Working in the restaurant of a Hotel, the Participant has to meet with a colleague to discuss their recent performance at work. The individual has not been pulling their weight within the team, resulting in other team members becoming de-motivated and resentful. This has had a significant impact on the team’s performance as a whole and as a result, the Participant has to try and move things forward without damaging their relationship with their peer.
Competencies: Flexibility
The Participant is the Director for Manufacturing Operations (UK) at HomePack Frozen Foods – a well established manufacturer and wholesaler of frozen food products. The performance of its newest division, Ice Cream and Desserts, which was recently acquired, has slumped alarmingly. It is the Participant’s task to interview the Divisional Plant Manager in order to clearly identify and resolve the problem. There is also an issue with the Plant Manager’s attitude which will need to be raised.
The Participant plays the role of a Production Manager for Beacon Stationery Supplies who has to deal with an individual whose performance has changed notably from what was previously an acceptable level. The brief contains information about the team member’s past performance, details of a customer complaint and some inter-departmental difficulties. The Participant is required to tackle the decline in performance, but is unaware of a personal problem, which is impacting on the team members performance. The challenge for the Participant is to strike an effective balance in handling all of the issues that arise and getting the individual back on track
The Participant assumes the role of an internal Project Manager in a business services company, Biz-Data, and is responsible for managing the timely delivery of a new IT software installation. Using the information provided, the Participant is required to conduct a project update meeting with the external Project Manager from an IT software company to resolve current project issues which have impacted on the Company’s external clients. The external Project Manager seems to have lost control of the project and the Participant needs to work with them to deliver their requirements whilst not jeopardising other internal projects.
As the Regional Manager of Paradise Restaurants Ltd, the Participant is required to conduct a performance review with one of their team, due to a performance problem. The Participant is given information by way of a complaint letter and internal memo prior to the review. As well as the workplace issues arising from the job, the Roleplayer’s brief contains personal and emotive material which requires listening, interpersonal sensitivity and integrity on the part of the Participant.
The Participant plays the role of a Senior Manager in a utilities organisation, Spec Utilities. They are representing their Head of Department who is unable to attend a meeting with the Head of Sales & Marketing. Each department has two projects they propose to run this year, but with limited funds available, it is not possible to support all four. The Participant and the Head of Sales & Marketing must agree which two are put forward for approval by the Board who will otherwise allocate the funds arbitrarily. The Participant is only provided with details about the projects their manager would like to put forward.
The Participant is a graduate who has recently been appointed by Peter Masons, a large department store chain, as a Management Trainee. The Participant has been placed on a 3-month assignment in the Customer Service Department as part of a rotational programme designed to provide broad exposure to business operations. The Participant has been asked to interview one of the Customer Service staff who has recently been the subject of a number of complaints regarding customer handling. The Roleplayer’s brief is designed to challenge the Participant’s skills of managing others, creating increased motivation and dealing effectively with performance related problems.
The Participant assumes the role of a newly appointed Area Sales Manager for SoftWorld Solutions, a medium-sized software and services supplier. They are required to conduct a review meeting with a member of their sales team regarding productivity and performance issues. The Exercise requires the Participant to use management skills such as providing direction, encouragement and motivation, as well as establishing the causes of any performance problems.
As a Trainee Manager in a motor manufacturer, the Participant is currently on secondment to one of their larger dealerships, Swain Auto Dealers. The Participant, having reviewed a written complaint, is asked to interview the member of the sales team at fault. The Roleplayers brief is designed to challenge the Participants interpersonal and management skills.
The Participants, as a group of work colleagues at a multi-national organisation with a strong manufacturing background, meet to discuss a number of scenarios. Faced with four issues, the Participants must discuss recommendations for the way forward. The scenarios raise issues of integrity, employee relations, commercial awareness, organisational and interpersonal sensitivity. The process itself, complemented by the issues being discussed manifests evidence of interpersonal skills which can also be evaluated.
