Sample Scenario No. 01

You are working for a multi-national company (with headquarters in 7 different countries). Your company has identified a need for developing a task force with representatives from each of the headquarters. You have been assigned to design and implement a strategy that incorporates communication technology for the purpose of uniting the task force for the purpose of facilitating meaningful interactions that will include all 7 members (one from each site).

You could of course have them all fly and meet together but realize cost of transportation, housing, and removing them from their day-to- day responsibilities are not financially feasible. Therefore come up with an approach that could facilitate effective distance communication, identify key components that must be addressed. Identify the key necessities to help insure a successful group experience. Identify those areas that might need a training component to insure as quick a start-up as possible for the group

Sample Scenario No. 02

You are working as an instructional designer at Blue Shield and you have been challenged with the assignment of working to help reorganize a group of workers primarily assigned to customer service. You find out that there is a lack of standards and consistency in the organization for what constitutes measuring customer service quality. Describe what you would do to establish the consistency and standards for quality service. What would you do, where would you go to get it, what roadblocks would you expect and how would you design around those roadblocks. Would your solution include training? What would it look like, how would you deliver it?

Sample Scenario No. 03

What brings a company from a large loss to a high profit in one year?

Scenario- assume you have been given the following fact sheet which is a result of a needs analysis for Autoflator. (SEE BELOW FOR FACT SHEET). You are working at a performance design firm and your task is to set up a solution strategy to help turn this company around. I would like for you to generate a position paper, less than one page that outlines what approaches you would identify, target, and prioritize to effectly respond to the CEO’s needs of maximizing profits. Be creative with your answers and provide a methodology (what you would do) to accompany your approach. Hint: think of what can be tackled short term as well as what you could do for long term action.

FACT SHEET:

BACKGROUND: Short history
* Autoflator was founded in 1994 by a global supplier to the automotive industry (Autoliv) as a development company for gas generators
* In 1997 there were two product lines and approx. 50 employees
* In 2000 approx. 300 employees.
* 2001 new CEO appointed. The owner, Autoliv, demands higher ROI and margins

About the company
* Employees: approx 300
* Owner: Autoliv Inc
* Production: 2,4 million gas generators
* Profit/loss: - 75 MSEK in six months

STRUCTURE: Strategy
* Unclear business strategy
* Short term management focus
* Lack of vision
* Production and volume instead of profitability and quality as business engines

ORGANIZATION
* Suboptimization, lack of cooperation/communication
* Unclear goals and  interface between functions
* No power to act

POLICY
* Lack of policies and routines
* Decision making based on "fire fighting"

PROCESSES
* Lack of process/flow thinking
* Production main process
* No holistic view
* Too many stand stills in production

CULTURE - Leadership
* Strongly impressed by former CEO
* Management without commitment, participation and cooperation
* Weak leadership in general, regarding decision making,
* Commitment and action

POWER
* Strong owner demands better results
* CEO traditionally informs, questions and gives order
* Production lines are controlled and  surveilled - lack of motivation

MEETINGS
* Lack of meeting culture and disciplin
* Lack of forums for strategic discussions
* Problem oriented and reactive meetings

VALUES
* Volume is rewarded and aimed for
* No long term thinking
* A nice culture without clear demands/expectations

PROFITABILITY - Or rather lack of…as a result of:
* Wrong focus
* No strategic planning
* Problems with the production lines
* Quality problems
* High manning costs (weekend shifts, stand stills, temporary staff)
* Problems with suppliers

CONCLUSIONS - need for action
* Lack of profitability, production problems, too much focus on today’s volumes
* Lack of structure, commmon goals, cooperation and strategy
* Weak leadership
* Lack of trust and motivation