Business English Vocabulary · Lesson 1

Sound Professional When Discussing Research and Decisions

From carrying out research to reaching a consensus: the phrases senior professionals use to discuss options, weigh up the pros and cons and agree on a decision in meetings – clear, precise and easy for everyone to understand.

ARead: before the decision

Read the text. Pay attention to the phrases in bold – you will need them in exercise B.

Why good decisions start with good research

Most bad business decisions don’t come from bad judgement. They come from bad information. Before a team commits to a new market, a new supplier or a new hire, someone has to carry out the research: actually doing the work of collecting the facts, the figures and the opinions that the decision will depend on.

At the start, the research should be comprehensive. It should cover every area that could matter, from costs and competitors to legal requirements and customer demand, so that nothing important is missing. Once the team knows which areas matter most, it can move on to in-depth research, looking at a smaller number of questions in much more detail.

Sometimes even that is not enough. If one option looks promising but the figures are unclear, the team may need to do a deep dive: a long, detailed investigation of that one specific area. And if something in the data looks strange, a good analyst doesn’t ignore it. They dig a little deeper, asking one more question or checking one more source until it makes sense.

When the research is complete, the team can weigh up the options, comparing them carefully to see which one is best. In practice, that means listing the pros and cons – the advantages and disadvantages – of each one. It also means agreeing which factors to take into account. Price, quality and delivery times are obvious, but a careful team will also take into consideration less visible factors, such as the effect on staff or on the company’s reputation.

BKey words from the text

Based on the context of the text, choose the phrase that matches each definition. Then complete the example sentence. You may need to change the form of the phrase.

Covering all the parts or areas of something, so that nothing important is missing

“The consultants have produced a report on the European market.”
To compare options carefully before you make a decision

“We need to the costs of each supplier before we sign anything.”
To do a piece of work, such as research, a survey or a test

“Our marketing team a customer survey last month.”
To investigate something a little further, especially when something seems unclear or strange

“The sales figures look fine, but I think we should before we share them with the board.”
The advantages and disadvantages of something

“Let’s list the of moving the team to a four-day week.”
To think about a particular fact or factor when you make a decision or a judgement

“Our forecast doesn’t the recent rise in energy prices.”
Research that looks at a topic in great detail

“Before we enter the Polish market, we’ll need to do some into local regulations.”
To carry out a long, detailed investigation of one specific area or topic

“Next week, the analytics team will into our customer data.”

CRead: making the decision

Now read the meeting. The phrases in bold are for exercise D. The underlined phrases are useful meeting phrases for exercise E.

Lisbon or Warsaw?

The leadership team of a growing software company has spent two months researching two possible locations for its new European office: Lisbon and Warsaw. Today, they need to make a final decision.

SaraChief Operating OfficerThanks, everyone. We’ve all seen the research, so today’s goal is simple: we need to settle on one city and close this discussion. Mark, where are you at the moment?

MarkSales DirectorHonestly, I’m leaning towards Lisbon. I haven’t completely made up my mind, but it’s the option I prefer right now. It’s easier to attract international salespeople there.

TomásFinance DirectorI understand that, but salaries and office rents are much lower in Warsaw. On cost alone, Warsaw wins.

PriyaHR DirectorCan I add something? We shouldn’t only think about the next twelve months. If we see the bigger picture, Warsaw also gives us access to a huge pool of engineers – and that’s what we’ll need in five years’ time.

SaraGood point. So, has anyone been able to pinpoint the one factor that matters most? If we can identify it exactly, everything else becomes easier.

TomásFor me, it’s hiring. The research helped us determine that we’ll need around forty engineers in the next three years. We now know that for certain, and Warsaw is far stronger for that.

MarkOK, I can see that. There are disadvantages – my team would prefer Lisbon – but looking at everything, I’d say the pros outweigh the cons.

SaraSo Warsaw has more advantages than disadvantages. Priya, any concerns?

PriyaI have some reservations about the timeline. Opening in six months feels very ambitious. But overall, the benefits outweigh the risks, so I wouldn’t stop the decision because of that.

SaraThen it sounds as if we’ve reached a consensus. Nobody is against it. So: Warsaw. Is everyone on board with that?

TomásI’m happy to go along with that.

MarkSame here. Let’s go with that.

SaraGreat. And just to make sure everyone is on the same page: we open in Warsaw next autumn, Priya leads the hiring, and Tomás updates the budget. I think all that research will pay off. We’re making this decision with real numbers, not guesses.

Bold = key words (exercise D)Underlined = meeting phrases (exercise E)

DKey words from the meeting

Based on the meeting, choose the phrase that matches each definition. Then complete the example sentence. You may need to change the form of the phrase.

To choose or decide on something, especially after discussing the options

“After three meetings, we finally a name for the new product.”
To identify something exactly

“We still can’t the exact cause of the delay.”
To bring good results, especially after a lot of work or investment

“All those late nights preparing the pitch really – we won the contract.”
To slightly prefer one option, without having made a final decision

“I’m the cheaper option, but I’m open to persuasion.”
General agreement among all the people in a group

“We need to reach a before we present the plan to the board.”
To find out or establish the facts about something, especially through research

“The survey will help us which features customers value most.”
To be greater or more important than something else

“In my view, the benefits of remote working the costs.”
To think about the whole situation and the long term, not just the details in front of you

“Some managers focus so much on monthly targets that they fail to .”

EWhat would you say?

Read each situation from a meeting. Which phrase would you use?

FSay it better

Each sentence below is correct, but it sounds simple. Rewrite it using a phrase from this lesson, then compare your version with the model answer.

“We need to look at the good points and the bad points of each option.”

Use: weigh up

Show model answer
“We need to weigh up the pros and cons of each option.”
“I think I prefer Lisbon, but I’m not completely sure yet.”

Use: lean towards

Show model answer
“At the moment, I’m leaning towards Lisbon.”
“Everybody agrees, so let’s choose this option.”

Use: consensus and settle on

Show model answer
“We’ve reached a consensus, so let’s settle on this option.”
“There are more good things than bad things about this plan.”

Use: outweigh

Show model answer
“With this plan, the pros outweigh the cons.” or “The benefits outweigh the risks.”
“Something in this data is strange. We should look at it more.”

Use: dig a little deeper or do a deep dive

Show model answer
“Something in this data doesn’t look right. I think we should dig a little deeper.” For a bigger investigation: “We should do a deep dive into this data.”
“All our hard work on the research was worth it.”

Use: pay off

Show model answer
“All the research we carried out really paid off.”

GKey words in a new context

Complete the email with the phrases from the box. You may need to change the form of some of the verbs.

Word box

carry out
comprehensive
weigh up
take into account
do a deep dive
pros and cons
lean towards
pinpoint
outweigh
consensus
settle on
pay off

From: Elena Novak, Head of OperationsTo: Department headsSubject: CRM decision – next steps

Hi all,

Thank you for your input over the last few weeks. As you know, we need to choose a new CRM system before the end of the quarter.

Our IT team has now a review of the five main systems on the market, covering everything from price and security to how easy each one is to use. Based on that review, we’ve narrowed the list down to two: Salesline and Corvo.

Next week, I’d like us to into these two systems, so that we can the of each in detail. Please the needs of your own department, not just the overall price.

At the moment, I’m Corvo. It’s more expensive, but I think the benefits the extra cost. However, I’d like to hear from anyone who disagrees – especially if you can a specific problem that we haven’t noticed yet.

I hope we can reach a at Thursday’s meeting and one system by the end of the month. If we choose carefully now, I’m confident it will for years to come.

Best regards,
Elena

Use it well

Three phrases from this lesson that professionals often mix up.

Weigh up or outweigh?

Weigh up is what you do: you compare the options.

We need to weigh up the options.

Outweigh is what one side does to the other: it is bigger or more important.

The benefits outweigh the risks.

Comprehensive or in-depth?

Comprehensive research is wide: it covers every area.

In-depth research is deep: it looks at fewer areas in much more detail.

Start comprehensive, then go in-depth where it matters.

Take into account

With a short object, put it in the middle. With a long object, put it at the end.

Please take that into account. Please take into account the fact that prices have risen.

Take into consideration means the same and works in exactly the same way. It is slightly more formal.

Glossary

All the phrases from this lesson.

Doing the research

to carry out (research)to do a piece of work, such as research, a survey or a test
comprehensivecovering all the parts or areas of something
in-depth researchresearch that looks at a topic in great detail
to do a deep dive (into)to carry out a long, detailed investigation of one specific area
to dig a little deeperto investigate something a little further, especially when something seems unclear
to weigh upto compare options carefully before deciding
pros and consadvantages and disadvantages
to take into account / into considerationto think about a fact or factor when making a decision

Making the decision

to lean towardsto slightly prefer one option, without having decided
to see the bigger pictureto think about the whole situation and the long term
to pinpointto identify something exactly
to determineto find out or establish the facts, especially through research
the pros outweigh the consthere are more advantages than disadvantages
the benefits outweigh the risks / coststhe advantages are greater than the risks or costs
a consensusgeneral agreement among all the people in a group
to settle onto choose or decide on something after discussing the options
to pay offto bring good results after work or investment

Meeting phrases

Is everyone on board with that?checking that everyone supports a decision
Is everyone on the same page?checking that everyone has the same understanding
Let’s go with that.making the final decision
I’m happy to go along with that.accepting a decision that wasn’t your first choice
I have some reservations about that.politely saying you have doubts