, including the note of the meeting for the SBA Department
bulletin referred to in your boss s memo.
Use information from the 2 texts and invent anything else as appropriate. You may assume that
letterhead paper is used from the bank, but lay out the rest of the letter appropriately.
Transcript of meeting Tuesday 20 April 2004
Bob Adams: So, Ms Brown, the business has a fairly healthy start up capital from your own savings,
I understand.
Patricia Brown: Yes, that s right but I will probably be needing credit facilities and some financing
at some point as well.
BA: Yes, and of course, that would mean a business plan but we can help you with that. One
typical pitfall with a business plan is that it doesn t take into account a lot of things which newer
business people don t know so much about, such as tax laws and VAT*. You can overestimate and
underestimate, both of which, of course, are bad for your plan and put off potential backers. Our
tax advisers in the SBA Department are right up to speed on that sort of thing, particularly in
relation to start-up companies which, of course, can get quite a lot of tax breaks in the first few
years.
PB: That all sounds very encouraging. Initially, the company will have 3 employees, apart from
myself I m slightly worried about staff taxes as well, paying over the odds and so on.
BA: Yes, that s quite a big area in fact, everything relating to staff can be worrying and expensive,
especially when, by necessity, you re maybe taking on people you don t know too much about. I m
sure you know sacking staff that aren t up to it can be pretty hard to do without getting into a lot of
legal hassle. But we are experienced here in the employment law side of things too. Actually,
another big legal area is Copyrights and Patents you want to make sure your ideas are protected
from the more established competitors, the big fish.
PB: Absolutely& What about IT what are your thoughts there?
BA: Well, 2 big things in my experience for new companies are, first, if you re planning to launch on
the web, getting the right URL is critical. The other thing is the simple initial investment in the
equipment computers can break or boost your business, so you really need the benefit of some
expert research first. Which, of course, we can provide!
PB: Great. So where do we go from here?
4041/2/04 14
QUESTION 2 CONTINUED
BA: Well, I ll send you a letter in the next couple of days, just putting in writing what we ve been
discussing and what I think we can offer you if you come to us as a new business client; and,
actually, I ll bring it up at our next Department meeting to see if anyone has got anything to add
experience specific to your industry and so on. I think one of our strengths at Harkney s is that we
do try to fit advisers to clients very closely.
PB: Okay, thanks, I ll look forward to getting your letter.
*VAT = UK purchase tax
MEMO
To: Jane Simson
From: Bob Adams
Date: 28 April 2004
Subject: PB Interiors Ltd.
Can you write a letter for me to sign to Ms Brown of PB Interiors Ltd who we had the meeting with
last Tuesday? I just want you to summarise the advantages for her and the company of opening
her account with us as we discussed at the meeting. Obviously, emphasise the services of the
SBA Department to her - it seemed to me that her relative inexperience in business will make that
quite key in her decision about where to bank. I think the Interiors/Home Dcor market is a good
one at the moment, so I feel quite positive about the company in general - you can indicate this to
her. We ll know more when we get the full business plan in, she did suggest she would be looking
to her bank for credit facilities
Also, can you write a couple of paragraphs about the meeting and what the state of play is now, for
inclusion in the next Department bulletin to send out ahead of the next Department meeting? Just
outline PB Interiors in general. Mention that we re interested in getting her as a client as I think her
ideas are sound and financially it s low-risk. Also, outline the need for somebody industry-specific
to be her adviser, if there is anyone.
Send it in a memo to Mary Williams she s putting the bulletin together this month.
Thanks,
BA
(25 marks)
4041/2/04 15 OVER
QUESTION 3(a)
Situation
You work in the publications department of a consumers association. You contribute to the regular
newsletter of the association.
Task
Summarise the following fact sheet in the form of a short article about the improvement in consumer
rights in the UK in relation to the purchase of faulty goods. The reason for the improvement is new
European Union legislation.
The tone of the article should be simple and informal for a non-technical readership.
FAULTY GOODS IMPROVED CONSUMER RIGHTS
Q1 What are the current UK rights?
A The immediate right to reject goods, and demand the money back, where they are of
unsatisfactory quality or not as described.
Thereafter, the right to demand compensation, which usually means repair or replacement but can
also be financial compensation, for up to 6 years in England and Wales and 5 years in Scotland. The
purchaser is currently required to prove that the fault was present at the time the goods were sold to
him/her.
Q2 How will the EU Legislation benefit UK consumers?
A They will now enjoy in the UK a specific right to a repair or replacement of goods purchased if
the goods are faulty at the time of receipt of the goods.
If the goods develop a fault within the first 6 months and the retailer wishes to dispute the claim, the
retailer will be required to prove that the fault was not present when the goods were sold.
Q3 Can the retailer blame the delivery company who delivers the product to the consumer?
A The consumer is responsible for his goods only after he has received them. A retailer will not,
therefore, be able to blame a delivery company if the goods do not arrive or are faulty when they do.
If they are faulty on delivery the consumer will have the right to repair or replacement of the goods
within a reasonable time and without causing significant inconvenience to the buyer. The buyer is
entitled to cancel the contract if repair or replacement is unfeasible.
Q4 Does the legislation require manufacturers or retailers to provide a 2-year guarantee for
all goods?
A No. It is not a guarantee but a 2-year limitation period, during which consumers can report and
seek redress for a fault that was there at the time of delivery. However, this is less than the current 5
or 6 year limitation in the UK.
Q5 What does the legislation mean for shopping elsewhere in the European Union?
A The Directive will protect UK shoppers abroad by providing a minimum standard of protection
throughout the EU that was not available before. It means they will have a right to demand redress
for faults that become apparent, up to 2 years after delivery, provided the faults were there at the time
of delivery and it is reasonable to expect the goods to have lasted as long as the period in question.
You may have more powerful rights (as in the UK - see mention of 6 years at question 2 above) as
this is a minimum standards Directive.
4041/2/04 16
QUESTION 3(a) CONTINUED
Q6 If a consumer buys a faulty product abroad does the legislation provide for the item to
be returned to an outlet in the UK?
A No. The supplier of the goods is directly responsible to the buyer as is the case at the
moment in most European countries.
(12 marks)
QUESTION 3(b)
Situation
You work in the statistical analysis department of a market research company. One of your clients is a
subscription satellite/cable TV channel, Femme Trend. The channel is aimed at women and is
particularly oriented to clothing and fashion. It is considering launching a customer magazine which
will be sent to all subscribers to the channel. The company wants some background information about
the readership of similar customer magazines. The 2 most relevant customer magazines to their
viewers are M&S Department Store magazine and Sky Broadcasting Company magazine.
Task
Write a short text to accompany the 3 graphs below, focusing on the possible commercial benefits to
the company of launching a customer magazine.
Notes
1 AB social grade is the highest social grades in the UK.
2 Ł30,000 is a high level of salary in the UK.
3 Sky Customer magazine and M&S magazine have the largest readership in the UK by virtue
of having the biggest customer base.
MOST READ CUSTOMER MAGAZINE TITLES IN UK
15
15
12
10
9
9
7
7
6
3
0
Sky Customer M&S Safeway AA Sainsbury s
Source: TGI 2002 Winter Base: All adults
4041/2/04 17 OVER
% of adult pop. who read it
QUESTION 3(b) CONTINUED
SKY CUSTOMER MAGAZINE READERS ATTITUDES
80
70
60
62
59
50
40
43
41
40
30
20
10
0
A B C D E
A Look forward to services like home shopping on TV
B Like the idea of digital TV
C Like the idea of a large selection of TV channels
D Shop online if there was a safe way to pay
E Often refer to Internet before making a purchase
Source: TGI 2002 Winter Base: All adults
DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REGULAR M&S
SHOPPERS AND M&S MAGAZINE READERS
80
Regular M&S shopper
70
60 M&S magazine reader
77
50
61
40
49
48
30
41
38
20
30
10
0
-10
-21
-20
-30
Women AB social Work Earn
grade part-time Ł30k+
Source: TGI 2002 Winter Base: All adults
(12 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/2/04 18
% more likely than average to agree
% more or less likely than average
QUESTION 4
On the basis of the 2 following openings and according to the instructions accompanying them,
continue and complete each extract in an appropriate way. Some or all of the key words and phrases
may, but do not have to be, used in your answer.
(a) Situation
You work in the marketing department of a company, OFFICETRONICS, which produces
software and offers consultancy advice for office administration and management systems. The
target audience is office managers of medium-sized businesses.
Task
Write an advertisement to place in a business magazine to advertise a free seminar/software
demonstration to be given by your company.
Key words and phrases:
Office Dynamics Course / significant improvements in office systems / professional staff
management / greater efficiency / software demonstrations / eliminate mundane tasks / staff
control systems / office communication / early booking incentive
FREE SEMINAR
OFFICETRONICS proudly presents their one-day& & &
(12 marks)
(b) Situation
You work in a large city-centre restaurant (Delaney s) that has until recently been popular with
office workers from the surrounding companies who require a simple, but freshly cooked,
lunchtime meal served in a fairly short period of time. You suspect that these customers have
started to go to one of a number of self-service, fast-food style cafes and restaurants which have
opened in the area.
Task
You have been asked to design a short welcome message in the form of a note to the
customers which will be left on the tables. It should stress the strengths of the restaurant, without
admitting there is a problem from the competition. It will incorporate an invitation to fill in a
feedback form on the restaurant. This will help the owners to decide what their future strategy
should be. Offer some incentive to the diners to fill in the accompanying survey form. (You are
not required to write the survey form itself.)
Key Words and phrases:
Warm welcome / hectic day / table service / seasonal ingredients / light alternatives / local
sourcing / maximum waiting time / attached survey form / improvements in food or service /
complimentary desserts voucher
A WARM WELCOME TO DELANEY S
Here at the Delaney s we know you appreciate the importance of taking a little time out &
(12 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/2/04 19 LCCI CET 2004
SERIES 3 EXAMINATION 2004
ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS
LEVEL 4
(Code No: 4041)
THURSDAY 10 JUNE
________
Instructions to Candidates
(a) The time allowed for this examination is 3 hours.
(b) Answer all 4 questions.
(c) All questions carry equal marks.
(d) All answers must be clearly and correctly numbered but need not be in numerical order.
(e) While formal accuracy is expected, adequate and appropriate communication is essential and
candidates must judge the length of their answers in this light.
(f) When you finish, check your work carefully.
(g) The use of standard English dictionaries and cordless non-programmable calculators is
permitted. Candidates whose first language is not English may use a bilingual dictionary.
______
4041/3/04/F 20
QUESTION 1(a)
Read the following article and answer the questions that follow it. Credit will be given for answering
the questions in your own words and demonstrating comprehension, rather than quoting directly from
the text. (Answers in note form are acceptable).
Why Admen Don t Understand Women
Marketing departments are struggling to advertise effectively to the fairer sex. Women make
80 per cent of purchasing decisions, yet they are disregarding or worse ads aimed at them,
thanks to the patronising and outdated attitudes and old-fashioned humour that is still widespread.
That is a claim made in a report based on research into the views of 500 women.
Few people would argue that advertising has not moved on since the interwar period, when
Palmolive ads could ask: Would your husband marry you again? suggesting that women should
use their product to retain their youthful looks and allure. Nonetheless, the survey found that
65 per cent of women aged between 35 and 45 years old think that advertising aimed at them is
patronising. The survey also revealed that 47 per cent of all women think that ads aimed at them
are not as funny as other advertising.
The Ad agency that commissioned the research believes that the advertising industry has fallen
behind. It claims that categorising women by age or traditional occupations, such as middle-aged ,
housewife or mum no longer works: women do not have a shared agenda, are staying mentally
youthful for longer, and combine their jobs with housework and child-rearing. There is especially
worrying news for TV advertisers in the research, as well: it claims that, because women shun
hard-sell tactics and notice more detail than men, they pay greater attention to poster and
magazine advertising, local sponsorship and their peers for guidance on what to buy.
The report also criticises the use of man-bashing in ads aimed at women. These ads usually
involve groups of sassy women mocking or humiliating men. A number of alcohol brands have tried
this tactic in the past. According to the researchers man-bashing stemmed from the ad industry s
fear of being politically incorrect women in ads had to be handled with care to avoid the
accusation of sexism. One way to avoid the criticism was to pick on men and the result is bland,
vanilla advertising . One contributor to the report says that political correctness has now gone so
far that advertising fails to use the full range of human characteristics when it comes to portraying
women they are never portrayed as slower or less clued up than men.
The scarcity of women in creative departments and at creative director level is, according to one
eminent marketing director, one of the main reasons why communication with women is hampered.
1.8 per cent of copywriters and 2.2 per cent of art directors are women. Most creative departments
are staffed by young men. When they get a brief saying that the target group is women over 40,
they simply never think to themselves, She could have been a punk once!
However, there is also an established opinion that it is not entirely the advertisers fault. For
example, despite the fact that young men dominate the creative side of advertising and bring with
them a young man s perspective, one agency insider says that it is the clients themselves who often
refuse to break the mould when it comes to new types of creative execution: You can t lay all the
blame on the advertisers the clients can also be deeply conservative. Similarly, another
marketing director finds that it is the nature of women themselves which causes problems for
marketeers. He comments that to target thirty-something women is nearly impossible: You don t
communicate with an age-group, you communicate with a mindset and yet a single woman can
have a number of different mindsets depending on her role at the time. The secret is to catch her at
the right time.
Women have throughout history been described, usually by men, as contrary and difficult to please.
Whether this is true or not or whether the problem instead lies with the creative departments it
seems there is no sure way to advertise effectively to women.
(Adapted from an article in Marketing Week magazine)
4041/3/04 21
QUESTION 1(a) CONTINUED
(i) In the context of advertising why is it important that women make 80% of the buying decisions?
(3 marks)
(ii) Women do not have a shared agenda (paragraph 3). What does the writer mean by this and
what difficulties does this cause to advertisers?
(2 marks)
(iii) Why is TV advertising less effective for women than other forms of advertising?
(2 marks)
(iv) Advertisers were afraid of being politically incorrect. What were the results of this?
(3 marks)
(v) Young men in marketing departments never think about a 40-something woman She could have
been a punk once. What does this imply about these young men?
(2 marks)
(vi) Give two examples of how it is not entirely the advertisers fault that advertising to women is
generally ineffective?
(3 marks)
(15 marks)
QUESTION 1(b)
Situation
You are a Senior Manager (in the Communications Department) of a drinks manufacturing company
(Kings Drinks Ltd) and you believe that the company does not advertise effectively to women. The
senior management have decided to hold a two-day workshop on the issue for all staff in the company
involved with marketing.
Task
Using ideas from the text in question 1(a), write a memo to the Marketing Department outlining the
issues and giving notice of the workshop intended to address it.
Invent any other details as necessary.
(10 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/3/04 22 OVER
QUESTION 2
Situation
Your company, which provides corporate professional training services, wants to relocate its premises.
It has drawn up a shortlist of three possible sites:
Crowther Square
Rotherham Mansions
York Place
A team of property consultants, Apex Ltd, have prepared a feasibility study on each of the three sites
and after reading the study, the senior management team are meeting to discuss and decide which
property they wish to take forward to further negotiations with the owners.
Task
You are acting as clerk to the meeting and have been asked to write a summary report of the
discussion that will be sent to Apex Ltd, giving the details behind the management s decision.
(The report will be sent with a covering letter, explaining what Apex Ltd is required to do next. You do
not have to write the covering letter.)
The following is the transcript of the relevant parts of the meeting:
Felix: Okay, so we re looking at costs, location and development potential, I think.
Salleh: Yes, let s start from there and see where we get to.
Felix: The Crowther and Rotherham buildings rents are quite a bit cheaper than York Place but
maybe York Place is not so expensive if we can get them to bring down their service charges and
we can reduce other overheads; it s a modern building, it doesn t need much doing to it. I think we
could manage that. Do you think there s going to be any movement in their charges?
Salleh: No, I think that Apex tried everything and what we ve got here is rock bottom. But if we
really like York Place, it s worth trying to negotiate but I m not hopeful.
Felix: A pity really because, at first sight, York Place looks like the best of the three.
Magda: Why do you say that, particularly?
Felix: Well, it s about the same size as where we are now and the location is excellent. That will be
important in terms of keeping our current staff, particularly secretarial/admin. folk. The senior
people will come with us anywhere so long as we stay in London but convenience matters more to
the others.
Magda: True, but, if in the long run, one of the others is cheaper, we can offset the recruitment and
training costs for new secretaries and so on.
Felix: No, that would be a big headache I think the location issue is an important one.
Salleh: Let s look at space-development potential. For me, the best for that is Rotherham Mansions
we can fit all the departments in and have space for bigger meeting rooms that will save a lot of
money on hiring venues. It also means quite a lot of the promotional stuff can be done from there.
4041/3/04 23
QUESTION 2 CONTINUED
Felix: But still we come back to the location issue. As soon as we try to use it for training, we ll hit
problems and people won t come. It s just not central enough.
Salleh: Yes, but the other thing about the Rotherham building is that we can take the kitchen and
canteen with us. The others simply haven t got the layout to allow for a staff restaurant.
Magda: How important is the restaurant?
Salleh: Pretty important for a lot of staff.
Magda: But we could do a food voucher or some kind of concession scheme for staff, even if we
don t have an in-house restaurant.
Felix: Yes, but we need to think about the catering for training events as well.
Salleh: So, actually, that is one way we could move forward. If we take the Rotherham, although
it s not central, we ve got the space to make the training environment really exceptional and the
catering excellent. That in itself could be a big selling point move the training peripherals
upmarket, but keep the costs down.
Magda: Yes, I like that idea.
Felix: So, we ve ruled out Crowther, it s not central and it doesn t have a great deal of space or
anything else to recommend it, although it s cheap. York Place is a great location, good in lots of
ways, but expensive and getting even more expensive when you look at the cost of room hire and
outside catering on account of its size.
Salleh: And we re really coming round to Rotherham Mansions.
Magda: Well, it s got the advantage of being cheap enough to allow us spare cash to make the
place really special which is taking the business in the direction we want it to go. And doing so
much more stuff in-house is going to save as well. Come to that, we could really start thinking
laterally like providing transport to the training events from more central locations.
Felix: Yes, limo service, minibuses whatever is appropriate.
Magda: Actually, some kind of company bus service from the centre is a possibility for the staff as
well, isn t it?
Felix: Yes, true, although I think even quite a lot of the junior staff might move with us we could
maybe offer some incentives and make it a really nice environment to work in good canteen,
maybe even gym facilities. We ve got the space.
Salleh: Yes, all right, but let s agree the building first. So we re moving forward with Rotherham
Mansions and we ll deal with those other issues once that is sorted out. Thanks.
Write the report.
(25 marks)
4041/3/04 24 OVER
QUESTION 3(a)
Situation
You are a financial adviser. One of your clients, Astrid Evans, has telephoned you and asked you to
give an opinion as to whether she should sell her property and move into rented accommodation for a
period of time because she believes that there will soon be a fall in property prices and that she will be
able to make a profit by buying another property at a lower price at a later date. You have a
conversation with your firm s property expert who gives you the following opinion.
Yes, a lot of people are talking about doing that at the moment& it might have seemed like an
outlandish idea a few years ago selling your home and renting for a while to avoid a possible house
price crash but it is becoming increasingly mainstream.
The problem is that no one knows what will happen to house prices, although everyone you ask
seems to have an opinion. It s true that property prices are a lot less volatile than share prices and
price falls have certainly been scarcer than stock market dips in the last 30 years. For example, I
know that in the UK, house prices have fallen in only four years since 1973 (but actually they were all
in the early 1990s, when prices fell almost 20% overall), whereas the stock market has notched up
seven annual losses at different times over the same period.
Still, selling your home to rent seems a bit risky to me. After you account for government taxes of up
to 4%, fees for agents and all the moving costs and the fact that it usually costs more to rent than to
buy, prices have to fall quite a way before the whole process becomes worthwhile and you might
even end up without any home, given how little security there is in the rented sector.
On top of that, you need to be pretty precise with your timing. Sell up one year early, for example,
and miss a further year of gains and you could still lose out overall, even if you did correctly predict a
fall that came a little later. If prices are already falling, there is also the danger of selling too late. Of
course, if you were planning to move anyway, so that you were always going to incur these costs,
then renting for a little while and waiting for the perfect property to come up at a lower price makes
some sense.
You'll also need to get your crystal ball out to tell you when to buy back into the market. If you stay
pessimistic for too long, you could see any gains you did make wiped out completely. I would say
timing any sort of market is 10% skill and 90% luck and most people should just avoid it.
(Adapted from Motley Fool web-site)
Task
Write a letter to your client, summarizing the property expert s opinion and explaining the reason for
the advice you choose to give.
You may assume that headed paper is used, but set out the rest of the text as a letter. The client s
name and address is Astrid Evans, 48 Martle Road, Swindon, Wiltshire SW12 9TT.
(12 marks)
4041/3/04 25
QUESTION 3(b)
Situation
You work in the Market Analysis Department of a perfume company which has recently started an
online shopping facility.
Task
You have been asked to write a short commentary to accompany the following data about trends in
the gift market in online shopping.
Figures
Total online sales in UK (this year): Ł14 bn
Total online sales in UK (last year): Ł7.6 bn
4 million adults shopped online last year
8.4 million adults shopped online (this year)
REASONS FOR SHOPPING ONLINE
Advantages of online shopping
Allows you to compare more prices
47% 43% 8% 1%
Easier to get gifts for friends/family living abroad
38% 49% 11% 3%
Easier to get gifts delivered
38% 46% 14% 3%
Saves time
36% 46% 15% 3%
Allows you to gather more information about products
38% 44% 16% 2%
Better value for money
25% 55% 17% 3%
Cheaper prices
25% 52% 19% 3%
Easier to find specific presents
30% 45% 21% 4%
Greater variety of goods 26% 41% 27% 6%
strongly agree slightly agree slightly disagree strongly disagree
Source: NOP Media, May 2003 for play.com
4041/3/04 26 OVER
QUESTION 3(b) CONTINUED
Online spending by value (per customer)
120
100
80
60
in Ł
40
20
0
Travel Books Electrical Music Video Clothes Food
equipment games
Average online spending by gender (per customer)
120
100
80
Men
Women
60
in Ł
40
20
0
Travel Books Electrical Music Video games Clothes Food
equipment
Write the short commentary.
(12 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/3/04 27
QUESTION 4
On the basis of the two following openings and according to the instructions accompanying them,
continue and complete each extract in an appropriate way.
The list of key words and phrases should be used for guidance, some or all the words may, but do not
have to be, included in the texts.
(a) Situation
You work for the Senior Manager in the Communications Department of the company (Kings
Drinks Ltd) referred to in Question 1(b). As a result of the 2-day workshop described in that
question, it was decided to restructure the marketing activities of the company and to appoint a
woman, Annie Price, as joint Head of Marketing in the Marketing Department of the company.
Her brief is to market the company s products effectively to women, by fundamentally changing
the company s advertising approach to women as a target group.
Task
Write a press release for immediate distribution to magazines and journals in the marketing and
drinks industries, giving news of the appointment.
[Headings etc]
Kings Drinks Ltd has appointed Annie Price to the newly created post of joint Head of Marketing
in a radical restructuring of the company s marketing team.
Key words and phrases:
Former position / Kings now targeting women / Managing Director, Derek King says, For too
long & .miss out on women / language / images of women / major growth /
frontline of this trend.
(12 marks)
(b) Situation
You work in the publications department of a chain of supermarkets, Somerways. The
supermarket publishes a magazine which is sent through the post to regular customers (eg store
card holders) and can be collected from the stores by shoppers. The magazine contains
information about the stores, details of special offers, news items of general consumer interest
and seasonal recipes.
Task
Write the welcome message from the editor (Hannah Kelly) for the April issue of the magazine.
Hello, Somerways shoppers!
Welcome to the April issue of Somerways magazine.
Key Words and phrases:
News and developments / upgrade of seven regional stores / family shopping enjoyable /
children s menus / crŁches / Family Friendly week / recipes / new season s produce /
birthday party catering / nutrition adviser in every store / vouchers and special offers /
bargains this month
(12 marks)
4041/4/04/F 28
SERIES 4 EXAMINATION 2004
ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS
LEVEL 4
(Code No: 4041)
TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER
________
Instructions to Candidates
(a) The time allowed for this examination is 3 hours.
(b) Answer all 4 questions.
(c) All questions carry equal marks.
(d) All answers must be clearly and correctly numbered but need not be in numerical order.
(e) While formal accuracy is expected, adequate and appropriate communication is essential and
candidates must judge the length of their answers in this light.
(f) When you finish, check your work carefully.
(g) The use of standard English dictionaries and cordless non-programmable calculators is
permitted. Candidates whose first language is not English may use a bilingual dictionary.
______
4041/4/04/F 29
QUESTION 1(a)
Read the following article and answer the questions that follow it. Credit will be given for answering
the questions in your own words and demonstrating comprehension, rather than quoting directly from
the text.
This is a man s world
& & .at least in finance. There can be little doubt about male dominance in business when only one
in 100 of the UK s largest companies is headed by a woman. That company is Pearson, the media
conglomerate that owns the Financial Times. Even in the US the proportion of women who head
Fortune 500 companies is similar. Yet recent research shows that 46 per cent of all US businesses
are owned by women, while employment at women-owned businesses is growing at a rate of
18 per cent, compared with 8 per cent for all other companies.
Research shows that women also make better investors than men. Luckily for men, there is much
they can learn from women. What is it women do in stock picking and research trading that
produces better results?
In a study of more than 35,000 investors by the University of California at Davis, women s portfolios
earned 1.4 per cent annually more than men s. Indeed, single women earned 2.3 per cent a year
more on their investments than single men. Furthermore, a 10-year study by the National
Association of Investors Corporations found that all-female investment clubs outpaced all-male
ones, producing 23.8 per cent average compounded lifetime annual returns compared with
19.2 per cent for the men.
The study primarily blames over-trading for the poor male performance. Men trade their accounts
45 per cent more often than women, and single men shuffle their holdings 67 per cent more often
than single women. Perhaps the old adage about men being afraid of commitment has something
to do with it.
There must be lessons in all this for us men. So, what are they?
- Save transaction costs by not churning your portfolio. If you can t resist the gender
imperative, then at least choose a cheap online broker with a low flat rate for all trades.
- Men should spend more time researching before investing. Fear of making a mistake
was much higher among women according to the study. Consequently, women spend
40 per cent more time than men researching and are also less likely to trade on a hot tip .
- Men need to rein in their over-confidence. A total of 52 per cent of men express
confidence in their ability to invest wisely compared with just 38 per cent of women,
according to the American Savings Economic Council. This in turn often makes women
better traders more risk averse, awaiting clearer market signals for good trading
opportunities and more diversified. With so much genetic advantage, it s unfortunate that,
according to one poll, twice as many women (48 per cent) as men indicated investing is
scary for me . Women need a little more confidence to start investing, but not so much as
to make them bad investors.
To help redress the situation, there are financial websites designed specifically for women that aim
to narrow the gender confidence gap. But in the same way that the Bank of Scotland has
announced initiatives to overcome some of the challenges women face in starting up businesses,
do we need gender-based broker services, too? We already have insurance services for women
only. Women investors seem to think so. The daughter of the founder of the world s largest online
brokerage, Charles Schwab, set up an investment centre online for women on Schwab.com a
couple of years ago.
(Adapted from an article in the Financial Times).
4041/4/04 30
QUESTION 1(a) CONTINUED
(i) Based on the facts given in the first paragraph, why is it surprising that there are not more women
in senior business positions in large US and UK companies?
(3 marks)
(ii) Explain in your own words what the following figures refer to:
(1) 52%
(2) 48%
(2 marks)
(iii) In what sense is being afraid of commitment a large part of the problem for male investors?
(2 marks)
(iv) Are the following statements True or False or Not Specified?
(1) Women use online brokers more
(2) Women are more cautious
(3) Confidence is an advantage in share dealing
(3 marks)
(v) What two examples does the writer give of business areas, apart from investing, where there
have been women-only initiatives?
(2 marks)
(vi) Explain the following expressions in your own words. They are all in paragraph 5.
(1) churning your portfolio
(2) a hot tip
(3) risk averse
(3 marks)
(15 marks)
QUESTION 1(b)
Situation
You work in the training department of a firm of financial advisors. After having read the article in (1a)
you decide to arrange a day training seminar for the financial advisors entitled What men can learn
from women investors . You book a leading female investor, Francine Brun from Faithful Investments,
to speak at the event.
Task
Write a memo to the Financial Advisors giving details of the training seminar. Include some of the
ideas from the text and invent any other details as necessary.
(10 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/4/04 31OVER
QUESTION 2
Situation
You work in the Corporate Communications Department of a steel pipe manufacturing company and
are responsible for public relations. The company claims to follow a number of ethical and social
policies. For example, the company is committed to not discriminating against older applicants and it
aims for at least 20% of all new recruits to the workforce to be over 55.
There has been controversy because of a recent alleged case of age discrimination in the company.
The case has been reported in a national newspaper and you have been given responsibility for
dealing with the bad press that has resulted.
Read the newspaper article and the relevant part of the transcript of a conversation that you had with
the head of Human Resources; then write the two texts as indicated below.
From the Daily Chronicle
On the Scrap Heap
Sanjiv Kapur thought he was admirably well-qualified for the job of Warehouse Supervisor at
Montague Metals PLC and knowing about the company s commitment to positive age
discrimination, he thought that, even at 56, he had a good chance of getting the job. He was in for a
rude awakening.
Mr Kapur had worked for 32 years as Warehouse Supervisor at Blex Conglomerates in nearby
Castleton before the company closed down 18 months ago, leading to 220 redundancies. Many
people in later life would be happy to settle for early retirement, but Mr Kapur was still hopeful that
his long experience and excellent working record would mean that he could find another job. He
believed his luck had finally turned when he saw the vacancy at Montague Metals. Three weeks
after his application, he had received no acknowledgement or reply. When he phoned the
company, an assistant in the Personnel Department told him that his application was good but that
as the job was quite physically demanding, they had appointed a younger person.
I could not believe it! says Mr Kapur. They hadn t contacted me, hadn t interviewed me, hadn t
checked my references I m fitter and stronger than most of the 30 year olds I know and I d like to
have another ten years, at least, in the work I enjoy. So much for a positive attitude to older
workers.
A representative of the company told us that age was not the main factor in the decision not to call
Mr Kapur for interview.
4041/4/04 32
QUESTION 2 CONTINUED
Transcript
Head of HR (A): I don t know who it was who took the call there are 13 people here and of course
now there s no way of finding out.
Corporate Communications Officer (you B): So what do you think happened?
A: I think they just said something off the top of their head, kind of trying to be nice. It s true
though that we haven t been keeping up with the anti-age-discrimination policy recently it s
something we could be open to criticism about, we need to handle this very carefully.
B: Okay, well the first thing I ll do is write to the guy and apologise. Why didn t he get an
interview?
A: I actually don t know I suppose someone wasn t concentrating properly, I mean, with
hindsight, his experience looks good maybe they did just pass over him because of his age.
B: So, basically, we ve got to go for damage limitation now.
A: Yes, he s been talking to the press.
B: I think we ll have to admit we got it wrong that seems to go down well these days.
A: Yes. I ll speak to whoever it was that handled that vacancy and tell them they ve got to be
more careful when they re first going through applications, especially when it s a matter of
policy like this.
B: Well, maybe I ll invite Mr Kapur in and see if there are any openings that he might be suitable
for obviously no guarantees until we meet him but you reckon he looks good?
A: Yes, on paper, certainly. Maybe we can find him something and that would be good for public
relations.
B: Okay, and can you write a memo to all the staff emphasising the importance of corporate
image? We need to make it clear that we mean it. Tell them that there will be serious
consequences if they don t keep it in mind all the time. Also, in future, I don t want them giving
out informal feedback over the phone like this. If we are asked for feedback about why
someone didn t get interviewed, the member of staff should put it in writing and get approval
from one of the Human Resources Team Leaders first.
Task 1
Write the letter of apology/explanation/invitation to Mr Sanjiv Kapur, as referred to in the
conversation. (His address is: 222 Harbour Road, Valeton, Oxon OX4 3UJ.) You may assume that
the company letterhead is used, but lay out the rest of the letter appropriately.
(12 marks)
Task 2
Write a memo to all staff summarising what has happened and emphasising the importance of
maintaining the corporate image at all times when dealing with the public. You should also explain the
new policy for providing feedback. It is not necessary to go into the details of what happened in the
processing of Mr Kapur s application.
(12 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/4/04 33OVER
QUESTION 3(a)
Situation
You work for a newspaper that runs a problem page for its readers giving advice and information
about their rights at work. You receive the following:
I was employed for a probationary period of six months. During that time I was dismissed for poor
performance and was given a week s pay instead of the notice in my contract. I had no warnings and
the first I knew was when I was called in to a meeting and given a letter terminating my employment.
Do I have a claim against my employer?
Julie, Manchester.
You discuss the case with the lawyer at your company, who gives you the following information about
the reader s legal situation.
Well, in situations where you get the push just like that, there are two possibilities. She can either go
for Unfair Dismissal or Wrongful Dismissal. Unfair dismissal is when, basically, you re saying that you
haven t done anything incorrect and they ve got no reason to sack you you know, it s unfair. But
you need to have been working at a company for at least a year to be able to claim that so that s
not relevant here, actually.
Wrongful Dismissal is when you are saying that the company hasn t kept its side of the contract, so
here the question is Is there a disciplinary procedure for unsatisfactory performance included in the
contract, that the company should have followed? If there is (and if they haven t explicitly said it
doesn t apply during the probationary period), then probably she s got a case. They can t just buy out
her contractual rights by giving her a week s money. She needs to go to an Employment Tribunal if
she wants to claim. A tribunal decides if the time period and the warnings given by a company allows
someone a reasonable chance to sort out the problems in their work. It appears in this instance that
they didn t give Julie any warnings at all, and if there is a disciplinary procedure in the contract, the
company can t just sack someone with a week s money. In fact, she would get paid compensation
damages for the period of time that she would have been employed there, if they had followed the
procedure. The company writes the contract, and the company has to follow it.
The only other thing is that she s got to contact the tribunal within three months of leaving the
company. It s a pity she s got to do it now, actually, because at the moment it s up to the tribunal to
decide what s reasonable. Come next year they re changing the law to bring in a minimum
disciplinary procedure for all employers it ll all be a lot clearer then.
Anyway let me have a look at what you ve written when you ve done it and I ll check it for you.
Task
Summarise the lawyer s verbal advice into a short written statement of Julie's rights which will be
suitable to be published in the newspaper.
(12 marks)
4041/4/04 34
QUESTION 3(b)
Situation
You work as an analyst in a market research company. Over half the people in your country are now
connected to the Internet in their homes, and there has been a twelve-fold increase in online sales in
the previous year. Because of this, you have been asked to research consumer attitudes in the
e-commerce market.
Study the graphs and then complete the task that follows.
TYPE OF GOODS BOUGHT ONLINE
Source: MFS Technology Tracker June 2003 Base: All personal internet users (4,429)
NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES OF E-COMMERCE
Source: MORI/DTI Base: 2,003 GB adults aged 15+
4041/4/04 35OVER
QUESTION 3(b) CONTINUED
CONSUMER DEMANDS FROM E-BUSINESS
Source: Mintel/MORI, May 2003 Base: All internet users (942)
Task
Write a comment and analysis of the three accompanying graphs, summarising the main findings.
(12 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/4/04 36
QUESTION 4
On the basis of the two following openings and according to the instructions accompanying them,
continue and complete each extract in an appropriate way.
Some or all of the key words and phrases may be, but do not have to be, used in your answer.
(a) Situation
You work in the admissions department of Malory Business School. The school has recently
received a grant from an education charity to fund a series of open days with example training
seminars to attract people from a wider range of backgrounds to join the part time MBA
programme.
Task
Write a leaflet/invitation for the next Open Day.
Key words and phrases:
invite you to& / what to expect from part-time MBA course / typical training seminar on
important aspects of Team Building / a team of student advisors to answer your
questions / our commitment to access to business education for all.
Am I the sort of person who does an MBA?
Do I need it? What will I learn? . . .
(12 marks)
(b) Situation
You work in the Marketing Department of a chain of frozen food shops, FreezerWorld . You are
about to launch a new advertising campaign to attract back your previous core customers
mothers buying larger quantities for their families. During the last two years, the company has
attempted to advertise itself as an up-market, convenience store for high-spending busy working
people. However, this campaign has been unsuccessful and it has been decided to return to the
company s typical supermarket roots. To support this the company is undertaking a major store
refurbishment programme.
Task
Prepare a press release about the advertising campaign and the store refurbishment
programme.
(Headings etc.)
FreezerWorld is focusing its attention back on mums & & & &
Key Words and phrases:
latest campaign / family-orientated once more / Hail the hero mum slogan / previous
campaigns / ads in the series feature mums shopping / new marketing director said many
busy mums didn t feel at home here anymore & / store refurbishment programme / making
life easier / fresh produce / competing with the bigger supermarkets.
(12 marks)
(Total 25 marks)
4041/3/04 37 LCCI CET 2004
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