Strategic Business

Leader(SBL)
Rationale Behind SBL
This is a practical workplace focused exam and it requires that student’s knowledge and
skills are integrated and then communicated in the exam in order to produce a solution
to challenge the given in the task that is faced by the organization

You are expected to behave in the same way as real world.

 Bring together technical knowledge
 Practical knowledge
 Combine in with commercial judgment and common sense
 Apply to the scenario-sometimes using the name of the organization is enough

 It is not about what it say on page ‘394’ of textbook

The Exam
 integrated case study + One main business scenario

 100 mark (including 20 Professional Skills marks)

 3 compulsory Tasks

 Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

 Pre seen Information

• Released 2 weeks before exam

• Info on Industry/sector of economy and the organization-activities etc.

• No requirement for additional research-only research for terminologies if needed

• Copy during exam is available-digital

• Cannot take you own annotated copy in the exam

 Exhibits given(significantly reduced)

interview with staff, survey results, reports from the board or org, press articles, webs
ite extracts, integrated report extracts, emails, memos, spreadsheets,
pictures, figures, tables, diagrams etc.

 Roles: organizational leaders, consultants

Each Task
 Role
 Audience
 Verb (task based)
 Professional skills marks
 Format
• Response Area

 Each task (or part of the task requirement, where appropriate) will be completed as a
separate requirement in a separate response option or options.

 only one task will be shown at a time, and it will no longer be possible to view all tasks
together

 3 Possible response Options: word, spreadsheet, slides

Syllabus – Course content
Study Resources
Assumed Knowledge
Technical & Professional
Skills marks
Exam Marks
 Technical knowledge-80 marks – classes/ 2 marks per point (1+1) so 10 makrs
question-5 points minimum

 Five Professional skills-20 marks (each skill will be tested for 4 marks each)

 professional skills!- NOT a separate element- doorway to the technical marks!

 Exam techniques/skills

 Overall professionalism
The Professional Skills
1. Communication

2. Commercial acumen

3. Evaluation

4. Skepticism

5. Analysis
Communication

• Inform concisely, objectively, and unambiguously, while being sensitive to cultural

differences, using appropriate media and technology

• Persuade using compelling and logical arguments demonstrating the ability to counter
argue when appropriate.

• Clarify and simplify complex issues to convey relevant information in a way that adopts an
appropriate tone and is easily understood by the intended audience
Communication(cont)
In summary, this means the candidates have to express themselves clearly and
convincingly through the appropriate medium while being sensitive to the needs of the
intended audience

CHECKLISTS
1. Formats
2. Points - Explain with reasons (WHY?)
3. To the point
4. Short sentences
5. Headings & Paragraph
6. Audience - Junior OR Senior
Commercial acumen
• Demonstrate awareness of organizational and wider external factors affecting the work
of an individual or a team in contributing to the wider organizational objectives.

• Use judgment to identify key issues in determining how to address or resolve problems
and in proposing and recommending the solutions to be implemented.

• Show insight and perception in understanding work-related and organizational issues,

including the management of conflict, demonstrating acumen in arriving at
appropriate solutions or outcomes
Commercial acumen(cont)
In summary, this means the candidates have to show awareness of the wider business
and external factors affecting business, using commercially sound judgment and insight
to resolve issues and exploit opportunities

CHECKLISTS
1. Format
2. Explain with reasons/impact
3. Give suggestions - which actually solve the issue in the given situation
 Analysis
• Investigate relevant information from a wide range of sources, using a variety of analytical
techniques to establish the reasons and causes of problems, or to identify opportunities or
solutions

• Enquire of individuals or analyze appropriate data sources to obtain suitable evidence to

corroborate or dispute existing beliefs or opinion and come to appropriate conclusions.

• Consider information, evidence and findings carefully, reflecting on their implications and
how they can be used in the interests of the department and wider organizational goals
Analysis(cont)
In summary, this means the candidates have to thoroughly investigate and research
information from a variety of sources and logically process it with a view to considering
it for recommending appropriate action

CHECKLISTS
1. Format
2. Explain with reasons
3. Positives and negatives consider
4. Financial and Non-Financial
5. Additional Calculations if data is there and if relevant
6. Internal and External factor consider
7. Recommend only if required
8. Models and theories consider
 Scepticism
• Probe deeply into the underlying reasons for issues and problems, beyond what is
immediately apparent from the usual sources and opinions available

• Question facts, opinions and assertions, by seeking justifications and obtaining sufficient
evidence for their support and acceptance

• Challenge information presented or decisions made, where this is clearly justified, in a

professional and courteous manner; in the wider professional, ethical, organizational, or
public interest
Scepticism(cont)
In summary, this means the candidates have to probe, question and challenge
information and views presented to them, to fully understand business issues and to
establish facts objectively, based on ethical and professional values.

CHECKLISTS
1. Format
2. Explain with reasons and impact
3. positives and negatives consider
4. Question like statement?
Evaluation
• Assess and use professional judgment when considering organizational issues, problems
or when making decisions; taking into account the implications of such decisions on the
organisation and those affected.

• Estimate trends or make reasoned forecasts of the implications of external and internal
factors on the organisation or of the outcomes of decisions available to the
organisation

• Appraise facts, opinions and findings objectively with a view to balancing the costs,
risks, benefits and opportunities, before making or recommending solutions or decisions
Evaluation(cont)
In summary, this means the candidates have to carefully assess situations, proposals and
arguments in a balanced way, using professional and ethical judgment to predict
future outcomes and consequences as a basis for sound decision-making

CHECKLISTS
1. All points from Analysis
2. Cost/Risks/Benefits from proposals
3. Broader External factors like ethical, social and sustainability
impact
How the skills are examined

• All five professional skills must be tested in each exam

• Only one professional skill will be tested per requirement or part requirement

• the marks per professional skill tested will be 4 and will be tested once

• When awarding professional skill marks, markers will use a professional skill grid,
which will be consistently applied to the skill concerned on a sliding scale
How the skills are examined

Professional skills grid

Total marks for Skill Skill Skill Skill
skill in this demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated
requirement “not at all” “not so well” “quite well” “very well”

4 0 1.33 2.66 4
Questions
Thank You