Employee performance reviews are essential for all businesses. However, how you conduct reviews determines their effectiveness. A performance review can empower your employees to reach new heights – or drive your team away.
An effective performance review helps employees identify growth opportunities and potential areas of improvement while still maintaining healthy business relationships. But writing an effective review isn’t easy, and managers often don’t receive enough guidance. We’ll explore best practices for writing and conducting comprehensive reviews and share how performance management software can help.
TASK 1
You have received this message from your managing director.
From: Callie Baxter
Subject: Website issues
The latest online customer reviews show that our products are popular, but
our website is not user-friendly. This is affecting sales. I need to know the
problems customers are experiencing and how we have dealt with the
situation. I also need suggestions for improving the website.
Write an email to the managing director.
• say what the website problems are
• explain what action has been taken
• suggest how to improve the website
Write at least 50 words
TASK 2
The texts below are all responses to the task 1. Which one
do you think is the best response?Give Reasons for your answer in not more than 150 words.
Response A
Hi Callie,
Thanks for your message. You’re right, we’ve had loads of complaints about the
website recently. Customers say it’s really slow and some of the information is wrong.
This is affecting sales, because customers just buy from websites which are easier to
use. Let’s ask the IT department to have a look.
Thanks,
Jasper
Response B
Dear Ms Baxter
Regarding your message about our website, the fall in online sales is mainly due how
long it takes to download pages and to checkout. Customers who have complained
have been offered discounts, but we need a long-term solution. We should consider
hiring an IT company to advise us. Would you like me to research some possible
companies?
Regards
Jasper Clark
Response C
Ms Baxter
The website is not user-friendly. The main problems are the quality of the pictures and
the product descriptions. We have removed some of the incorrect information. We
ought to take new pictures and write new descriptions.
Yours,
J. Clark.
TASK 3
Now look at the table at the bottom and complete it. This will help you identify specific strengths and weaknesses in each response.
| Responses | Length: Is the answer long enough? | Content: Is all the necessary information included? | Register: Is the answer in a suitable style for the reader? | Language: Is there a good range of language? |
| A | ||||
| B | ||||
| C |
TASK 4
Look at the different ways of making suggestions or recommendations. They are all
suitable for neutral or formal business contexts. Complete the expressions with the
correct form of the verb to hire
hire hiring to hire
a. My suggestion/recommendation is that we _________ an IT company.
b. We ought to/should _________ an IT company.
c. I suggest/recommend _________ an IT company.
d. If we _______ an IT company, they will be able to advise us.
e. Perhaps we could _______________ an IT company.
f. I think it would be a good idea ________________ an IT company.
g. Have you considered __________________ an IT company?
For more language practice
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