【文章內(nèi)容簡介】 make sure that: ? The topic is vocationally relevant ? There is an issue which people can discuss in different ways. (If there is only one way forward, then there is probably little point in having a meeting!) ? The topic is sufficiently plex to allow for a formal meeting. ? Once you are sure of the topic, then you should carry out some research to gather the information that you need for your input at the meeting. ? The list on pages 63 and 64 of this student guide (. the Unit Student Guide) can help you to identify some sources of information. ? information is required? (Select information) ? Depends upon the purpose that your writing has. ? It is important that you are clear about the purpose before you begin, otherwise you might gather a lot of information that is not directly relevant to your purpose. ? can I get information from?（ collect information) ? Information can e from a variety of sources, depending upon what you want to find out. Here are some examples, but this is not an exhaustive list: ⑴ Written sources: ? Books and journals (the library is a great place to start) ? Newspapers and magazines ? The Inter, CD ROMs, and similar multimedia sources ? Handbooks and other pany documents ? Questionnaires ? Surveys ? Catalogues, price lists and product specification sheets ? Other reports and studies. ⑵ Verbal sources: ? Interviews ? Meetings and discussions ? Information gathered over the telephone (. a call to a supplier) ? Surveys. ⑶ Observed (‘real life’) sources ? Observations carried out in the workplace ? Field trips ? Visits (to suppliers, to other firms etc) ? Results of trials and experiments (. using a new type of raw material in a sample batch to see how effective it is). exercise ? You have been asked to send out a memo to a colleague about a breakdown in a piece of equipment. What information do you need, and where would you get this information? ? Suggested solution ? What piece of equipment has broken down 。 What exactly the problem is. ? You would get this information from the supervisor, team leader, or someone who works in the area affected. ? Summary: Planning and Preparing ? Meetings allow for people to e together to discuss topics. ? You need to prepare in advance for the meeting to be successful. ? This often requires you to gather information. ? There are many places from which you can get information. ? You need to ensure that the information you gather is useful for the meeting. exercise ? Background ? You work as a PA (personal assistant) in the Beijing headquarters of a large manufacturing pany. You and four of your colleagues have been given the task of planning and anizing a conference for the pany’s most senior Beijing managers, together with their inner Mongolia counterparts, who are based in Hohht. ? The conference, which will start the planning process for bining Beijing and Hohht pany operations, will take place over two days in a large city at the end of next month, and all the managers will spend the third day (which should be a Saturday) sightseeing at the chosen location. ? You and your colleagues should hold a brief meeting to decide on your priorities for anizing this conference. This meeting should allocate each mittee member an area of research, as well as deciding on other areas on which decisions have to be made. ? What topic or topics do you need to identify in the brief meeting? Suggested solution ? when and where the conference should