Englishpod 25 Planning for the Worst
1. Dialogue
Manager: Well, right. Let's move to our next order of business. As many of you are aware in recent weeks, there have been a lot of media coverage surrounding this bird flu issue. And it comes to my attention that company lacks any sort of bird flu contingency plan.
A: Basically, we need to come up with a clear plan. We need to outline specific actions that our company can take to maintain critical business fuctions in case a pandemic strikes.
Manager: So, what I'd like to do first is to appoint some one to look after drafting our plan. Ralph, I'd like you to head up this project.
Ralph: Sure, no problem. What issues do you want me to consider?
A: Well, let me see. There are a few points we need to be thinking about. First, I'll need you to analyze our numbers and figure out what kind of financial impact an outbreak might have.
Manager: You'll also need to think about how we can avoid any of our employees getting infected. Think of ways to reduce our employee-customer contact; perhaps, some IT solutions that will allow our people to work from home.
Ralph: I guess you will need me to forecst our employee absences as well, right? And I'll think about the impact this will have on our clients. Hey, how about the vaccines? Should we be thinking about getting vaccinesn for our employees?
Manager: Exactly right. I'll leave this to you. And we will review the draft plan in two weeks. OK. So, anyone wants to order some KFC for lunch?
2. Vocabulary and phrases
scary, horrible
contingency plan, a plan you make to prepare for some emergency
pandemic, a disease affect a lot of people
critical, serious, key, really important
outbreak, outbreak of flu
forecast, to predict
vaccines, injections you get from the doctor and you will not get sick
let's move to our next order of business, let's move on
come up with a clear plan,
head up, lead or take care
leave this to you, you take the charge
3. Rewrite
The bird flu broke out and affected the world. The media had a wide coverage on this issue. One meeting was on in a company. The manager was holding the meeting to come up with a contingency plan, and appointed Ralph to head up this project. Ralph would look after drafting the plan in two weeks. Two weeks later, they would meet again to review the plan. First, they would need to analyze financial numbers to see what kind of influence would happen. They needed to take actions to maintain the crotical business. Second, the manager pointed out they needed to avoid their employees getting infected, so they should reduce the employee-customer contact. Also, the IT solution should be considered to allow people work from home. Third, Ralph needed to forecast employee absences and think about getting vaccines for employees. The meeting ended with that all these points were left to Ralph. Finally, the manager didn't forget to ask whether anyone wanted to order KFC for lunch.
