The Participants assume the role of Project Managers at Stemtech Ltd, a leading IT microchip manufacturer and researcher. Stemtech needs to move into a larger office whilst maintaining its operational capability. Six sites are available and each Participant favours a different one on the basis of project management or commercial information. As a group, Participants must select an appropriate site that satisfies both their own goals and the companys overall objectives.
Competencies: Problem Analysis
Participants assume the role of Divisional CEOs of a UK Leisure Group which includes businesses operating hotels, motels, restaurants and holidays. Participants are meeting to agree a range of recommendations for action that will reassure the stock market after recent press rumours of a likely half year profits warning. Participants each have ongoing projects or plans for their own Divisions and they have to bear these in mind while seeking to reach agreement on the best recommendations for the group.
Participants are to take on the role of Sales & Marketing Executives in the South West region of business insurer Peasmarsh Direct Business (PDB). The organisation is looking to expand its customer base by giving regions more flexibility in the way they promote their products. The Executives each represent their own product area and all report to the South West Sales & Marketing Director. The Executives are meeting to negotiate which of their product areas will receive a share of the South West budget for product promotion. The group must decide on a maximum of two product areas to promote in order to enhance the sales and reputation of PDB.
Six Participants are each given functional roles representing Production, Personnel, IT, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Finance at Seltec Limited, an electronics company. Each role has competing interests with respect as to how to allocate a monetary sum awarded to Seltec for winning the Leadership in Europe Award. Mutual agreement must be reached on the allocation of the money or else it will be distributed at the discretion of Americorp, an American organisation which has recently acquired Seltec.
Participants are representing their department within Samuel Brothers, a leading manufacturer of pies and pasties. Students from a local Business College have offered to carry out research projects for Samuel Brothers, and each Participant has several projects which their department wants investigating. The Managing Director has tasked the group with finalising which research projects should be put forward. The group must now discuss and agree which three assignments are the most important for the company as a whole.
Each Participant sitting on the Salesperson’s Discretionary Award Panel represents a nominee from a different sales region who has excelled in his/her job and is therefore a candidate for a special discretionary award. Participants are supplied with salary, commission and general performance data about their nominee. They are expected to prepare a case to argue in favour of their nominee and to discuss the relative merits of each of the nominated candidates.
Participants assume the role of Regional Directors in the Sustainable Environment Agency, a Government body responsible for co-ordinating regional initiatives to deliver environmental change. An independent review has raised significant concerns about the Agency’s performance. The Regional Directors must now meet to decide a strategy of major new initiatives for the next three years. Each Director is given two initiatives suggested by their regional team, some of which could also be used in other regions. Directors have to maximise the amount invested in initiatives that will benefit their region, while reaching agreements with other Directors on the Agency’s overall plan of action. In evaluating initiatives, Directors will have to take into account factors such as cost of initiatives, likely impact and relative priority.
Each of the six Participants assumes the role of Administrator for various functions in IT Applications Ltd, and they are each hoping to gain the assistance a temporary worker. The firm is expanding and all departments are stretched to meet their workloads, so each of the Administrators would welcome some support. However, as things currently stand, the HR Department has only one temporary worker available, so the group must decide between them how to make the best use of this person until a permanent solution is found.
As an employee of Caring World, the Participant has been asked to make a recommendation as to whether or not the Company should continue to accept funds donated by a charity. The Resource Person has a brief containing information on Caring World and relevant issues, which the Participant can access and use to make a recommendation.
The Participant assumes the role of a recently appointed Trainee Procurement Officer at Cornchester District Council. The situation requires them to investigate and make a recommendation on whether or not to renew an existing contract or select an alternative supplier. The contract is for the supply of new gym equipment to Cornchester Leisure Centre, which is currently undergoing a complete refurbishment. The Participant is required to weigh up the pros and cons of each supplier in terms of value for money, customer preferences, quality, services offered and timescales.
