Written exercises tend to come in one of two forms: a case study or a drafting exercise.
What is a ‘Case study’?
This is an in-depth analysis of a complex topic. You will normally be given a lot
of information about the issue which may be presented in a variety of ways, such
as official reports, tables of figures, emails and other correspondence.
You have to decide
- What the main facts are
- The problem which has to be solved
- Possible alternative solutions.
You are usually then asked to write a report which summarises the facts, indicates
the various alternatives and outlines your own preferred solution, with reasons.
Possible examples
- The pros and cons of whether an office should relocate to one of two new sites,
expand while remaining in its existing premises or stay put without expanding.
- Critically reviewing the relationship between the organisation and Trade Union.
- Advice on the organisation’s public relations strategy.
- Write a press release about the organisation’s view point on the new age legislation.
Do you have any tips?
- Watch out for contradictions, ‘red herrings’ and irrelevancies in the information.
- Decide as quickly as possible which information is actually useful and
relevant to the task in hand, and which can be discarded.
- Make a definite recommendation - sitting on the fence between two or more
solutions is likely to be penalised.
- Acknowledge other options as part of arguing the case for your preferred
course of action.
- What is important is how you analyse the problem and how effectively you
argue your case. Even if you choose a ‘wrong’ solution the assessors will give you
marks if you argue your case effectively.
What’s a ‘drafting exercise’?
You are given the facts about a sensitive issue and have to express them in a clear
but tactful way. The emphasis is less on analysing a problem and more on whether
you can select the right facts and arguments, and present them effectively.
As long as you argue your point of view well and show awareness of the business
issues involved, you can get away with choosing a course of action which the selectors
would not have chosen.
Possible examples of drafting exercises
- Write a letter to an important customer saying why you are unable to waive a bill
which they are querying.
- Respond to a journalist requesting your organisation’s comments on accusations made
by a competitor.
Do you have any tips?
- Be aware of your readers - the person you are supposedly addressing and the actual
selectors who will assess your efforts.
- Stick to your brief. For example, if you have to say ‘no’ to a customer, make sure
you do just that. So, as well as being sympathetic, you may have to be firm.
