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.
Competencies: Persuasive Oral Communication
The Participant plays the role of a newly appointed Loan Manager with Europa Finance. They have been asked to meet with a fellow manager to discuss their poor performance and lack of motivation and enthusiasm. Europa Finance has recently been the subject of a takeover by a multi-national company and a great deal of organisational change has followed. This has contributed to the manager’s recent performance decline. The Participant’s task is to address the performance issue, restore their colleagues motivation and encourage them to embrace the organisational change.
Adopting the role of newly appointed Area Director for Elysian Banks plc, the Participant conducts a one-to-one interview with one of their team, working as a Case Director chasing defaulting bank customers. This person is seemingly using the Banks power in an inappropriate manner and questions have been raised about their management style. They also appear to be losing enthusiasm for their work. Having reviewed the background information provided, the Participant must address several issues to coach this individual towards an agreed standard of behaviour.
The Participant assumes the role of a newly appointed manager within a professional services organisation, Lehman and Associates. They have been asked to meet with a member of their team to talk about recent changes in the individual’s performance and to explore recent behaviour relating to email misuse. The Participant needs to raise sensitive issues in a professional manner and this will require a balance between maintaining a focus on the business issues as well as demonstrating an understanding for the team members situation.
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.
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 has recently been recruited to a Graduate Trainee scheme by McKay World Wide Financial Services. The Participant has been given a small project to manage which sits within the context of a larger assignment. The Participant is given background information on the larger assignment and detailed information on their component project. The Participant is required to meet with one of their peers, with whom they will be working on the project, and gain their colleagues acceptance to a high level project plan. The Participant must use planning and project management skills to deliver the assignment.
The Participant assumes the role of a Graduate Trainee at a large international building and construction company, Thornton Croft. The Participant is currently placed in the Retail Division delivering a full range of design, feasibility, shop fitting and construction services. The Participant is provided with information relating to a live project and has been tasked with briefing their Line Manager. The Participant is informed that their Line Manager is not available and is now required to brief the Director. The Participant is required to present their assessment of the current status of the project.
The Participant assumes the role of a newly appointed Manager of Exam Plus, a leading player within the educational services sector. They are required to meet with a team member who was asked to undertake a task for another manager. Due to insufficient guidance and a lack of the necessary skills and knowledge to complete the task, they missed an important deadline which resulted in the team member being publicly criticised. Having reviewed the background information provided the Participant must motivate the individual in order to rebuild their confidence and to identify appropriate development opportunities.
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.
