CIMA CIMAPRA19-E02-1 actual dump : CIMA E2 Managing Performance Exam

A large multinational organisation, with financial processing centres in several countries in which it operates, has chosen to consolidate these activities on one site or, in other words, into a Shared Service Centre (SSC).
Which THREE of the following are drawbacks of an SSC?

• A. The accountants can feel isolated within the business and may develop their own ways of working which may not constitute best practice. Without a larger team around them, they may not be able to develop the acquired skills and knowledge.
• B. Loss of business knowledge as the finance function within the SSC may not have a detailed knowledge of each part of the business.
• C. Lack of knowledge may occur because there is less sharing of knowledge which can be achieved within a larger more diverse team. Best practice may not be employed and practices within some business areas may become outdated.
• D. Business relationships are weaker. The SSC may not be able to build strong relationships with the business area, which may result in a deterioration of performance in the business area.
• E. It distances the accountants from everyday decision-making in that he/she will be unlikely to have day to day contact with the business area which the SSC supports. The outcome may be that the accountant is unable to provide up-to-date information for decision-making.

The organisational iceberg describes which TWO levels at which culture operates?

• A. Values
• B. Control systems
• C. Formal aspects
• D. Behavioral aspects
• E. Basic assumptions

FF Ltd was established three years ago. Since then the company, which provides online financial advice, has experienced rapid growth and the management team has not really had the time to put management systems and procedures into place.
The organisation has asked you to look at the way in which the company deals with its disciplinary problems and procedures.
Choose from the following ALL that apply as recommended guidelines for drawing up a disciplinary procedure:

• A. Staff should be provided with a copy of the procedures and relevant sections of the policy made clear.
• B. Steps should be detailed to investigate complaints that might lead to legal action.
• C. Procedures should be written down to avoid misunderstandings.
• D. Appeals procedures should be given as and when required as a last resort.
• E. Discipline is all about punishment and it should state this in the policy document.
• F. Disciplinary procedures should consist of having informal chats outside of the organisation.

P is an experienced engineer and project manager that has just been appointed to manage a complex multi-million pound engineering project. It is the start-up stage of the project and nothing at all has been done so far except for the design work. No other team members have been appointed.
P decides to start by firstly decomposing the full scope of the project into a hierarchy of work packages.
Secondly P intends to create a structure showing the reporting relationships and communications channels for the entire project team.
Thirdly, P plans to embark on a systematic process of identifying all the individual elements that comprise the total cost of the project in order to calculate a bottom-up budget.
Select the structures that P will adopt in the correct order.

• A. Organisation Breakdown Structure / Cost Breakdown Structure / Work Breakdown Structure
• B. Work Breakdown Structure / Organisation Breakdown Structure / Cost Breakdown Structure
• C. Organisation Breakdown Structure / Work Breakdown Structure / Cost Breakdown Structure
• D. Work Breakdown Structure / Cost Breakdown Structure / Responsibility Assignment Matrix

DD is in charge of a group of twelve people involved in complex work. The group work together amicably and DD's leadership is valued. DD is supported by KK, who often deals with the group on behalf of DD.
Recently KK resigned for family reasons, along with another member of the group who became despondent with change and DD has now recruited new members to the group.
DD has found the group dynamics have changed and various members complain about what they are expected to do.
Which of the following is the least appropriate approach that DD should adopt to ensure the group reverts back to its former cohesiveness?

• A. Break the group into smaller teams and allow the groups to evolve again.
• B. Emphasise the need for a new approach by carrying out disciplinary procedures for the individuals who are complaining.
• C. Introduce a series of team building training sessions.
• D. Become directly involved in structuring the progression of the group, influencing the development of roles.