Clockwork Events - Administrative
Timing
Admin: 10 mins
Inbox: 75 mins
The participant is about to start work as Co-ordinator at Clockwork Events. The company organises a variety of events ranging from company product launches to large-scale exhibitions. The participant has to deal with their predecessor's in-tray in the 75 minutes before they have to attend a company briefing. The in-try contains a variety of items including a press release to proof read and correct, a quote to finalise (this involves some simple maths), meetings to arrange, email to draft etc.
Typical Competencies Assessed: Planning and Organising, Decision Making, Performance Orientation, Communication
Smartclothing - Administrative
Timing
Admin: 10 mins
Inbox: 75 mins
In this exercise the participant takes the role of a newly appointed office assistant at a large online clothing retailer. The participant has to deal with their predecessor's inbox in the short period before attending an induction course. The inbox contains a variety of items including: a diary to schedule; several online queries from customers which need answering; invoices to check; website copy to proof; a customer complaint and social media postings to respond to. The inbox lends itself to assessing participants for both administrative and customer service type roles.
Typical Competencies Assessed: Planning and Organising, Decision Making, Performance Orientation, Communication, Managing Relationships
Aniko - First Line Manager
Timing
Admin: 10 minutes
Inbox: 70 minutes
Set in the UEA, the participant takes the role of a newly appointed sales manager to Aniko Business Systems, a company that manufactures and sells a range of business machines. The participant is asked to respond to a number of items including: a request for career advice, a customer survey, a business opportunity and the launch of a new product.
Typical Competencies Assessed: Analytical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Decision Making, Managing Relationships, Developing Others
Manzi Portland - First Line Manager
Timing
Admin: 10 minutes
Inbox: 40 minutes
In this exercise the participant is asked to take on the role of store manager for a branch of a high street shoe shop. They have taken over the store at short notice and have been asked to work through the content of their predecessor's inbox and say what action they would take to deal with each item. The issues highlighted by the inbox include sickness absence, launch of a new product line, staff morale and declining sales figures.
Typical Competencies Assessed: Leadership, Analytical Thinking, Decision Making, Managing Relationships, Communication
Manzi Westbarton - First Line Manager
Timing
Admin: 10 mins
Inbox: 40 mins
Typical Competencies Assessed: In this exercise the participant is asked to take on the role of store manager for a branch of a high street shoe shop. They have taken over the role at short notice are are asked to work through the contents of their predecessor's inbox and say what action they would take to deal with each item. The issues highlighted by the inbox include declining performance on key performance indicators and a report from a mystery shopper. This exercise also contains a staff scheduling task.
Typical Competencies Assessed: Analytical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Decision Making, Communication
Passel Beech Valley - First Line Manager
Timing
Admin: 10 mins
Inbox: 90 mins
The participant assumes the role of a depot manager in a parcel delivery company. Their task is to deal with all the inbox items left behind by their predecessor in the role. These include items concerning a missing consignment, staffing problems and performance standards. (see also Passel Beech Valley Coaching Exercise)
Typical Competencies Assessed: Analytical Thinking, Decision Making, Planning and Organising, Communication
Passel - Middle Manager
Timing
Admin: 10 mins
Inbox: 90 mins
The participant assumes the role of a regional manager in a parcel delivery company with responsibility for three depots. Their task is to deal with all the inbox items left behind by their predecessor in the role. These include items concerning staffing, customer issues and performance standards. (See also Passel Coaching Exercise)
Typical Competencies Assessed: Analytical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Decision Making, Communication
Gold Coast Rail - Middle Manager
Timing
Admin: 10 minutes
Inbox: 90 minutes
Working for the Australian rail service operator the participant assumes the role of operations manager with responsibility for the Sydney to Brisbane network. They are required to deputise for the operations director and analyse the information provided to identify the key issues, make decisions, take action and prepare for a board meeting. A number of specific issues need to be covered including safety challenges around level crossings and a cost benefit analysis, poor customer service in an external passenger survey and a customer complaint, poor employee engagement in the employee survey and poor employee behaviour highlighted in other items, resourcing challenges and training needs, bad press, budgeting challenges and impacts on rail fares.
Typical Competencies Assessed: Strategic Thinking, Leadership, Developing Others, Analytical Thinking, Influencing and Persuading, Performance Orientation, Ethics and Values