Once again, I did not finish the paper.  How on earth do you guys do it?  I wrote almost non-stop and still couldn't finish.  Only managed to discuss 2 and a half issues.  I did the ethics part and also part b.

Exam markers, please be nice.

I finished but found it really difficult to prioritise compared to the mocks that I have sat :(

I too did them at BPP and found this exam so different with mention to time scales.

I assumed Tom was no1 due to him leaving and also needing it for section b... but after that I was stuck!

It was horrible. BPP assured us that it would be quite obvious what should go where... but it wasnt!

Hindsight says I should have ranked the new series higher beacuse Janet Black had asked for details so I think I messed that up!

However, I tried to write about all the issues as much as I could, so maybe I'll be lucky?!

I studied at Kaplan, and from what I've heard from speaking to others that have done it at BPP I would say Kaplan are better. Don't know what the BPP pass rates are like? But we got told that our teacher for Kaplan gets 90-100% of students through the exam in each sitting. But I can't say for def as have only studied T4 @ Kaplan.

Be interested to know what other people put as their priorities and any other issues from the exam.

I ranked the VT suits high due to the security implications of not deactivating swipe cards etc and thus putting the compnay at risk...

I too ranked the AFP funding 5th due to it being a future issue rather than a current one... now Im not so sure!

I thought differently in the exam and ranked

 VT Editing - big problem, and immediate. Repairing VT suites not a sunk cost as they don't have to repair they could outsource from here on.... £1.4m cost to repair big impact on costs and profit so ranked no1.

Tom Harrison - international sales high margin and growing area for business so ranked no2.

New Programme - although big money, revenue of £6m, the first two issues are big problems and need to be dealt with. Therefore this is ranked as 3.

Computer graphics - number 4 as big investment, but could carry on as they are so no real pressing need.

Left out the advertising/funding change as I kind of took it as this might be the way the industry is moving but nothing definate yet. Put a note at bottom of prioritisation statement suggesting VYP should research this further.

This is what I got, everyone different then:

1) 100 programmes, on basis of cost control, large revenue stream, reputation risk of getting it wrong, fairly urgent & obligation to respond and deal with issue.

2) VT, cannot do 1 without it, issue on security, cost of repairs, need cash, choice of hire or block.  Risk if cant get VT suite, cant make prgrammes.  Obligation to respond almost immediatly.  Operational impact

3)  Tom Harrison, based on need to respond, time scales involved.  However only small % of business revenue.  No reputation risk and not core business at present

4) Software, size of investment was key.  But since no timescales nor obligation this was forth.  Reputation increase and ideas potential key though.

Programme funding, there was no tangible information and was only a small trend at present so nothing really to talk about, so could snowball if wernt careful.

Ethics:

i.  Guy with depression, not looking after him.

ii. Tom going on jollies. fraudulent claims.  using influence over junir staff

I don't really agree with the fact that the repairs to the VT editing suites are a sunk cost, they haven't been paid for yet, and don't HAVE to be done, therefore a massive hit of £1.4m to profit surely that is a massive problem for VYP? And also the fact that unless they employ an outsourcer for next 2 months they won't be able to edit and programmes?

I was told to prioritise base on importance and urgency by BPP. Think along the lines of strategic and financial impacts. This is what I went with:

 1. Tom Harrison

Key Player threatening to leave (Mendelow).

Strategic impact of losing a CSF to Int Sales business. Loss of network and contacts. Also VYP want to grow this business

Reputation of people drive sucess in the industry

2. New programme:

£6m revenue - important as over 20% of 2010 revenue therefore biggest finacial impact

Been requested by Janet therefore have to do it as shes your boss.

 3. CGI

Also a strategic choice to invest - Ansoff

$6 - $7m investment therefore big financial impact.

 4. VT editing

Need to make a choice as what to do...or face disruption to business.

I am now thinking the AFP funding should have gone in as opposed to VT editing as Steve had requested this to be done.

As the report is for the MD's it seems like it should have been one of the four choices...Possibly number 4. But theres no time frame so makes you wonder if it shoud go in.... 

I put:

1. Advertising revenues: already losing contracts and staff because of it so needs to be sorted asap 

2. Graphics software: Big investment amount for something that we dont need

3. Tom Harrison - potential loss of sales revenue if leaves etc but likely on 3 months notice at least so not too urgent. Also given recent behaviour might not be a bad thing if he leaves.

4. Cost control issues - again big figure but ongoing to monitor and control costs so not immediately urgent

Left off the VT suites as it's sunk cost. Not much they can do now except sort the ethical issues and ensure they block people's cards in future! Not much difference in the cost of the 2 outsource options either.

 I found it really hard to decide how to prioritise the top 4 though as could see arguments for all of them. Just hope I wrote enough to pass!