The Participant assumes the role of a Government Analyst. The task is to provide reasoned advice on policy regarding state pensions. Detailed information is provided for projected effects of changes in tax and demographics and values of the Organisation to which the Participant belongs. The information is presented in various forms, graphs, tables, Government Papers, advisory documents and newspaper articles. Content is highly complex, but specialist knowledge of financial services or past Government policy is not required. There is no simple ‘right answer’, the Participant must provide a reasoned solution.
Please note that the following competencies are only assessed within an optional briefing included in this exercise:
Flexibility
Openness to Change
Listening
Persuasive Oral Communication
Impact
The Participant assumes the role of a Research Officer working for the Education and Self-Improvement Group (ESIG), a public body who provide training initiatives for adults and young people. The Participant must analyse four different training courses and make recommendations to the Head of Procurement as to how to reduce costs to meet the specified ESIG target. The Participant is provided with a range of quantitative and qualitative data and is expected to consider all of the information provided to make a reasoned and objective decision to the Head of Procurement.
Please note that the following competencies are only assessed within an optional briefing included in this exercise:
Flexibility
Listening
Openness to Change
Persuasive Oral Communication
Written Communication
Participants assume the role of Senior Brand Manager in a FMCG company, Unicorn (UK) Ltd, which specialise in personal care and household products. The company has recently sold a subsidiary as it was not regarded as a core business. The Board now has £25 million for reinvestment which has been given to the Marketing Director for promotion and development of existing UK brands. The Marketing Director has asked the Senior Brand Managers to meet and decide how best to use this money. Each Senior Brand Manager has different product briefs containing sales performance data, figures on advertising spend and information on market share in comparison with competitors and is expected to negotiate and agree the best use of the available funds.
The Participant assumes the role of a newly appointed manager for Forthton Borough Council and is responsible for Transport Implementation. Central Government have recently cascaded a new directive. The Participant is provided with a range of qualitative and quantitative information. Their role is to analyse the information provided and make recommendations as to how they will implement the Central Government’s Directive at a local level.
Please note that the following competencies are only assessed within an optional briefing included in this exercise:
Flexibility
Impact
Listening
Openness to Change
Persuasive Oral Communication
Stress Tolerance
Written Communication
An Express version of this exercise is now available
Participants take the role of Regional Sales & Marketing Directors in The European Division of Electron plc, an international IT products, services and business solutions provider. Electron plc is facing financial difficulty so a meeting is being held to evaluate possible Division cut backs in order to secure the future of the Organisation. Participants must each compete to safeguard the welfare of their region. An agreement must be reached so that a recommendation can be presented to the European Sales & Marketing Director.
Participants assume the role of UK Board members of a large multi-national organisation, International Electronics Group, which manufactures a wide range of electronic goods such as CD and DVD players and televisions. Due to a drop in retail sales resulting in a difficult financial year, there is a need to cut the operating expenditure budget for the forthcoming year. The Directors are meeting to agree how to meet the necessary budget reduction from their individual budgets and each is expected to defend their position while looking to reach a conclusion that benefits the company as a whole.
Participants are asked to assume the role of managers in the product design department of a large multi-national stationery company-Mitoo International. Each Participant is responsible for a particular area of product design. They are meeting to negotiate for their share of a budgetary allocation for the development of new market-leading products. Mutual agreement must be reached on distribution of these funds otherwise the Finance Director will decide who is to be awarded them.
Six Participants are each given functional roles representing Production, Personnel, IT, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Finance at Seltec Limited, an electronics company. Each role has competing interests with respect as to how to allocate a monetary sum awarded to Seltec for winning the Leadership in Europe Award. Mutual agreement must be reached on the allocation of the money or else it will be distributed at the discretion of Americorp, an American organisation which has recently acquired Seltec.
Each Participant is given the role of Divisional Manager of a different section of the Utilities Agency, who provide central procurement services for other Government departments. Participants are meeting to bid for their share of the divisional budget and must submit their recommendation at the end of the meeting to the Head of Finance, who is unable to attend. Each Participant is supplied with a budget breakdown and supporting material as to why their projects should be funded. Consensus needs to be reached by the end of the meeting or the Head of Finance will decide.
The Participant takes on the role of a newly appointed Compensation and Benefits Manager for Kavanah Hawley, a manufacturer of exclusive beauty products. The Participant is tasked with deciding whether or not Kavanah Hawley should withdraw company cars from its staff benefits package. This exercise requires the Participants to consider both the needs of the business and the people who work in it, in order to make a reasoned decision.
