1、Did HR Cause the Downfall of EnronBy John SullivannPre-reading questions:n1. What are the main functions of human resources department? How does HR add value to a business?n2. What is the best way to retain talented employees in an organization?Six Main Functions of a Human Resource DepartmentnRecru

2、itment招聘: Recruiters play a key role in developing the employers workforce.nSafety安全: One of the main functions of HR is to support workplace safety training nEmployee Relations員工關系: strengthening the employer-employee relationship through measuring job satisfaction, employee engagement and resolvin

3、g workplace conflict.nCompensation and Benefits 薪酬與福利nCompliance合規: Compliance with labor and employment laws is a critical HR functionnTraining and Development培訓與發展: Employers must provide employees with the tools necessary for their successnHow Does HR Add Value to an Organization?nIn the most gen

4、eral sense, HR serves to motivate employees to top performance and maintain an organizational culture of high morale. nHR manages a key link to company successpeople and performance. The long-term success and financial performance of a company is usually directly correlated to the talents, motivatio

5、n and accomplishments of its people. A primary way HR adds value to a company is by promoting this link and persuading company leaders to train and develop employees and reward strong performance.nTalent Acquisition and RetentionnHiring and retaining top talent is a foundation of high-performing com

6、panies. HR is largely responsible for building and managing the systems that recruit, attract, hire, train, motivate and retain a companys best employees. nLegal ProtectionnOne of the less-heralded ways HR adds value to a business is through legal protection from discrimination and wrongful terminat

7、ion lawsuits.nHR professionals must design hiring and promotional systems that promote fairness and equality.nPlanningnHR directors commonly serve on company management teams and participate in strategic planning.Language WorknDownfall: loss of success or power垮臺；衰敗;沒落nE.g. nHis lack of experience h

8、ad led to his downfall. n他的缺乏經驗導致了他的垮臺。nBuy (or buy into): believe or accept (infml.) 相信nIm not buying any of that nonsense. n我一點也不相信那些廢話。nI bought into the popular myth that when I got the new car or the next house, Id finally be happy. n我相信了這種大眾神話，以為只要買上新車或再買棟房子就會最終幸福起來。nTake responsibility承擔責任nOn

9、ly when you take responsibility can you look beyond yourself and be a model for others.n一個人只有承擔起責任，才能超越自己，成為他人的模范。nwe must recognize that in the 21st century, there will be no peace unless we take responsibility for the preservation of our planet. n我們必須認識到，在21世紀，除非我們承擔起保護我們的星球的責任，否則就不會有和平。 nUnethica

10、l: not ethical 不道德的nIts simply unethical to promote and advertise such a dangerous product. n給這樣一個危險的產品做宣傳廣告是極不道德的。nunethical behavior不道德行為nunethical means 不道德的手段nBusiness ethics 商業道德nBe coupled with: be combined with; be together with 與結合；與一起nHe suggested that reform be in coupled with an overall r

11、eduction in corporate taxes.n他建議將改革與企業整體減稅相結合。nDeception n. 欺騙，欺詐nHe admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception. n他承認曾密謀通過欺騙獲取財產。nDeceptive adj.欺詐的n Deceive v. 欺騙；欺詐n Deceiver n.騙子；欺詐者nDegenerate v.退化; 惡化; 墮落nInactivity can make your joints stiff, and the bones may begin to degenerate. n不活動

12、會使關節僵硬，骨骼因此可能會開始退化。nDegeneration n. n De+generate (de- “down, away”)nLie with (問題、辦法或錯誤) 在于nThe problem lay with the family and the school system rather than with television. n問題在于家庭和學校體制而非電視。nRandom adj. n. 隨機(的)；隨意(的)nThe survey used a random sample of two thousand people across the Midwest. n這項調查

13、使用的是對中西部地區2000人的隨機取樣。nWe had interviews with a randomly selected sample of 30 girls aged between 13 and 18. n我們對隨機抽取的30名年齡在13至18歲之間的女孩進行了采訪。nWe received several answers, and we picked one at random. n我們收到了好幾個答案，就隨機地揀選了一個。nViolation n. 違背；違反nHe was fined 200 yuan for his violation of traffic regulati

14、ons. n由于違反交通規則他被罰款200 元。nViolate v. 違反；侵犯nThe journalist was accused of violating that pop stars familys privacy. n該名記者被控侵犯那位明星的家庭隱私。nAppraisal n. 評估; 估量; 評價；鑒定nCf. evaluation; assessmentnAppraise v. nThis prompted many employers to appraise their selection and recruitment policies.n這促使許多雇主考量其人才選拔和招

15、聘政策。n-al nDismissal; proposal; approval; arrival; disposal.nTerminate v. 終止；結束；解雇nHer next remark abruptly terminated the conversation. n她接下來的言論使得談話突然終止。nTermination n. 終止nTerminal n. 終點；終端nWithout any party in breach of this contract, Party A and Party B shall not terminate the contract unilaterall

16、y in the duration of the contract. This contract can be terminated before the expiry date under the consensus of both parties.n甲乙雙方在沒有違反合同的條件下,合同期有效期內雙方不得單方面終止此合同。在雙方達成共識下可以提前終止此合同。nPrior (to) adj.事先的nThe Constitution requires the president to seek the prior approval of Congress for military action.

17、 n憲法要求總統尋求國會對軍事行動的事先批準。nI regret that I have to decline your invitation due to a prior engagement.n很抱歉，因為有約在先我無法接受你的邀請。nA death prior to 65 is considered to be a premature death. n65歲以前的死亡被認為是過早死亡。nPriority n.優先；優先權nThe governments priority is to build more power plants. n政府的當務之急是建造更多的發電廠。nWomen are

18、 more likely to give priority to child care. 女性更可能優先考慮照料孩子.nIdentify v.發現; 察覺nScientists claim to have identified chemicals produced by certain plants which have powerful cancer-fighting properties. n科學家們聲稱已經發現某些植物產生的化學物質有強大的抗癌功能。nGiven (that) prep.考慮到nGiven the difficulty in finding a job, I was le

19、ft with little other choice. n考慮到工作難找，我幾乎沒有選擇余地。nUsually I am sensible with money, given that I dont earn that much. n考慮到自己掙得不多，我花錢通常是很明智的。nHR could have saved Enron人力資源本來可以拯救安然公司nWould/could/should have done sth (虛擬語氣) 本來可以/能夠/應該做(卻沒有做到）nIt is important that(虛擬語氣)nIt is important/essential/necessar

20、y/crucial/vital that the company remain closed before it meets emission standard.Subjunctive mood 虛擬語氣n1. Base form/ Be-pattern 原形形式nA. express a wishnE.g. nLong live world peace!nGod bless you!nB. 用于表示命令，決定，要求，提議，建議，勸告，希望等的名詞，形容詞和動詞之后的從句中n名詞 advice, command, decision, desire, decree, idea, motion,

21、order, plan, proposal, recommendation, regulation, request, requirement, resolution, suggestion, wish etc. 之后的表語從句和同位語從句nE.g.nTheir decision is that the school remain closed.nHe ignored his doctors advice that he take a vacation.n動詞 advise, ask, demand, decide, forbid, intend, order, prefer, propose

22、, recommend, request, require, suggest, urge, vote, stipulate, insist, etc. 之后的賓語從句nE.g.nThey suggested that Smith be dropped from the team. nHe insisted that the news be suppressed.n形容詞 (表示必須，重要，希望等）advisable, compulsory, crucial, desirable, essential, imperative, important, necessary, mandatory, o

23、bligatory, preferable, urgent, vital, etc. 之后的主語從句中nE.g.nIt is essential that the ban be lifted tomorrow.nIt is advisable that he stay for the entire conference.n2. indefinite form / Were-pattern 一般式nUsed to express a condition contrary to a fact 表示主觀設想在主句表示的時間的同時或之后發生的動作或狀態n wish clause; if /as if/

24、 as though clausenE.g.nI wish I were included in the list.nThey are talking as if they were good friends.n3. perfect form 完成式 （haddone)n表示主觀設想在主句表示的時間之前發生的動作或狀態。nE.g.nI wish I had known the answer yesterday.nIf I had been notified, I should have come yesterday. nIt is time that you were in bed.nId r

25、ather we had dinner now.nId rather you hadnt done that.nI would prefer that he left now.nI was afraid to open the door lest he should follow me. nThe president has gone along with the hardliners lest they be tempted to oust him.nAssume the role of 承擔角色n毫無疑問，隨著中國經濟的增長，人民幣總有一天會承擔起全球儲備貨幣的角色。nWith China

26、s economic rise, no doubt the renminbi will one day assume the role of a global reserve currency.nGo + adj. ngo用作連系動詞時，通常表示主語處于某種狀態或由某種狀態向另一種狀態轉變，后面多接形容詞作其表語nEggs are apt to go bad in summern雞蛋在夏天容易變壞。nHe has gone mad/crazyn他發瘋了nFruit quickly goes rotten in hot weathern熱天水果會很快變質。nAll my letters went

27、 unansweredn我寫的信都沒有回音。nThe thieves must not go unpunishedn決不能讓這些盜賊逍遙法外。Stress patternsnDo be careful!nI did go to the station to meet her but I didnt see her. nIt is competence rather than physical appearance that counts most in job hunting. nIt is president Xi who dares to declare a war against cor

28、ruption in China. nLittle does he care about what I really want. nOnly through/by joint efforts can we solve the problem of global warming.nWhat a country needs most is wise leadership. nLearning and knowledge are indispensable to us, but what is more important is a noble character. nWhat irritates most is my parents interference in my privacy/that my parents show no respect to my privacy.nThe least thing I can stand/bear/ put up with is that they tend to interfere in my private affairs.nThe best part of the job is flexible working ho