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.
Competencies: Problem Analysis
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.
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 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 take the role of Regional Sales & Marketing Directors in The European Division of Electron plc, an international IT products, services and business solutions provider. Electron plc is facing financial difficulty so a meeting is being held to evaluate possible Division cut backs in order to secure the future of the Organisation. Participants must each compete to safeguard the welfare of their region. An agreement must be reached so that a recommendation can be presented to the European Sales & Marketing Director.
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 assume the role of UK Board members of a large multi-national organisation, International Electronics Group, which manufactures a wide range of electronic goods such as CD and DVD players and televisions. Due to a drop in retail sales resulting in a difficult financial year, there is a need to cut the operating expenditure budget for the forthcoming year. The Directors are meeting to agree how to meet the necessary budget reduction from their individual budgets and each is expected to defend their position while looking to reach a conclusion that benefits the company as a whole.
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.
Participants are part of a project team within Hi-Tech Engineering, responsible for the design and manufacture of products for a major new customer. The team is made up of internal representatives from different functions. The new customer has identified some concerns which need to be resolved and the team has to agree what will be done and by whom as they were all partly responsible for the concerns arising.
Participants are asked to assume the role of managers in the product design department of a large multi-national stationery company-Mitoo International. Each Participant is responsible for a particular area of product design. They are meeting to negotiate for their share of a budgetary allocation for the development of new market-leading products. Mutual agreement must be reached on distribution of these funds otherwise the Finance Director will decide who is to be awarded them.
