Participants assume the role of Operations Director of Porion Group, an international Market Research Company. Porion is considering acquiring one of three smaller companies to further continue its growth strategy and global expansion. Participants must analyse quantitative and qualitative data, choose one option and justify their recommendation to the CEO. Participants must also consider any practicalities to ensure the acquisition proceeds smoothly.
Please note that the following competencies are only assessed within an optional briefing included in this exercise:
Stress Tolerance
Flexibility
Openness to Change
Listening
Persuasive Oral Communication
Interpersonal Sensitivity
Impact
After successful penetration into the European market three years ago, Resoniq an audio-electrical manufacturer, wishes to follow this with a launch into the wider international market. The Participant plays the role of the Senior Manager and must ascertain which of the strategies available would prove to be the most advantageous and must present their decision in the form of a written report.
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 is asked to assume the role of an Administrative Assistant in the non-fiction section of the Marketing Department of Somersby Books Ltd, a medium-sized publishing company. Having been with the company for about six months and keen to make their mark in the department, the Participant is producing a sales analysis report which they intend to submit to the Marketing Manager in time for the meeting on the forthcoming product catalogue. The Participant is required to analyse a range of data and produce a detailed report which includes their recommendations on which titles to exclude from the catalogue.
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
Interpersonal Sensitivity
Impact
The Participant assumes the role of a newly-appointed Trainee Resource Co-ordinator for Mitzo Solutions, a small but rapidly growing IT solutions provider. The Participant is asked to review four potential telephone systems suppliers and recommend which supplier Mitzo Solutions should outsource their phone systems to, as well as outline a plan for the implementation of the new equipment. The Participant is provided with a range of quantitative and qualitative data including the Board’s decision-making criteria, departmental requirements (including disability issues), employee and customer complaints and a range of financial data in relation to each of the four potential options.
Please note that the following competencies are only assessed within an optional briefing included in this exercise:
Flexibility
Impact
Listening
Persuasive Oral Communication
Written Communication
The Participant assumes the role of Procurement Manager for Hampshire Public Health Service Trust. The PHS Trust is re-developing one of its hospital sites and aims to achieve best service delivery and ‘value for money’ through partnership with a private organisation. The Participant is required to analyse a range of numerical and textual information, including a risk allocation matrix, to assess submissions from potential partners. The Participant must provide a considered proposal, making recommendations as to which submissions will be short-listed to the next stage. The Participant does not need any knowledge of procurement procedures in order to complete this exercise.
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
An Express version of this exercise is now available.
The Participant assumes the role of Head of Commercial Operations at Redisso, a medium-sized software solutions business. A Non-Executive Director on Redisso’s Board has voiced concerns about declining profit margins and highlighted a need to re-structure the business and realign its growth strategy. The Participant must carry out a detailed review of Redisso’s financial and commercial performance and set out recommendations for how this might be improved in the short, medium and long term.
Please note that the following competencies are only assessed within an optional briefing included in this exercise:
Impact
Listening
Persuasive Oral Communication
Stress Tolerance
Written Communication
An Express version of this exercise is now available.
Participants assume the role of a Trainee Business Analyst working for a global consultancy, Tanzecure, which specialises in providing financial data and market intelligence to their clients. A client has asked for information on five different products to be analysed in order to decide which product to invest in and launch. Participants are presented with comprehensive information about the market, customers, competitors and the five products in question and must make recommendations having analysed all available information.
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 is asked to assume the role of a Financial Controller for an international management consultancy. They are presented with financial information about the recent performance of a number of business units and are required to write a report summarising their findings and recommendations for The Board. The Exercise places great emphasis on numerical analysis in a commercial setting as the Participant is given a range of numerical and textual information including a number of balance sheets and profit & loss accounts.
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 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
