All the information you need about assessment centre case studies and analysis exercises, as they appear at employers' assessments. Including tips and examples from real case studies!

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Case Studies
An Introduction to Assessment Centre

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What is a Case Study
- A common tool for assessment days.
- A scenario in which you have to play a role of a key figure in the
organization.
- Contains a lot of data, some of which is irrelevant to the given
problem.
- Customised to the position (graduate/manager, etc.), future role
and company.

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Technical Information
- Information provided in the form of a company case study, i.e. extensive
verbal data, summarising its key issues.
- For business oriented roles, the case study would usually include
graphical or tabular data as well.
- In the end you will have to present your conclusions in front of an
interview panel.
- Duration:
Analysis: 50-60 minutes. Presentation: 15 minutes. Answering relevant
questions: 10-15 minutes.

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Main Skills Tested
Writing and reporting | Deciding and initiating action |
Presenting and communicating information | Persuading
and influencing | Synthesising information and working
with facts provided | Leading and supervising | Numerical
and verbal skills | Adhering to principles and values |
Recognizing and setting priorities

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Target Audiences
Nowadays, case studies/analysis exercises are required at almost every job
description and industry.

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Tips – Analysis & Content
- Differentiate between relevant and irrelevant data.
- Do not assume facts; rather, ask professional questions that could form
your assumptions.
- Reflect your thoughts from the point of view of the figure you are
simulating in the exercise.
- Include as many factors as you can to give your answers a rich and
comprehensive garnet.
- Remember: the exercise assesses learning and does not assume prior
knowledge.

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Tips – Analysis & Content
− You can use the following frameworks for establishing your
answer: competitors, buyers, customers, costs, suppliers, and
shareholders; also strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threat analysis, etc.
− Justify your decision according to the background
information provided.

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Tips – Analysis & Content
− During the exercise, start preparing for your presentation, i.e., summarise
your ideas.
− Build the presentation with clear, concise bullet points.
− Each bullet should address a specific issue or problem.
− Each question or task requires a separate slide.
− Do not add too much text per bullet point, rather explain and convey your
ideas with examples orally.

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Tips – Behaviour
- Explain yourself in a clear and logical way.
- When you are asked a difficult question, do not say that you did not
have enough time to prepare yourself. Instead, look for a creative,
confident answers, such as: “I haven't thought of that point, but I
think we should examine how to incorporate it with my idea.”
- Maintain good eye contact with your interviewer.
!

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Tips – Behaviour
- Control your reactions to stress and pressure – express confident
body language.
- Do not be hasty. There is no need to immediately respond to a
question. Form your answers by integrating ALL relevant
information.
- Be sure of yourself. Do not apologise or get defensive.
- Do not object to criticism – look as if you are willing to hear
other opinions.

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General Examples:
1. Scenario*
You take on the role of a newly recruited manager to
Curaco Pharmaceuticals. You are given information
about a branch office in a fictional country which you
have been asked to manage.
This includes information on customers, products,
staff, P&L, sales and local competition. You must
examine this information and come up with a plan for
improving the performance of the branch office. The
plan should cover: sales, financial performance and the
overall management of the office.
You are required to present your findings and
recommendations.
Level :
Middle manager
Role:
Manager
Exercise administration:
10 minutes
Analysis:
90 minutes
Presentation:
15 minutes
Questioning:
15 minutes
*TakenfromSHLwebsite.

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General Examples:
2. Scenario*
Work out what information would be needed in order
to come to a decision about an advertising project.
The decision is based on a selection of statements
about a budgeting decision for advertising jars of
body-massage cream.
An information and question booklet provides you
with details about the company’s rules for advertising,
total amount of jars sold in a campaign, margin on a
sale, selling price and total costs for a product.
The task
is completed by
indicating what
information is lacking in
order to come to
the right
decision.
*TakenfromOPPwebsite(ABLE).

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A Graph Example:
23
14
20
16
12
19
15
27
35
45
32
37
23
12
11
9
7 10
22
11
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
US UK France India
MarketShare
Country
Cell-Phone Market Share by Countries
Company 5
Company 4
Company 3
Company 2
Company 1

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Mark Sanders
From: Mark Sanders [mailto:mark_san74@gmail.com]
Status: Urgent
Sent: [Today] 10:17
To: [You]
Cc:
Subject: Company 3
Hi David,
I have a meeting with Sarah Jacobs, the CTO of Company 3, on Thursday. She is interested in
utilising our latest GSM technology to grow the organisation significantly over the next 3 years. It
appears that they have sufficient financial means to take on such an adventure.
Sarah wants to get an advice on the technical expansion options the company has. Can you review
the attached files and summarise key points by Tuesday so I will have time to think it through
before our meeting?
Awaiting your reply,
Mark
An Email Example:

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In an interview setting, you would be asked to provide your responses to
the following questions: (For answering 3-4 questions, you will have up to
15 minutes).
1. Based on the attached information, estimate the value of Company 1 sales of
cell phones – in the US.
2. If the current trends continue, what may be Company 2
revenues in the UK, in 2014? (Include comment on factors
particular to this market.)
Questions Examples:

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3. Should Company 5 stop selling cell-phones from 2G, and start selling
only 3G cell phones?
4. In considering possible acquisition, to which other company would
you recommend Company 3 to join?
5. What are some of the issues that an investor would want to know
before deciding to make an acquisition of company 2?
• Be prepared to discuss the information you take into account
and how you use the information available in your analysis.

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Practice Case studies with JTP
 Full-length case study exercises
 Comprehensive solution guides
 Self evaluation form or a live developmental feedback
from a JTP professional assessor
 Insights on how to improve your analysis skills

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