What is the Simulation Exercise / In-basket part of the ADC 1?
- The Simulation Exercise is one of the exercises used by the National ADC Toolkit as part of the initial sift for Supervisory and Middle Managers. The Supervisory and Middle Manager Simulation Exercise consists of three written tasks, each with specific instructions.The 3 tasks of the Simulation Exercise are fairly separate, although should be understood as part of the overall context.
- The Strategic Manager ADC Stage 1 is an In-basket Exercise. The Strategic Manager In-basket Exercise contains a number of items such as memos, documents, emails, letters etc which need to be evaluated and acted upon. Each item should be considered in relation to other priorities in the In-basket, and impacts or links between items considered.
Why is there an external context for these exercises?
Each of these exercises at all levels is set in a fictitious organisation external to the FRS.
The theory is that by having the tasks set in a neutral environment, advantage is not given to personnel who have specific FRS experience. The types of tasks that you will complete are designed to be similar, or reflective, of the types of things you might be expected to do at the management level you are hoping to develop into.
A commonly heard question is ‘what has working in an airport got to do with my suitability to get promoted?’ The relevance is that managerial skills are core aptitudes irrespective of the situation. In all likelihood, if you demonstrate an effective approach to working with others you will do so in an airport, fire station, football club, committee meeting….etc etc! It doesn’t matter where you do it, what matters is how you do it!
Background Information
These exercises have a fair amount of Background Information to read through. The tasks or items are based on this. In the first instance it is advisable to read through the Background Information, and the tasks, before starting to write your answers.
The Simulation Exercise Tasks
Task 1 tends to be the most lengthy, in terms of how much information there is that is relevant, how long your answer needs to be, and how many PQA areas are being assessed.
Task 2 tends to involve numerical analysis on which to base, and justify decisions.
Task 3 is often writing a short article or letter aimed at a specific audience.
All three tasks are based on the Background Information and set in the same context. There are several versions of the Simulation Exercise to ensure that candidates who were unsuccessful on previous occasion don’t sit the same exercise again. The context and information are slightly different for each version, but the layout and types of tasks are consistent across all versions. This ensures that it doesn’t matter which version you take, they all meet the same standard of difficulty.
The Strategic Manager In-basket Exercise
How many items you will have in your In-basket depends on which version of the exercise is being used. It is safest to assume there will be a wide range of factors to consider, and your responses will need to show your awareness of wider impacts and future consequences. Each In-basket item vary in detail and substance and will usually require some type of response. Their priority level of the items will vary. How you respond to the items will be up to you, but you will have a choice of format to use, depending on what you feel is most appropriate ie formal letter or note.
* Tip *
After reading through all the information, plan your time. Depending on level you will have between 75 and 110 minutes to complete all your tasks. Work out how long you will allocate to each, based of your understanding of what is required, and try to stick to it. Candidates often fail because they have written a very good answer to one or two tasks/ items, but run out of time before they have completed the rest.
Unlike the SJT, the Simulation and In-basket Exercises have more ‘shades of grey’ in the marking. You are given the opportunity to consider the relevant issues and create your responses, but these don’t have to fit exactly with a pre-determined answer. The only time this is not the case is where there are numerical calculations, which do need to be accurate. However, credit will be given for ‘working out’ of calculations, even if the final total is not correct.
* Tip *
It is important to provide explanations for decisions made, for example ‘I would do this, because…’ rather than just, ‘I would do this.’
