Participants assume the role of Directors of the Board of a leading UK furniture design company, Rainbow Furniture plc, which has recently acquired 3 European furniture manufacturing and sales companies. The merger of these companies and their respective cultures is complex and strategically important to future business success. Participants are provided with information relating to finance, marketing strategies and production issues and are required to jointly prepare recommendations for the CEO.
Competencies: Problem Analysis
Express exercises are condensed versions of their original counterparts. They assess fewer competencies and take less time to both complete and mark.
The Participant assumes the role of a newly-appointed Director of the Leisure Services Department within a Council. The Chief Executive has asked them to look at current performance across a number of internal divisions within the department, make recommendations for improving performance and service delivery and detail actions which could be made to save costs.
The Participant assumes the role of a Trainee Store Manager working for a major international retailer, EuroBargain, which has numerous hypermarkets across Europe. They are tasked with talking to a member of staff who has not been adequately fulfilling their duties and against whom a number of complaints have been lodged by both colleagues and customers. The Participant, having reviewed the complaints and background information about this staff member, must use their interpersonal and management skills in order to effectively address the performance issue.
The Participant plays the role of a Regional Manager of a recently amalgamated Pharmaceutical Company. Due to the recent merger, the manager is tasked with the total reorganisation of their sales region. They are presented with various information, given in narrative and graphic form, in order to analyse the key issues. These include; products’ sales and potential, competitor information, sales representatives’ performance, and logistical and cultural considerations. The aim is to provide written recommendations to the Business Development Manager as to how the region will achieve its overall business objectives.
Please note that the following competencies are only assessed within an optional briefing included in this exercise:
Listening
Persuasive Oral Communication
Impact
An Express version of this exercise is now available.
Express exercises are condensed versions of their original counterparts. They assess fewer competencies and take less time to both complete and mark.
The Participant assumes the role of Head of Commercial Operations at Redisso, a medium sized supply chain management software solutions business. A Non-Executive Director on Redisso’s Board has voiced concerns about the Company’s declining profit margins and highlighted a potential 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 over the last three years and set out clear recommendations for how this might be improved in the short, medium and long term.
Express exercises are condensed versions of their original counterparts. They assess fewer competencies and take less time to both complete and mark.
The Participant assumes the role of Head of Commercial Operations at Redisso, a medium sized supply chain management software solutions business. A Non-Executive Director on Redisso’s Board has voiced concerns about the Company’s declining profit margins and highlighted a potential 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 over the last three years and set out clear 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
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 Development Manager with a presentation of how the objectives can be achieved.
Express exercises are condensed versions of their original counterparts. They assess fewer competencies and take less time to both complete and mark.
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
Express exercises are condensed versions of their original counterparts. They assess fewer competencies and take less time to both complete and mark.
The Participant assumes the role of Head of Development at Alpha Plastics, a global manufacturing company. Alpha Plastics is looking to expand into Asia in the coming year and there are two locations to choose between for a new site. The Participant’s role is to analyse the information collected to date and to recommend which site should be chosen and then resource the project. Information provided includes company details, Corporate Social Responsibility policies, industry trends and local area data.
The Participant assumes the role of a newly appointed manager for Forthton Borough Council and is responsible for transport implementation. Central Government has 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.
An Express version of this exercise is now available.
