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
Express exercises are condensed versions of their original counterparts. They assess fewer competencies and take less time to both complete and mark.
The Participant plays the role of an Area Sales Manager of a recently amalgamated pharmaceutical company, Merecom Pharmaceuticals. Due to the merger the Manager must re-organise their sales region. Written and graphical information is provided, including; product sales, potential competitor information, sales representatives’ performance and logistical considerations. The aim is to supply the Business Unit Director with a written report of how the objectives can be achieved.
Please note that the following competencies are only assessed within an optional briefing included in this exercise:
Listening
Persuasive Oral Communication
Impact
The Participant assumes the role of Head of the Location Review Team for Zendopharma, a global pharmaceutical business. The Board has expressed the desire to move the head office location, currently in Chicago, USA. Three possible options have been identified, and the Participant is provided with qualitative and quantitative information relating to the options including employee and customer surveys, recruitment and relocation costs. The Participant is expected to analyse this material and make a recommendation balancing the needs of employees, customers and investors.
Please note that the following competencies are only assessed within an optional briefing included in this exercise:
Flexibility
Impact
Listening
Persuasive Oral Communication
Stress Tolerance
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
The Participant assumes the role of a Trainee Manager working for a new public sector agency, ‘The Wellbeing Agency’. Participants are presented with a range of qualitative and quantitative information relating to a possible promotion the agency may launch called ‘Swim a s-Mile’. Participants must make recommendations relating to the content and medium of the promotion, the nature of any risks and the costs associated with such an event, and make recommendations regarding how best to proceed.
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
This exercise is a parallel version of The Fundraising Manager.
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 departmental managers in a Financial Management and Human Capital Consultancy, Foster & Meyer. The Organisation has not met its growth targets for the last two financial years. It is widely believed that Foster & Meyer has priced itself out of the market. The Organisation needs to reduce internal costs and possibly as a result headcount, with the merger of two of the internal divisions. The group of managers must make a recommendation to the Board of Directors as to which two of six divisions are to be merged and provide a reasoned case.
