Universidad Nacional Experimental de la Gran Caracas
Programa Nacional de Formación en Informática | PER
UC.: Idiomas | Docente: Ing. José Rosas
Nombre y Apellido Cédula Calificación
Taller de Idiomas
1. Match the words with the definitions
Words
A demand
a.) Innovative e.)
To review
b.) Profits f.)
c.) To target g.) Feedback
d.) To be aware of h.) R&D
Definitions
Using new ideas or ways of doing thing
To look at something again to change it if necessary
Research and development, the part of a business that develops or improves its
Products Money that is made by a business after all the costs are paid
need for something to be sold or provided
To direct a product at a particular person or
group to know that something exists
Information about people’s opinions of something that can be used to improve it
2. Read the text
What does it mean to be innovative in business?
In order for a business to survive in today's world, it is important that we regularly review what we are doing
and how we are doing it. By considering new ideas and new ways of doing things, and trying to innovate, we
can improve on our products/services, increase sales, reduce costs and make our processes more effective
and efficient. Innovation is key to increasing profits.
There are several ways a company can be innovative with their products and services. Today we will look
at four of them.
1. Using the latest technology to improve your product/service
When we think of innovation, we often think of new technologies. While they might be impressive, we should not
use new technologies just because they are available. It is important to consider how the technology can improve
our product/service and make a difference to our customer. Companies that produce cars, toiletries, household
appliances, etc. often have a large R&D department to work on making their products better.
2. Responding to customer demands by changing what is on offer
By listening to customer feedback, we can get their opinions on how we are doing and find out about what it
is that they want. We also need to be aware of changes in customer demands and keep up with the times.
When fast-food restaurant McDonald's realized that the market wanted healthier choices, they introduced
fruit and salads, while removing the 'super-size' option from their menus.
3. Offering a new product/service to reach new customers
Your business might be doing well, but there is no growth or development and there is a risk that your
competitors might take away some of your customers. Innovation sometimes means developing a new
product that targets a different market. Although video games were often played by boys, in 2006, video
games giant Nintendo introduced the game console Nintendo Wii, successfully targeting girls and older
customers with games like Cooking Mama and Brain Training.
4. Changing the way you provide a service
By looking at the changes to the customer's lifestyle and needs, we sometimes realize that there might be
better ways to serve them. Customers who do not have a lot of time might prefer to have their food or their
shopping delivered to their homes, or they might like to do their banking online rather than in an actual bank.
Not all innovation will bring success to our businesses, but it can give us the opportunity to grow and learn
more about what we do and what our customers might want.
3. Fill the gaps with the correct word
Words
better
a.) aware e.)
recent
b.) demands f.)
c.) development g.) convenient
d.) customers h.) innovative
Text
We need to introduce ________ _______ ideas and ways of doing things so that we can improve
and grow. One way of doing this is to look at the most _________ __________ technologies and see
how they can make our products or services _______ __________________.
Some companies have a research and _____ ______________ department that specializes in this. Another
way is to be ______ _____ of changes in what our customers want and make sure we offer products or
services that meet their ___________ __________.
A third way of introducing innovation is to develop new products that can help you target new ______
________________.
You can also change the way your service is offered to make it more _____ _ for your customers.
4. Are the sentences true or false? (select the correct answer with an X)
True False
a) We innovate because we want to increase the amount of money
our businesses make.
b) Being innovative is all about using the newest technologies in your
business.
c) Customers often don’t know what they want.
d) McDonald’s have not changed their menu since they started.
e) If you always target the same customers, you might lose them to
your competitors.
f) Nintendo understood that only boys will play computer games.
