The Participant assumes the role of a Regional Director of a Public Sector Agency, Census Publishing, who is responsible for the collation and ongoing analysis of demographic data within the UK. The In-Basket contains issues relating to staff, such as recruitment, staff development and the results of a recent Employee Opinion Survey, as well as some issues with direct reports. It also contains items regarding the use of new technology for data analysis, commercial opportunities for the use of their data and various other strategic initiatives.
Competencies: Problem Analysis
The Participant is asked to step into the role of a Sales Manager in the direct sales force of a large life assurance company, Neptune Life. The Exercise requires them to deal with a range of issues such as the performance of some of the Financial Advisors in their sales team, marketing initiatives, personnel problems, training requirements and the need to comply with regulatory standards.
The Participant is asked to assume the role of an Administrative Assistant who has been called in to replace an employee who has suddenly been taken ill. The Participant is required to deal with a number of important issues such as the organisation of an international conference, the co-ordination of a selection interview schedule and various other general administrative matters. The Participant is required to act decisively, prioritise and display good planning and organising ability.
The Participant assumes the role of a Regional Brand Manager within Polar Soft Drinks, a global FMCG company. The Participant is responsible for one of the key brands within the EU Region and their role is to provide guidance to individual markets/regions, ensure sustained growth, and ensure that the brand supports the Company strategy. The In-Basket contains issues relating to the development and placement of advertisements, alignment with other business functions, competitor activity, brand strategy and wider issues around regional working.
The Participant assumes the role of Relief Manager in the branch of a typical national supermarket chain, SuperStores plc. Aimed at trainee or potential managers, the scenario includes more immediate, tactical issues in the areas of Personnel, Health & Safety and Administration and requires that the individual gives careful consideration to the prioritisation of the items.
The Participant assumes the role of a Personal Assistant to the Senior Partner in the Law firm, Parker Woods LLP. They work closely with the Senior Partner providing administrative support for daily work requirements. The Participant is required to deal with issues relating to diary management, quality checking documents, dealing with internal and external requests and performance issues. This exercise is one of our more challenging Level A exercises due to the responsibilities of a Personal Assistant.
The Participant assumes the role of an Office Assistant who has been sent by a Recruitment Agency to the Council Tax Office of Lowborough County Council. Due to the last Office Assistant leaving the job without giving notice there is no handover period. The Participant is required to deal with issues such as arranging meetings for the Council Tax Office Managers, co-ordinating their calendars, ordering stationery supplies, dealing with queries and responding to customer complaints.
The Participant assumes the role of the Finance Assistant covering maternity leave in the Finance Department of a small firm of solicitors, Hunter & Partners. For health reasons their predecessor has had to leave suddenly and so there has been no handover period. The Participant is required to deal with issues such as invoice coding, bank reconciliations, summarising the budget position to date, checking commission payments and invoices and completing journal transfers for the year end reconciliation. This exercise is suitable for Participants working in Finance Department at Trainee Accounts Clerk or Purchase Sales Ledger Clerk level.
The Participant assumes the role of a newly appointed Support Officer for a group of Sales Managers working for the software supplier, Burgundy Solutions Ltd. Due to unforeseeable circumstances there is no handover period. The Participant is required to deal with issues such as identifying, allocating and co-ordinating the Managers schedules to fulfill internal and external demands, requesting goods and services and monitoring associated internal procedures, for example, querying customer contracts and invoices.
The Participant is asked to assume the role of acting General Manager of Wholesome Foods Ltd, a market leader in the manufacture of ready-made meals. The items to be faced in this In-Basket typify those which would normally face a middle manager. Examples include personnel, administrative, general management, Health & Safety and financial issues.
