...RELEVANT TO ACCA QUALIFICATION PAPERS P1, P3, P4, P5, P6 AND P7 How to tackle exams: a marker’s perspective I have been lecturing students for more than 15 years (usually over 400 at every sitting) preparing them for their final level strategic management paper, and my advice echoes many of the points made in the examiner’s recent video presentation. I decided to become a marker to help me understand why apparently well-prepared students performed badly in the actual exam. I wanted some insight because, whenever a student marginally failed, they would insist that they did not understand why. This article will hopefully show how the good advice given by your tutor and the examiner often falls on deaf ears. In my marking experience I have seen how students who marginally fail do so not as a result of lack of knowledge, but because of very basic mistakes in technique – many of which are mentioned in the examiner’s presentation. The points considered in this the article are highlighted in bold and address some of these basic mistakes. Where appropriate, I have tried to back up these points from my experience as a Paper P3 marker. The examiner identified the following key points: • • • • • However you study, ensure that you cover the complete syllabus Undertake practice scenario questions under realistic time constraints Practice your handwriting in three-hour sessions Read widely, keep up to date, be aware of global trends and issues Revise properly and comprehensively. Don’t...
Words: 2265 - Pages: 10
...semiconductor analyst, Peter Thompson, had abruptly announced his resignation; he had received an offer from one of RSH’s competitors. But Peter was not only a star analyst, he was also RSH’s only semiconductor analyst. This was certainly not a role that could be left vacant for long and, right now, RSH particularly needed strong coverage of the semiconductor industry because of an upcoming deal with the PowerChip company. (See Exhibit 1.) Stephen examined how much money Peter generated for the firm and saw that he could legitimately raise Peter’s compensation. Then he devised a backup plan: to split Peter’s team by encouraging Peter’s junior analyst, Rina Shea, to stay at RSH. Peter ended up leaving the firm and Stephen promoted Rina to senior analyst, assigning her to cover PowerChip and the rest of the semiconductor industry, at least temporarily, while he decided whether to offer her the position permanently or hire someone from outside the firm. Now Stephen faced the task of finding a permanent replacement for Peter. Should he make Rina a permanent offer or hire from outside? RSH Research Department RSH’s corporate culture was especially strong in its research division. Senior research analysts often began as junior analysts and remained at the firm long after the research director gave them their own franchises. Instead of competing with each other, most analysts at the firm supported one another; many had open-door policies and encouraged less-experienced analysts to consult...
Words: 16177 - Pages: 65
...Baum, David Hughes, Sonia Meetha and Seth Horkum. Among all, my choice is Seth Horkum. There were several positive aspect which made him my first option such as his time management (being at interview before the schedule), his prior experience with PowerChip company (Upcoming client for RSH), his long term commitment (15 years of service @ Jefferson Brothers) which allows dependency and loyalty. With all the above aspects and the intelligence he exhibited in the interview makes him the best fit for the job. What problems does Stephen Conner face? When Stephen let Peter go, the biggest problem was to find the right replacement at the earliest. So the time was the key factor because it was the time when they were in need of a senior analyst to get started with the new client (PowerChip Company). Apart from that, he was facing a lot of concerns from the senior executives of the organization about his decision of letting Peter go. In fact they were more upset with his decision of making Rina who was an assistant to peter and joined the organization just 3 years ago as a substitute for Peter. What should Peter's replacement look like, and which of the candidates best fits this description? (Page 4) Peter was extremely intelligent and his analytical skills were superior. So if one has to replace Peter must be of the same cadre and fit into the same shoe. He was always and achiever and go getter. His priorities were time management, resource management and competency at work...
Words: 1015 - Pages: 5
...and Hertz (RSH), was in a bind. His star semiconductor analyst, Peter Thompson, had abruptly announced his resignation; he had received an offer from one of RSH’s competitors. But Peter was not only a star analyst, he was also RSH’s only semiconductor analyst. This was certainly not a role that could be left vacant for long and, right now, RSH particularly needed strong coverage of the semiconductor industry because of an upcoming deal with the PowerChip company. (See Exhibit 1.) Stephen examined how much money Peter generated for the firm and saw that he could legitimately raise Peter’s compensation. Then he devised a backup plan: to split Peter’s team by encouraging Peter’s junior analyst, Rina Shea, to stay at RSH. Peter ended up leaving the firm and Stephen promoted Rina to senior analyst, assigning her to cover PowerChip and the rest of the semiconductor industry, at least temporarily, while he decided whether to offer her the position permanently or hire someone from outside the firm. Now Stephen faced the task of finding a permanent replacement for Peter. Should he make Rina a permanent offer or hire from outside? RSH Research Department RSH’s corporate culture was especially strong in its research division. Senior research analysts often began as junior analysts and remained at the firm long after the research director gave them their own franchises. Instead of competing with each other, most analysts at the firm supported one another; many had open-door...
Words: 16177 - Pages: 65
...The role of a systems analyst is vital to the success of any organization. In this role, the systems analyst is responsible for being the “liaison” between the technology department and all other departments within the company (Laudon & Laudon, 2011, p. 68). There are several key skills and characteristics necessary to be an effective systems analyst. The person performing this role needs to have excellent communication skills, planning and organizational skills, and managerial skills. While the systems analyst must constantly continue his education as it pertains to new software and hardware systems, there are other roles an analyst is expected to fill. The analyst needs to establish a working relationship with other departments. This allows the analyst to obtain data to assist with the department’s information technology needs. A characteristic that would be demonstrated in this area is that of teamwork. The analyst has to put the needs of the company first and be able to interact with all types of people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d., p. 5). The position relies on the ability to solve problems within the business. Therefore, the analyst needs to have a clear understanding of how the business operates. By meeting with the various departments, the analyst is able to understand what problem exists and what options are available to resolve the problem (Laudon & Laudon, 2011, p.381). The analyst needs to decide which option will work best for the department...
Words: 638 - Pages: 3
...Meetha’s credentials are extremely impressive.After seeking feedback from people whom Mrs. Meetha has work with, it was reported that her work is thorough, solid and insightful and that companies have come to rely on her work. She was recongized as an ‘up and comer’ as per II standards, whic is exactly where ı thınk she should be so that the fırm can benefit the most.She is at a perfect point in her career so that RHS can mold/mentor her into its culture without inheriting negative practices picked up at other big firms all with the goals of helping her relaize her full potential, which would be of an extreme benefit for the company. Also, while at WHS, she has managed to cover the franchise by herself without the assistance of a junior analyst, which tell me that her work ethic is impeccable. Her performance ratings have grown over the last three years, she’s built good networks, which include CEO’s of major companies as well as divisional managers and staff. In addition, Mrs. Meetha has shown a keen interest in organizational structure, which is something that is highly valued at RHS. As evidenced in structure, which is something that is highly valued at RHS. As evidenced in her interview, some of the questions she asked were directly focused on the company culture with regard to work approach , fairness of work practices towards females and metorship to name a few. Along with this , Mrs.Meetha’s insight is the most likely to deliver a long term competitive advantage...
Words: 596 - Pages: 3
...Case Analysis: Recruitment of a Star PROBLEM STATEMENT To recruit a suitable replacement for RSH’s star analyst Peter Thompson PESTC Analysis Political – Nil Economic:- * Increased shuffling of jobs. Social:- * The environment required rigid competencies, high stamina, great communication skills, and frequent client interaction. * The industry average retirement age was approximately 45 to 50. Technological:- * Intensive use of technologies in research. * Due to high competition, staying updated with latest technology provided the edge for firms against its competitors. * Many analysts were expected to provide prompt response to clients’ needs and come up with latest financial instruments benefitting both company and clients. SWOT of RSH: Strengths:- 1. Work culture- Many analyst and industry experts believed that RSH work culture was one of the main competitive advantages. This is so as the company gave space to its analysts to work and allowed and encouraged team work. This ensured the employees felt secured about their job thereby addressing the employees need for safety and social needs. 2. Working in team helped to co-ordinate and achieve more. The employees felt that being part of a team served them well. The company hence satisfied their need for affiliation. 3. The interpersonal relations among employees were good and ensured harmony among them. 4. With seniors helping juniors learn about the industry...
Words: 1417 - Pages: 6
...Name Address Email Cell Number Date To whom it may concern, My name is ______, and I am currently a year in school at the University of _______ pursuing a degree in _______. I was first introduced to company during an office visit associated with relevant club/organization/connection. During the office visit I was extremely impressed with not only the analyst experience that company has to offer, but also the culture that is present in the _______ office. I am extremely interested in pursuing the investment banking summer analyst position for the summer of _____. I first became interested in investment banking during _______ while in my freshman year of college. Following the ________, I continued to explore the industry through networking calls and research. I participated in ________during my sophomore year, which reaffirmed my interest in the industry. I then applied to relevant club and was fortunate enough to be accepted. The relevant club has provided me with a greater insight into what is required to become a successful analyst and the opportunity to complete coursework geared towards developing the skills required in the industry. While on campus at the university, I have been able to seek out numerous academic opportunities in addition to leadership roles outside of the academic realm. These experiences have allowed me to expand my existing leadership and teamwork abilities as well as foster the growth of my analytical skills. I am excited by the...
Words: 285 - Pages: 2
...System planning involves strategic analyzing of how company will fit to the system that will proposed by the analyst. There are several factors that should be considered in doing a system: The problem, scope, gathering information, the feasibility, the development and recommendation. These factors serve as a guide to build a system proposed. By focusing in the needs of company and its clients; we must say we develop a system not only for our clients and to the business but for the contribution of satisfaction of their customers. This study is based on the process in creating System Analysis and Design. It follows procedure and it is based on fact of our client information. Introduction A Study involves processes that provide information to develop a system. A Computer System that can help the company in their transactions. In accordance to our study, we investigated a company that manually operates the transactions of their customers. Our respected company is Umali Surgical and Animal Bite Clinic. Is a resident surgical and animal bite clinic has a registered nurse, A General and Cancer Surgeon that appoints and give their services to the clients. The Clinic locates at 44 M.H.delPilar St. Tugatog, Malabon City. The owner is Dr. Ismael C. UmaliIII. He is a General and Cancer Surgeon and also appoints his clients in a private way of giving services. Shiela Ann Pidong,a registered nurse. We founded out that their transaction is manually operated by...
Words: 298 - Pages: 2
...are rising. IBM stock’s price moves less vigorously than the whole market. During the past one year, IBM stock’s price has risen about 15% from its lowest point to the latest high point, while the whole market has risen about 20%. Therefore, IBM stock’s price does not move as vigorously as the market price. IBM’s sales rose in 2011, but fell in 2012. However, its net income has continuously grown for the last three years. Also, the ROA and ROE for IBM have increased in the past three years. Thus, IBM has become more profitable than before. IBM has got 2.5 in the mean recommendation for this week, which is the same as the last week. The score shows the analysts do not strongly recommend this stock but still advise the investors to consider buying the stock. However, there is no clear recommendation. According to analyst estimates, IBM’s future earnings and revenues will both increase in the next quarter and next year. Besides, IBM’s current growth is much higher than the industry’s growth. However, its growth in next year will be lower than the industry’s growth. IBM stock’ most recent closing price is 210.38 dollars on March 8th, 2013. The price is moving up 0.46%. In the six-month “price chart” graph, the stock seems volatile to me. The price has increased 25 dollars form 185 dollars to 210 dollars for the past four months. The range of price movement over this period is 12.5% of the average of the high and low...
Words: 319 - Pages: 2
...1. Why were the Wall Street analysts willing to believe anything about Enron? What factors perpetuated the Enron myth? Why were the warnings ignored? Wall Street analyst did not want to believe that Enron was doing anything illegal, because of the amount of money they knew they could make. In the film, analysts blamed Enron for giving them false information. The false information kept Enron looking profitable, so it was recommended to investors. Also analysts were tricked or “bought” into overlooking the great hole Enron and anyone else participating in the corruption was digging. Enron was portrayed as an innovative company and was featured on covers of magazines a few times. They were put on a pedestal that was so high that no one could see that the company was failing and committing fraud. Enron used a different accounting method that allowed them to report potential profits, not actual profits. A company will always look good if it is reporting potential profits, because the potentials are limitless. No one wanted to neither admit nor believe that there was something seriously wrong at Enron. Greed was such a big player and no one wanted to lose money. There were many big players involved in the corruption, so they would do whatever it took to hide the truth. At the end, companies just pointed the finger at Enron and claimed innocence. 2. Describe the Enron corporate culture. Explain how the following reinforced the Enron corporate culture and the notion of “survival...
Words: 863 - Pages: 4
...(1) INTRODUCTION TO THE SYSTEM 1.1 DEFINITION “Hostel Management System” Hostel Management system is the system that manages the student data, staff data students’ admission process and create receipt for the fees paid by the student who stay in the hostel and also help in maintaining visitor’s messages. 2.1 INTRODUCTION TO EXISTING MANUAL SYSTEM Existing system is based on manual work and all the process are done manually, so they maintain registers and files for recording all the details of the system. They maintain several registers for recording the entry of daily transactions such as visitors visited the hostel, visitor drop the message for a particular student, etc. They maintain the record of the students so they keep each and every information regarding the students in the student master file. In the similar fashion they maintain the records of their fees so they keep each and every information regarding their fees details in the fees master file. They keep the bill Book or receipt Book to maintain the record for the fees collected by the student. They maintain the register or Book for staff so they can pay the salary. Thus maintaining Staff information, Student Information, Visitors information, Check-in and Checkout information and all the things are done manually. 2.2 PROBLEMS FACED BY EXISTING MANUAL SYSTEM [PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION] The phase...
Words: 2436 - Pages: 10
...Problem Statement: Recruiting a new star analyst for RSH Research department in the semiconductor Industry domain while satisfying client, market and organizational expectations. Introduction to Company Rubin, Stern and Hertz(RSH), an investment banking firm based in New York, is faced with the problem of hiring a replacement for their star semi-conductor analyst, Peter Thomson. Star analysts willing to shift companies are difficult to find in the present market scenario. But Stephen Connor, director of research at the firm, with the help of Craig Robertson, a headhunter at Triple S, has managed to shortlist 3 worthy candidates with diverse profiles. Stephen was also approached by Anita Armstrong on behalf of a fourth candidate, Seth Horkum. · RSH is strong in its Research Division. · Stephen Connor, director of RSH, was worried over the departure of a star analyst performer in its semi – conductor area. · RSH’s culture was built on team-oriented approach. · Employee turnover was low. The Star semi-conductor analyst has retired. The post is urgently in need of skilled analyst in the domain because of an upcoming deal with POWERCHIP Company. The junior analyst, Rina was promoted to senior analyst as a stop-gap solution. But the Director had to come across a new person immediately. He creates a pool of eligible candidates – Gerald Baum, David Hughes, Sonia Metha and Seth Horkum. Pre-screening of candidates was commenced by Director through Personal...
Words: 2005 - Pages: 9
...research at the New York investment banking firm of Rubin, Stern, and Hertz (RSH) who is facing a delima of recruiting a Semiconductor analyst in place of the star analyst who recently quit his job. The issue needs immediate attention because of an upcoming deal with the PowerChip company which requires an expert level analyst Rubin, Stern and Hertz(RSH), an investment banking firm based in New York, is faced with the problem of hiring a replacement for their star semi-conductor analyst, Peter Thomson. Star analysts willing to shift companies are difficult to find in the present market scenario. But Stephen Connor, director of research at the firm, with the help of Craig Robertson, a head-hunter at Triple S, has managed to shortlist 3 worthy candidates with diverse profiles. Stephen was also approached by Anita Armstrong on behalf of a fourth candidate, Seth Horkum.RSH is strong in its Research Division, where Stephen Connor, director of RSH, was worried over the departure of a star analyst performer in its semi – conductor area also on may note that RSH’s culture was built on team-oriented approach and Employee turnover was low. The Star semi-conductor analyst Peter has retired. The post is urgently in need of skilled analyst in the domain because of an upcoming deal with POWERCHIP Company.The junior analyst, Rina was promoted to senior analyst as a stop-gap solution. But the Director had to come across a new person immediately. He creates a pool of eligible candidates – Gerald...
Words: 2002 - Pages: 9
...Advance Questions Information content of equity analyst reports Required reading: Page 245-259, 276-281 The following questions would help you read through this paper and prepare for the discussion of this paper in class. 1. How does a typical analyst report look like? What are the major signals that you can use / construct for trading purpose? Analyst report: is the culmination of a process that includes the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of information related to a firm’s future performance. * The majority of analyst report includes 3 key measures: * 1) earnings forecast * 2) stock recommendation (buy/sell/hold) * 5 Distinct Recommendations: strong buy, buy, hold, sell, strong sell (For each recommendation, assess whether to upgrade, iterate or downgrade) * 3) price target * These reports frequently present extensive quantitative and qualitative analysis supporting the summary measures. (R2, regression, etc) When we read analyst reports, we have to be suspicious, since their analysis differ and might have access to only popular information. 2. How to measure the accuracy of price targets? Can you construct other measures of your own? We consider a price target prediction to be accurate if the analyzed firm’s stock price equals or exceeds the 12-month projected price at any time during the year following the release of the report. Construction of other measures: you can take the average of the 12...
Words: 775 - Pages: 4
