Sunday, March 20, 2005

Classifying

Some people incorrectly assume that the communication courses I teach primarily focus on technical vocabulary. More often, however, a crucial aspect is to improve organizational and thinking skills.

Imagine that you are responsible for the staff cafeteria in your workplace. Many people are dissatisfied with the cafeteria and you have received the following complaints and suggestions. You have to make a report to the Cafeteria Committee. How will you classify the complaints in order to present them in a clear and logical way?
List of complaints

1. Food is half-cold for late comers
2. Not enough tables
3. It is too warm in the cafeteria
4. The table cloths are often dirty
5. Not enough variety on the menus
6. Food has too high fat content
7. Sometimes there are flies in the dessert section
8. Can we have some flowers on the tables?
9. Too many egg dishes served on the same day
10. Smell of cooking is unpleasant
11. Tables too close together, always knocking into people
12. Why isn't there a salad bar?
13. Not enough time to get meal and eat it in comfort
14. Coffee is weak
15. Not enough vegetarian choices
16. People stay and gossip over coffee
17. The curtains are dirty
18. The staff wear stained uniforms
19. Menu should have more low-cal items
20. You have to line up even if you only want coffee
21. Isn't it possible to have some Asian dishes on the menu?
22. The menu never changes
23. Prices are too expensive.
24. Nowhere to sit back and relax
25. The staff is rude
26. The clock is slow
27. I found a beetle in my vegetable soup
28. The hours of the cafeteria should be extended
29. Must the walls be such a dismal colour?
30. The waitress section gets special treatment; everyone should order at the counter


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