GWD7-34

[訪客]

Firms traditionally claim that they
downsize (i.e., make permanent
personnel cuts) for economic reasons,
Line laying off supposedly unnecessary staff
(5) in an attempt to become more efficient
and competitive. Organization theory
would explain this reasoning as an
example of the “economic rationality”
that it assumes underlies all organi-
(10) zational activities. There is evidence
that firms believe they are behaving
rationally whenever they downsize; yet
recent research has shown that the
actual economic effects of downsizing
(15) are often negative for firms. Thus,
organization theory cannot adequately
explain downsizing; non-economic
factors must also be considered.
One such factor is the evolution of
(20) downsizing into a powerful business
myth: managers simply believe that
downsizing is efficacious. Moreover,
downsizing nowadays is greeted
favorably by the business press; the
(25) press often refers to soaring stock
prices of downsizing firms (even though
research shows that stocks usually
rise only briefly after downsizing and
then suffer a prolonged decline).
(30) Once viewed as a sign of desperation,
downsizing is now viewed as a signal
that firms are serious about competing
in the global marketplace; such signals
are received positively by key actors—
(35) financial analysts, consultants,
shareholders—who supply firms with
vital organizing resources. Thus, even
if downsizers do not become economi-
cally more efficient, downsizing’s mythic
(40) properties give them added prestige
in the business community, enhancing
their survival prospects.



Q34:
The primary purpose of the passage is to

A. criticize firms for engaging in the practice of downsizing
B. analyze the negative economic impact of downsizing on firms
C. offer an alternative to a traditional explanation for the occurrence of downsizing
D. chronicle how perceptions of downsizing have changed over time
E. provide evidence disputing the prevalence of downsizing


達按是c 但是我選a 請高手幫我解答一下 謝謝

[Behemoth]

仔細來看 本篇並不是在批評downsizing
在文章最後仍然認為downsizing有其正面意義,
但結尾處這邊的解釋卻與文章開頭所給的為何要downsizing的解釋完全不同
所以選c會好一點..

[illuna]

恩...作者對於DOWNSIZING的想法到了第30行悄悄的轉變...(有點奸詐)

感覺上像新舊之間的比較....一定是以新為主....

從Line 30的Once......到now...

因此B桑說的是....C的答案是好很多...

大家可別因為行數多不想看到最後就作答....那就正中這題的陷阱了...

[bear]

是阿是阿~~~
我上次考試就是犯了這種大錯.....
等到寫到下一題才發現....ㄚ 剛那題寫錯了 >.<

[訪客]

喔 那我懂ㄌ 謝謝指導!!!!!!

[best555tw]

Q35:
The passage suggests that downsizing’s mythic properties can be beneficial to a downsizing firm because these properties

A. allow the firm to achieve significant operating efficiencies
B. provide the firm with access to important organizing resources
C. encourage a long-term increase in the firm’s stock price
D. make the firm less reliant on external figures such as financial analysts and consultants
E. discourage the firm’s competitors from entering the global marketplace

位什麼選B

[davidlee0222]

30行起講到組織瘦身其實沒啥屁用
不會比較有效能
但是那些提供外部資源key actors會覺得
公司有正向進步
因此願意提供資源
也就是願意資助公司
整篇文章講其實組織瘦身只是一個迷思

35提問組織瘦身迷思為何有利?
A可讓公司更有效能-X
並沒有效能提升

B讓公司能取得更多資源-O
就是上面講的

C鼓勵"長程"股價上揚-X
沒提到長程

D使公司較不依賴外部人員如財務分析師及顧問-X
沒講

E讓公司的國際競爭者進入意願降低-X
沒講

[jfan]

恩...作者對於DOWNSIZING的想法到了第30行悄悄的轉變...(有點奸詐)

感覺上像新舊之間的比較....一定是以新為主....

從Line 30的Once......到now...

因此B桑說的是....C的答案是好很多...

大家可別因為行數多不想看到最後就作答....那就正中這題的陷阱了...

我對於34題的C選項還有一點疑義，就是裡面的 occurrence 一字根據 webster 字典的說明，具有發生的涵義：

1 : something that occurs <a startling occurrence>
2 : the action or instance of occurring <the repeated occurrence of petty theft in the locker room>

本文中似乎沒有讀到這個涵義，內容多數針對 downsizing 的效果作說明，以此來看，C 選項並不切題。

請問各位的意見。

[davidlee0222]

恩...作者對於DOWNSIZING的想法到了第30行悄悄的轉變...(有點奸詐)

感覺上像新舊之間的比較....一定是以新為主....

從Line 30的Once......到now...

因此B桑說的是....C的答案是好很多...

大家可別因為行數多不想看到最後就作答....那就正中這題的陷阱了...

我對於34題的C選項還有一點疑義，就是裡面的 occurrence 一字根據 webster 字典的說明，具有發生的涵義：

1 : something that occurs <a startling occurrence>
2 : the action or instance of occurring <the repeated occurrence of petty theft in the locker room>

本文中似乎沒有讀到這個涵義，內容多數針對 downsizing 的效果作說明，以此來看，C 選項並不切題。

請問各位的意見。

全文在講經理人以為企業瘦身可以挽救公司是個"迷思"
但似乎相當有用
是因為商業媒體跟分析顧問等等也有同樣迷思
誤把股價上揚歸因於企業瘦身
也使公司看起來要認真放手一搏的樣子
所以公司可以因此"迷思"獲得外界投資


Q34:
The primary purpose of the passage is to

A. criticize firms for engaging in the practice of downsizing
全文主旨並非批判企業實施瘦身

B. analyze the negative economic impact of downsizing on firms
並非分析企業瘦身的負面經濟衝擊

C. offer an alternative to a traditional explanation for the occurrence of downsizing
提供一企業瘦身存在的另類解釋
正確

D. chronicle how perceptions of downsizing have changed over time
並非編年數家珍

E. provide evidence disputing the prevalence of downsizing
並非引證爭辯企業瘦身的普及

本文就是在講企業瘦身發生是因為迷思
而且歪打正著

[CUGGYER]

Q36:
The passage suggests which of the following about the claim that a firm will become more efficient and competitive by downsizing?

A. Few firms actually believe this claim to be true.
B. Fewer firms have been making this claim in recent years.
C. This claim contradicts the basic assumption of organization theory.
D. This claim is called into question by certain recent research.
E. This claim is often treated with skepticism by the business press.


好像還沒有人問過這題^"^

解答上寫D or E 可是我怎麼看都覺得E在文中並沒有提及
請問各位覺得這題應該是D 還是E呢

[davidlee0222]

D
E有提到商業媒體prefer downsizing

[chenfruit]

我對於34題的C選項還有一點疑義，就是裡面的 occurrence 一字根據 webster 字典的說明，具有發生的涵義：
1 : something that occurs <a startling occurrence>
2 : the action or instance of occurring <the repeated occurrence of petty theft in the locker room>
本文中似乎沒有讀到這個涵義，內容多數針對 downsizing 的效果作說明，以此來看，C 選項並不切題。
請問各位的意見。[/quote]

剛開始我也是跟你這樣想!直接刪C

但是後來想想
就算occurrence翻譯成"發生"
定位 L15 - 21
organization theory 對於企業瘦身的現象已經不能提供足夠的解釋
非經濟因素必須也被考量進去,其中一個因素就是企業瘦身已經轉變成一個商業上的迷思


他提出另一個解釋說企業瘦身這現象發生的原因,不單單只是傳統的觀念(裁員)也由非經濟因素所影響,

仔細看個幾遍就會感覺這答案沒問題

[agustin]

我速記如下:

一直以來,企業宣稱他們為了經濟因素而裁員.組織理論也提供解釋支持.

然而(yet) 最近的研究顯示企業精簡後的經濟效用常常是負面

因此,組織理論不足以解釋企業瘦身的原因/動機, 一定還有其他非經濟因素.
其中之一是企業瘦身已經演變成一種廣大的迷思(也就是說企業很可能是因為迷思而瘦身 想為而為 不見的是經濟分析過)

然後提到一些現象 股價短時上揚...等等

過去曾被視為絕望的象徵, 企業瘦身如今被當成一個訊息, that is 該企業無法在global marketplace與人家競爭
而一些重要的行為者例如財務顧問 投資大眾(他們提供企業很重要的資源)會積極的接收/解讀這些訊息

所以瘦身的企業,既使沒有變的更有效率,也給上述行為者無比的信心 去展望未來(就是來坑殺大眾的錢啦)



整篇細讀再三 我讀不出作者的態度耶 我覺得作者只是在講一個東西而已
他並沒有去評論或批評 他也沒指出什麼好 什麼壞 我真的認為無關態度耶....若要說有態度 也是淡淡的負面吧 因為作者說很多企業瘦身根本是大家作 跟著作....


然後看題目
Q.34 C對的很明顯(雖然我選了A...><)

Q.35 作者暗示這個迷思 對正在瘦身的企業有利是因為...
B.因為可以騙到錢....(企業有迷思 大眾也有迷思阿)

Q.36 經由瘦身會變的更有效率 作者認為這句話....
D(正確選項)定位在Line 12 yet...
E這句話被商業媒體懷疑 與事實相反 文中提到business press是支持這個迷思的....

[小隻]

同 GWD 13-Q2
好像沒有人討論此題
According to the passage, the " key actors" (line 34) view a firm's downsizing activities as an indication of the firm's
A. troubled financial condition
B. inability to develop effective long-term strategies
C. inability to retain vital organizational resources
D. desire to boost its stock price
E. desire to become more competitive
ans. E why not B?

[fiona]

Once viewed as a sign of desperation,
downsizing is now viewed as a signal
that firms are serious about competing
in the global marketplace; such signals
are received positively by key actors....

因為這一段所以選E囉
不知道哪裡有說到不能發展有效的長期策略??