PERCAKAPAN LANGSUNG (QUOTED SPEECH)

Quoted speech refers to reproducing words exactly as they were originally spoken. Quotation marks (“…..”) are used.

QUOTING ONE SENTENCE

a.      She said, “My brother is a student.”

b.      “My brother is a student,” she said.

c.       “My brother,” she said, is a student.”

QUOTING MORE THAN ONE SENTENCE

d.      “My brother is a student. He is attending a university,” she said.

QUOTING A QUESTION OR AN EXCLAMATION

e.      She asked, “When will you be here?”

f.        “When will you be here?” she asked

g.      She said, “Watch out!”

Quoted speech is also called direct speech. Reported speech is also called indirect speech. In British English, quotation marks are called inverted commas.

SOURCE: UNDERSTANDING AND USING ENGLISH GRAMMAR BY BETTY S. AZAR

These below are examples of quoted speech or direct speech from STORIES FOR READING COMPREHENSION 3 by LA Hill. UNIT 7, page 21.

1.      “Be careful on your way home. I would be happier if our houses were nearer,” Mary said to Hellen.

2.      Helen said to Mary, “Do you know what happened to me after I left you yesterday evening?”

3.      “No, answered Mary anxiously, “What happened to you?” 

4.      Helen said, “While I was walking home along that quiet street near my house, a thief came up behind me and pulled my necklace off my neck and ran away with it.”

5.      “I wish I’d been there, Mary said angrily, “If I had been, I’d have run after the man and I’d probably have caught him. But what are you going to do now? Have you been to the police?”

Business Report

Functions of information technology

•Data capture: This is the process of compiling information. For example, electronic commerce companies like AMAZON.COM use internet cookies to capture data about a customer’s purchases via their website. So in this case, they use this data to suggest items to a user related to their previous orders via their website. Also GOOGLE.com uses internet cookies to monitor websites and content we search for online, then they use that data to suggest adverts tailored basing on our interests. Many online companies are using internet cookies to capture data as a way on increasing their sales and improve on their service because this data is used to tailor services basing on users needs.

•Data Processing: This involves converting, analyzing, computing and producing all forms of data, information. After capturing data, the system must re-organize that data basing on what the organization wants to use that information for. For example, when an e-commerce website captures data about your previous purchases via their website. Their system can organize that data inform of prices, products of interest, categories of interest, period of purchase etc , and this data will be used next time when a user goes back to that e-store to suggest relevant products.

•Generation of Information: This involves organizing information into a useful form.

•Storage of information: This involves retaining information for future use. The best example is ‘‘Facebook.com” This is a social network which connects people, but upon registering with the network , the user will provide their interests , profession , background information like former college , etc…. Then facebook will use this information to suggest friends to that user. The other trick is that Facebook will still use the same information when suggesting Adverts to this user. On their platform, advertisers can tailor adverts basing on users interests, location and sex. All this data is provided by the user upon registration.

•Retrieval of Information: It is process by which a computer device is used to find and copy data for further distribution and processing.  A good example on this is a ”Search Engine like Google , Bing , Yahoo ” these companies have data centers which store information which can be used at a latter stage by the end user who will be searching for information online. They have robots which crawl and find information on website servers, this information is indexed and cached on data centers. So at a latter stage, users of search engines like Google will query this stored data to process information they desire.

The business report is a description of business events and financial activities that carries a written presentation in which one analyzes a real situation or a case study of business and applies necessary speculations and/or theories to produce a range of suggestions and/or recommendations in order to improve the situation. Though it is a specialized form of general report, there is no basic difference between the two. The function, process and principles of a business report and a general report are almost the same. The difference you may find between them lies only in their application to situations. Whereas a general report presents the description of different events in different situations and/or activities at large, a business report is especially concerned with business activities, covers the company's situation, business trend and financial activities.

Business reports are required in disciplines such as accounting, finance, management, marketing and commerce. Often the type of assignment set is a practical learning task requiring you to apply the theories you have been studying to real world (or realistic) situations; for example, accounting and finance students may be asked to analyse a company’s financial data and to write a report detailing their findings, marketing students may be asked to research and develop a marketing campaign for a product and to write a report presenting the proposal to the company, management students may be asked to report on the management structure of a company and make recommendations for its improvement. Learning how to report on financial information, marketing and management strategies and issues to others is an important component of business studies.

Your assignment question will most probably guide you as to the type of information that should be included in your report and the steps you should follow. Here are some examples:

A typical question from  accounting and finance

 A typical question from  marketing

 A typical question from  commerce

In these examples there are separate, yet related tasks, and this will be reflected in the structure of the report: information will be divided into sections with headings (for example, Recommendations), and the sections will follow a logical progression.

Business reports will obviously differ according to the specific question and task they seek to answer. It is important, however, to be clear what the overall purpose of your report is: is it to inform, to make a proposal, or to solve a problem?

Depending on function, the types of reports are as follows:

◾Analytical reports are the ones containing analytical information, in a narrative form. They offer complete and detailed information on a subject to the one requesting the report. Also, this type of report allows the person making it to give detailed explanations and opinions on a subject. They are usually made by specialized workers and requested by managers.

◾Informational reports are reports presenting facts or information without any explanations or opinions from the person creating them. They are usually created from a large data pool and have a day to day nature. They can be requested by specific departments of by managers. Most of the time nowadays they are automatically generated reports, following predetermined templates.

◾Research reports are, as the name suggests, based on research conducted by an external or internal team. They summarize the research for people with a medium or low level of subject understanding. They are created after the research has ended and they include conclusions, suggestions and other subjective information coming from the creators of the research. Usually, such reports are requested by higher ranking managers and CEOS and they are made by the developing teams of the company.

The Five Types of Negotiators Outlined and How to deal with conflict in business

While the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) is a useful tool for analyzing conflict styles, it can also be used to analyze negotiation styles. By preemptively using the TKI in relation to negotiations, it can reduce the number of conflicts that could occur and the severity of the conflicts.

TKI Chart

Chart from edbatista.com

The two types of behavior (assertiveness and cooperativeness) pair with different traits to create five types of negotiators.

Competitors

Competitors are assertive and uncooperative. There is a strong desire to satisfy the individual’s needs vs. a weak desire to satisfy the needs of others. Competitors negotiate to win. They know when they’re right and won’t hesitate to let others know that their decision is best. It is best to use a competitive negotiating strategy when making a quick decision for an emergency, defending an unpopular opinion and protecting oneself from others who seek to take advantage of nonassertive/noncompetitive behavior.

Accommodators

Accommodators are unassertive and cooperative. They are the opposites of competitors. During a negotiation, an individual will often sacrifice the fulfillment of his or her own needs in order to satisfy the needs of another person or a group. Accommodators can and will use negotiations to build stronger relationships. They will negotiate to solve another person’s or group’s conflict instead of their own. It is best to use an accommodating negotiating strategy to avoid a disruption. Accommodators will acquiesce when they know they are wrong to show that they are reasonable/cooperative, and when an issue being discussed is much more important to another person than it is to them.

Avoiders

Avoiders are unassertive and uncooperative. The need to satisfy themselves, and others, is very low. They do not like the negotiation process at all, and tend to avoid it if they can. They will sidestep negotiations and/or postpone them until a better time, and will withdrawal from any negotiations that seem threatening or aggressive. Avoiding a negotiation is a good strategy to use when more information is needed to make a decision, other issues are more pressing and different parties can better handle the situation.

Collaborators

Collaborators are assertive and cooperative. They are the opposite of avoiders. Collaborators will negotiate to find a solution that satisfies their concerns. Collaboration between two or more parties can involve exploring a disagreement to gain a new perspective. Use a collaborative negotiating strategy to find an integrative solution, merge different perspectives together and build commitment to a solution by including other points of view and concerns.

Compromisers

Compromisers are moderate in both assertiveness and cooperativeness. Negotiations are done in order to satisfy all involved parties as much as possible. When negotiating, compromisers aren’t as aggressive as competitors, but are more assertive than accommodators. They will address an issue instead of avoiding it, but they will not negotiate in depth as much as a collaborator will. It is best to compromise during a negotiation when each party has equal power and is strongly committed their idea, and competition and/or collaboration has failed. Negotiators should also compromise to reach a temporary or permanent solution when time is a pressing factor.
By understanding the different ways people negotiate, the amount of conflict that occurs can be reduced. If an individual knows what type of person they will be negotiating with, they can plan and/or adjust accordingly.
Some types of negotiations are better than others. A compromiser and a competitor will have an easier time negotiating than a collaborator and a competitor. Over the next few months, The Ambulatory M&A Advisor will provide more articles outlining circumstances, real-world examples and how to handle them.

How to deal with conflict in business

Conflict in the business world is more challenging for women than for their male counterparts.
Women are socialized into being the nurturing kind. And that aside, we prefer to have everyone working together and getting along. That is why conflict can not only make the business world uncomfortable, but make more work for women – because we feel it is our duty to solve the conflict even it means sacrificing our own goals or opinions to do so.
However, there are strategies a woman can use to deal with conflict in a productive way so it can work for them, build up a reputation for being someone who doesn’t stand for this behaviour — and prevent it from happening again.
The pragmatic guide on how to deal with conflict in business:

Conflict can be solved by first identifying the What, Who and the Why.

Identify the conflict

The smallest of things can become the biggest of issues. When there is conflict (or you can sense there is), look at the big picture first. Work out what the actual conflict is. This requires you to remove all emotional outbursts, gossip and knee-jerk reactions so you can see in black and white what the issue is.

Find the source

The second step is to find out where the conflict started. Was the conflict a result of a person’s dislike for a decision? Don’t underestimate what people will do in order to get their way … or what they will do when they don’t. The saying ‘divide and conquer’ is very real in the business world today and you can’t escape having to deal with conflict started on that basis sometimes.
Finding out who was the instigator of the conflict is crucial. This way you can take them out of the situation and have a one-on-one discussion with them. The key here is to listen to their concerns and find a solution. Yes, you will need to help them navigate a way out of the corner they feel they are in.

Why did they start it?

The reason for starting conflict is often down to greed, jealously or rejection. People feel they are missing out on money, promotions, opportunities or feel they are being left out of a decision.
These reasons are easily fixed. There is always another option to the above list and conflict born from them is often a result of miscommunication in the first place.

When there is no chance…

All the strategies above will help you solve conflict. However, there is one type of conflict-starter you cannot appease. The narcissist or ‘workplace sociopath’. Think of them as a workplace arsonist. Their entire life is built on lying, manipulating and bullying people to get to where they want. There is no ’solving’ this conflict unless you make a very quick decision to remove that person from your business dealings immediately.
If you want to build yourself a reputation of someone who stands their ground and can solve a conflict swiftly then remember the saying: if in doubt, throw them out.
source : http://www.ambulatoryadvisor.com/breakdown-five-types-negotiators-outlined/
           : http://www.thebusinesswomanmedia.com/dealing-with-conflict-in-business/ 

Business Communication 2

Letter of Recommendation

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. [Last Name],

It’s my absolute pleasure to recommend [Name] for [position] with [Company].

[Name] and I [relationship] at [Company] for [length of time].

I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with [Name], and came to know [him/her] as a truly valuable asset to absolutely any team. [He/she] is honest, dependable, and incredibly hard-working. Beyond that, [he/she] is an impressive [soft skill] who is always [result].

[His/her] knowledge of [specific subject] and expertise in [specific subject] was a huge advantage to our entire office. [He/she] put this skillset to work in order to [specific achievement].

Along with [his/her] undeniable talent, [Name] has always been an absolute joy to work with. [He/she] is a true team player, and always manages to foster positive discussions and bring the best out of other employees.

Without a doubt, I confidently recommend [Name] to join your team at [Company]. As a dedicated and knowledgeable employee and an all-around great person, I know that [he/she] will be a beneficial addition to your organization.

Please feel free to contact me at [your contact information] should you like to discuss [Name]’s qualifications and experience further. I’d be happy to expand on my recommendation.

Best wishes,
[Your Name]

The Example

Seems simple enough, right? But, I know that filling in those blanks is one of the toughest parts. So, let’s take a look at a quick example of what this would look like in practice, shall we? Here’s how this letter would turn out if I were writing a recommendation for Benny, a hypothetical sales employee I’d previously managed.

Dear Mrs. Anton,

It’s my absolute pleasure to recommend Benny Gunadi for the Sales Manager position with The Sales Company.

Benny and I worked together at Generic Sales Company, where I was his manager and direct supervisor from 2012-2015.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Benny, and came to know him as a truly valuable asset to any team. He is honest, dependable, and incredibly hard-working. Beyond that, he is an impressive problem solver who is always able to address complex issues with strategy and confidence. Benny is inspired by challenges, and never intimidated by them.

His knowledge of sales etiquette and expertise in cold calling was a huge advantage to our entire office. He put this skillset to work in order to increase our total sales by over 18% in just one quarter. I know that Benny was a huge piece of our success.

Along with his undeniable talent, Benny has always been an absolute joy to work with. He is a true team player, and always manages to foster positive discussions and bring the best out of other employees.

Without a doubt, I confidently recommend Benny to join your team at The Sales Company. As a dedicated and knowledgeable employee and an all-around great person, I know that he will be a beneficial addition to your organization.

Please feel free to contact me at 0877-7755-2222 should you like to discuss Benny’s qualifications and experience further. I’d be happy to expand on my recommendation.

Best wishes,
John Steven
Director of Sales
The Sales Company

 

Resignation Letter

Here are formal resignation letter examples to use as a guide when you are writing regarding your intention to terminate your employment.
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email
Date
Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:
I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as Marketing Supervisor for the Anton Company, effective May 25, 20XX.
Thank you for the support and the opportunities that you have provided me during the last two years. I have truly enjoyed my tenure with [insert Name of Company], and am more than grateful for the encouragement you have given me in pursuing my professional and personal growth objectives.
If I can be of any assistance during this transition in order to facilitate the seamless passing of my responsibilities to my successor, please let me know. I would be glad to help however I can.
Sincerely,
Your Signature (hard copy letter)
Your Typed Name