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
As a Senior Consultant to the Board of Wakeham Financial Services, the Participant is asked to advise on the re-organisation of the Company in an effort to reduce costs and improve its speed of service. Detailed information is supplied on the Company’s formation, its technical services and the organisation of its cost structure. The analysis is to be presented in the form of a written report on whether and how to re-organise.
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
Participants are representatives of six different Government departments, who are part of an inter-departmental taskforce formed to consider various solutions aimed at minimising the impact of global warming. The International Climate Change Research Council (ICCRC) has agreed in principle to award a research grant of £70 million, subject to the submission of a sufficiently effective and convincing proposal. Each departmental representative has a project proposal that they need to advocate, so that collectively they can decide which project will be nominated to receive the research grant.
Participants are members of a Career Development Committee, which has been asked to review details on a group of potential candidates applying for a one year sabbatical and funding for an MBA. Department Heads have approved each of the candidates for the sabbatical, and each of the six Participants has been asked to recommend a different candidate. Collectively the Participants need to review the relative merit of each candidate and to decide how to allocate available funds.
Each Participant assumes the role of a Senior Manager within the Acquisitions team for WLP International (WLP), a company operating within the logistics and transportation industry. WLP have recently acquired a similar organisation. The Participants must decide as a group which countries WLP should retain a presence in, and which businesses should be sold off to raise capital for reinvestment. Each Participant has information about one of the six different countries and is provided with quantitative and qualitative information including; company background, financial data, staffing and customer issues, competitor information and future business opportunities.
The Participants assume the role of managers representing different units within a large Government Agency. As a result of a recent Government decision to cut the Agency’s budget by a significant amount, they have to meet to discuss a number of cost saving initiatives, Examples of these initiatives include relocation or merger of units, early retirement schemes, training cuts etc. In doing so they have to balance the potential savings each initiative could represent against the implications they will have on their people and work standards.
Participants are members of the Board of a public sector organisation – the Department of Logistical and Administration Management – which is undergoing a period of substantial change following the Government’s drive for modernisation. As a result, a new position, a Director of Change, is required. Six candidates have been short-listed for the position and the Board must now select the most appropriate candidate. Each Participant has a profile of one of the six candidates and must argue as to why their choice is the most suitable.
Participants assume the role of Project Managers in a large European based manufacturing organisation, Grigston Lacey. Due to cut backs the Project Managers must meet to decide how best to allocate the available resources. Each Participant has parameters within which they can negotiate to achieve the most favourable allocation of resources, whilst trying to ensure that each of the projects is able to run successfully. Projects range from quality testing new products and relocating sites to IT upgrades and process re-engineering.
Participants play the role of a Graduate Trainee in Riktor Ltd, a Construction and Engineering Consultancy. Riktor Ltd currently has the opportunity to bid for a transport construction project with a previous customer. The Participants are meeting together to discuss the six available projects and decide which two to bid for. Participants are expected to consider company reputation, commercial factors, environmental impact and the local community needs and requirements when making a decision.
Participants assume the role of Trainee Managers working for six different utilities companies who have been asked to sit on a Governmental Advisory Committee. Participants are meeting to discuss how a fund, which the Government has set aside for innovative projects, intended to advance solutions to supply and quality problems, could be allocated. Participants are provided with information about their own company’s short-listed innovative project that will efficiently recycle, produce, deliver, reuse or conserve energy resources. Collectively the Participants need to review the relative merits of each project and agree on the best use of the fund.
