31 - Sign on the dotted line
Language for project management
It's time for Anna to develop Tip Top Trading's European marketing strategy but where should she begin? Her boss, Paul, doesn't have a clue so it's down to Anna to work out what to do. Listen in to find out what her plan is and how she sets out to manage the project of securing a deal with a French company.
Intermediate · 170201 · 2017-02-01
It's time for Anna to develop Tip Top Trading's European marketing strategy but where should she begin? Her boss, Paul, doesn't have a clue so it's down to Anna to work out what to do. Listen in to find out what her plan is and how she sets out to manage the project of securing a deal with a French company. Language for project management This episode focuses on what to say when you need to develop a strategy for your business.
1. We have to compete on price.
BBC UK: We've got to compete on price.
2. We need to price our rivals out of the market.
BBC UK: We need to price our rivals out of the market.
3. We need to corner the market.
BBC UK: We need to corner the market.
4. We need to build good relationships with our customers.
BBC UK: We need to build good relationships with our customers.
1. Anna
Help, help!
BBC UK: Help, help!
2. Tom
Help us! We're locked in.
BBC UK: Help us! We're locked in.
3. Narrator
Oh dear. Do you remember that Tom and Anna are locked in the stationery cupboard? What are they going to do? And what will people say when they are discovered in there? I have a feeling we're about to find out...
BBC UK: Oh dear. Do you remember that Tom and Anna are locked in the stationery cupboard? What are they going to do? And what will people say when they are discovered in there? I have a feeling we're about to find out…
4. Denise
Goodness, what's that? Anna is that you? And is that you Tom?
BBC UK: Goodness, what's that? Anna is that you? And is that you Tom?
5. Anna
Yes, help! We're locked in.
BBC UK: Yes, help! We're locked in.
6. Denise
Don't panic, I've got the key. There. How on earth...
BBC UK: Don't panic, I've got the key. There. How on earth…
7. Tom
...it's not how it looks Denise. We were just... um...
BBC UK: …it's not how it looks Denise. We were just… erm…
8. Anna
...just looking for envelopes.
BBC UK: …just looking for envelopes.
9. Denise
Really?!
BBC UK: Really?!
10. Anna
Yes, yes, really. The door slammed shut and locked from the inside when Tom walked in.
BBC UK: Yes, yes, really. The door slammed shut and locked from the inside when Tom walked in.
11. Tom
Yeah, she's right. Just walked in, and shut the door and bang.
BBC UK: Yeah, she's right. Just walked in, and shut the door and bang.
12. Denise
Hmm. Let's just keep it our little secret should we. (Aside to Anna) I thought you had better taste Anna!
BBC UK: Hmm. Let's just keep it our little secret shall we. (Aside to Anna) I thought you had better taste Anna!
13. Paul
Ah there you are Anna, I need a word with you... Oh, you look like you've been caught doing something you shouldn't! Ha ha.
BBC UK: Ah there you are Anna, I need a word with you… Oh, you look like you've been caught doing something you shouldn't! Ha ha.
14. Anna
...but I haven't.
BBC UK: …but I haven't.
15. Paul
Just joking Anna. Now could you step in to my office, we need to touch base about the European marketing strategy.
BBC UK: Just joking Anna. Now could you step in to my office, we need to touch base about the European marketing strategy.
16. Anna
Are we playing baseball?!
BBC UK: Are we playing baseball?!
17. Narrator
No Anna! Touch base. He wants to catch up with you, probably to see how you're getting on. Go on Anna, let's see what he has to say.
BBC UK: No Anna! Touch base. He wants to catch up with you, probably to see how you're getting on. Go on Anna, let's see what he has to say.
18. Anna
Oh I see. That door doesn't lock does it?
BBC UK: Oh I see. That door doesn't lock does it?
19. Paul
No, I don't think so. Right Anna. Biscuit? These new peanut ones are quite nice. So how are things with the project?
BBC UK: No, I don't think so. Right Anna. Biscuit? These new peanut ones are quite nice. So how are things with the project?
20. Anna
Well, I've done some cold calling and have an order from a company in France.
BBC UK: Well, I've done some cold calling and have an order from a company in France.
21. Paul
I see. Very impressive but have they signed on the dotted line yet?
BBC UK: I see. Very impressive but have they signed on the dotted line yet?
22. Anna
The dotted line?
BBC UK: The dotted line?
23. Paul
Have they actually signed the contract yet?
BBC UK: Have they actually signed the contract yet?
24. Anna
Well, no, but...
BBC UK: Well, no, but…
25. Paul
...that's the problem. There's a rival company who's also targeting the European market called Tutti Fruity - and they'll do anything to steal our customers.
BBC UK: …that's the problem. There's a rival company who's also targeting the European market called Tutti Fruity - and they'll do anything to steal our customers.
26. Anna
Oh I see.
BBC UK: Oh I see.
27. Paul
So, to keep our head above water, we need a clear strategy... and that's why I've put you in charge. So what should we do?
BBC UK: So, to keep our head above water, we need a clear strategy… and that's why I've put you in charge. So what shall we do?
28. Narrator
I've a feeling Paul hasn't a clue - that's why he wants you to come up with the ideas.
BBC UK: I've a feeling Paul hasn't a clue – that's why he wants you to come up with the ideas.
29. Anna
I think you're right - but I don't know what to say.
BBC UK: I think you're right – but I don't know what to say.
30. Narrator
Tell him we need to price the rivals out of the market, that means offer the lowest prices so nobody wants to buy plastic fruit from our rivals. You could say that we need to corner the market, that means Tip Top Trading dominates the plastic fruit market.
BBC UK: Tell him we need to price the rivals out of the market, that means offer the lowest prices so nobody wants to buy plastic fruit from our rivals. You could say that we need to corner the market, that means Tip Top Trading dominates the plastic fruit market.
31. Anna
Oh, thanks. That's very useful.
BBC UK: Oh, thanks. That's very useful.
32. Paul
So Anna, any thoughts?
BBC UK: So Anna, any thoughts?
33. Anna
Lots Paul. I think we have to compete on price.
BBC UK: Lots Paul. I think we've got to compete on price.
34. Paul
Oh yes?
BBC UK: Oh yes?
35. Anna
We need to price Tutti Fruity out of the market. We need to corner the market so that everyone knows we are the best choice for good quality, good value plastic fruit.
BBC UK: We need to price Tutti Fruity out of the market. We need to corner the market so that everyone knows we are the best choice for good quality, good value plastic fruit.
36. Paul
I like it!
BBC UK: I like it!
37. Anna
And... and...
BBC UK: And… and…
38. Narrator
Tell him we need to build good relationships with our customers - that means we give them good service.
BBC UK: Tell him we need to build good relationships with our customers – that means we give them good service.
39. Anna
...we need to build good relationships with our customers. Talk to them regularly, send them gifts... go and meet them face to face.
BBC UK: …we need to build good relationships with our customers. Talk to them regularly, send them gifts… go and meet them face to face.
40. Paul
Face to face? Yes, great idea - just what I was thinking. If we follow this strategy I reckon there could be a bonus for us all by Christmas.
BBC UK: Face to face? Yes, great idea – just what I was thinking. If we follow this strategy I reckon there could be a bonus for us all by Christmas.
41. Narrator
Well done Anna. Very convincing. If you can put your ideas into practice you'll save the company. Let's remind ourselves of the words you used to create the European marketing strategy... We have to compete on price. We need to price the rivals out of the market. We need to corner the market. We need to build good relationships with our customers.
BBC UK: Well done Anna. Very convincing. If you can put your ideas into practice you'll save the company. Let's remind ourselves of the words you used to create the European marketing strategy… We've got to compete on price. We need to price the rivals out of the market. We need to corner the market. We need to build good relationships with our customers.
42. Narrator
Well, things seem to be going well for Anna... or are they?
BBC UK: Well, things seem to be going well for Anna… or are they?
43. Denise
Anna! Anna! That man from France has called again and left a message. He's not happy this time. Something about us trying to rip them off!
BBC UK: Anna! Anna! That man from France has called again and left a message. He's not happy this time. Something about us trying to rip them off!
44. Anna
What? Rip them off?
BBC UK: What? Rip them off?
45. Denise
It means over charging them or giving them poor quality goods.
BBC UK: It means over charging them or giving them poor quality goods.
46. Anna
That's not fair. I'm going to have to sort this out.
BBC UK: That's not fair. I'm going to have to sort this out.
47. Narrator
That's it Anna - go and build a good relationship with your customer! Bye for now.
BBC UK: That's it Anna – go and build a good relationship with your customer! Bye for now.
Question
Paul tells Anna he wants to touch base, what does he mean?
Answer
To catch up and discuss how things are going.