Unlocking Word
Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in
today’s article.
1. camaraderie
(n.) [kah-muh-rah-duh-ree] – a feeling of trust and familiarity between friends
Example: Many years of friendship forms a
strong camaraderie between friends.
2. collage
(n.) [kuh-lahzh] – an art form done by pasting various materials on a single surface
Example: The artist made a masterpiece out of
a collage of old photos, cartoon figures and newspaper clippings.
3. elaborate
(adj.) [ih-lab-er-it] or [ih-lab-uh-reyt] – describes something done with careful planning and attention to detail
Example: The elaborate design of the gown
impressed the other fashion designers.
4. skirmish
(n.) [skur-mish] – a quick conflict or battle
Example: The security guards were able to stop
the skirmish before it got worse.
5. instantaneous
(adj.) [in-stuhn-tey-nee-uhs] – occurring with almost no delay
Example: He always has to give an
instantaneous report whenever his boss arrives unannounced.
Article
Read the text below.
A competition of Post-It note art between office
spaces has broken out in corporate Paris. Some companies think it encourages
corporate camaraderie, while a
sociologist believes that it is a good form of communication.
The "Post-It Wars" began when Ubisoft,
a computer gaming company, used Post-It notes to put up an image from the
1980s computer game “Space Invaders” on the window. The next day, BNP,
France's largest bank located right across Ubisoft, posted an image of
Pac-Man.
The collages
soon swept across business districts in Paris. The images range from simple
flowers or Hello Kitty, to more complicated images that can get as high as
seven stories.
The management of each participating company
thinks positively of the way employees use time and energy for these elaborate projects. Ubisoft's Fabrice
Cambonet says getting people from all around the company involved gives them
the chance to know each other.
However, the management of a bank has forbidden
its employees to take part in the skirmishes,
because no matter how artistic the creations are, the activity creates
clutter.
Francois Dupuy, a sociologist, has a different
take on this trend. He believes that the Post-It Wars prove how even in the
era of Facebook, Twitter and other forms of instantaneous communication, the need to communicate with people
surrounding them still persists. This is hard for employees in corporate
complexes since they cannot open their windows to communicate with people
from other buildings. But through Post-It Wars, companies in Paris found
another way to do so.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
What
kinds of activities can encourage teamwork in the workplace?
·
Do
you think it is okay to consider co-workers as friends? Please explain your
answer.
Discussion
B
·
What
do you think about communication between corporate spaces mentioned in the
article?
·
Do
you think communication through “Post-It Wars” contributes to the productivity
of the employees? Please explain your answer