1.

OPENING A NEW BRANCH ABROAD

The company you work for wants to enter new markets by opening a new
branch abroad. You have been asked to make suggestions concerning this.
Discuss and decide together:
*how the company should find out information about the new market
*what training the staff for the new branch would need
*how the new branch could be promoted
2. IMPROVING COMPETITIVENESS
Your bank is falling behind new arrivals in the market, and the managing director
is concerned to increase competitiveness. You have been asked to suggest
ways of improving the companys competitiveness.
Discuss and decide together:
*how to evaluate the threats posed by competitors
*what steps might be taken to improve your banks competitiveness
*whether external help should be used
3. STAFF TRAINING REVIEW
The accounting firm you work for plans to review the training it currently
provides for staff and to make improvements. You are part of the team that has
been appointed to contribute to the review.
Discuss and decide together:
*how to evaluate the training accountants are currently provided with
*how to set about meeting training needs
*which employees should be provided with the training opportunity
4. TEAM BUILDING
Your company is about to take over another company and is keen to
encourage staff from both companies to work together effectively. You have been
asked to prepare a proposal for team building.
Discuss and decide together:
*what kinds of work projects and leisure activities would be suitable to encourage
teamwork
*what benefits effective teamwork could bring to the company
*what incentives could be offered to the good team players within the company

5. POLICY CHANGE
The insurance company you work for is planning to make some changes on
their natural disasters coverage company policy. You have been asked to
contribute opinions on the matter.
Discuss and decide together:
*whether such natural disasters should be covered fully by your insurance
company
*what disadvantages there would be in failing to meet such claims
*what advantages your company would gain from offering risk coverage in such
unfortunate circumstances
6. FINANCING NEW START UPS
Your venture capitalist firm is involved in decision making on financing
new business ideas. The start ups present both risks and advantages and
hence the manager has asked you to put forward a proposal on the
business ideas you would advise to be financially supported by your firm.
Discuss and decide together:
*what assessment criteria should be used in the decision making process
*how to ensure risks on the part of your company are reduced
*what the follow up procedures should be used

7. IMPROVING SERVICES
The bank manager you are working for is concerned about the poor level of
Internet banking usage by the bank clients.
You have been asked to prepare a proposal about the situation and suggest
ways of improving it. Discuss and decide together:
*what the reasons for clients preference of traditional banking services could be
*what strategies for creating interest in online banking could be adopted
*what the benefits of the measures would be for the company

8. Discuss and decide together. Feel free to add elements to the list if
you want.
What is important when?
Providing a telephone helpline for bank customers
*controlling costs
*providing a high-quality service
*dealing with complaints efficiently
*
*
9.

Discuss and decide together. Feel free to add elements to the list if
you want.
What is important when?
Dealing with cash-flow problems?
*negotiating with suppliers
*taking short-term loans
*laying off employees to reduce costs
*
*
10. Discuss and decide together. Feel free to add elements to the list if
you want.
What is important when?
Choosing a partner company for a merger?
*the partners financial performance
*the partners previous experience
*the partners brand image
*
*
11. Discuss and decide together. Feel free to add elements to the list if
you want.
What is important when?
Setting up the annual budget for training your bank employees
*types of training required
*other spending priorities for the company
*profits that were reached the previous year

12. The investment company you work for wants to provide start up capital
for new businesses. It is considering how to decide which new businesses
to invest in. You have been asked to make suggestions. Discuss the situation
together and decide:
*how the company should select the new businesses it will invest in
*how the company could advertise its service most effectively
whether the company should invest in a wide or narrow range of new
businesses
13. The company you work for is determined to be more effective in their
financial management. The plan is to assign a lot of importance to
controlling costs for the companys profitability.
Discuss and decide together:
*what measures could be adopted to reduce company expenses
*how to keep overheads low as an additional strategy
*how the employees could contribute

14. EFFICIENCY STUDY

Your branch (of a major insurance company) has recently been identified as the
most efficient in the company. You have been asked to suggest how other
branches in the company could achieve similar levels of efficiency.
Discuss and decide together:
*what the best ways are to improve efficiency
*how to motivate staff to maintain a high level of efficiency
*how technology could help to improve efficiency

15. ATTRACTING BUSINESS CLIENTS FOR IT TRAINING

The company you work for provides IT training for banks. Your department has
been asked to make suggestions for attracting new corporate clients.
Discuss and decide together:
*what types of bank would be most suitable to target
*what would e the most effective ways of attracting clients
*ways in which banks would benefit from the service provided

16. EDUCATIONAL SPONSORSHIP

The bank you work for is considering funding a regional educational project
for 16 to 18-year-old students interested in following a business course. You have
been asked to make recommendations for this scheme.
Discuss and decide together:
*how the project could be used to promote the name of the bank
*what the long term aims of such a project would be
*how to monitor the progress and outcomes of the project
17. ENTERING A NEW MARKET
The financial services company you work for wants to start selling health
insurance policies to young adults. You have been asked to make
suggestions on how to achieve this objective.
Discuss and decide together:
*which potential customers it would be best to target
*how to promote the benefits of the product
*whether certain incentives should be offered as well
18. Discuss and decide together. Feel free to add elements to the list if
you want.
What is important when?
Drawing up the financial statements of a company?
*fairness and accuracy of the information included
*accounting principles and policies
*shareholder vs. stakeholder value
*
*
19. Discuss and decide together. Feel free to add elements to the list if you
want.
What is important when?
Choosing a business banking service
*personal service
*charges applied
*reliability of service
*range of services

20. Discuss and decide together. Feel free to add elements to the list if you
want.
What is important when?
Dealing with customer enquiries
*politeness
*efficiency
*active listening
*good knowledge of products
21. POTENTIAL BUSINESS ANGELS
The tourism company you work for is planning to expand one of its leisure
resorts. A group of potential investors has been invited to spend a weekend at
the resort. You have been asked to prepare a programme for their visit.
Discuss the situation together and decide:
*what the programme should include
*what the potential investors would want to know about the company
*what preparation would be necessary