Coursemap Interest Test

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Please read & answer the questions below

Imagine that you are going to join a new type of organisation called MegaTech. You will not have a set role in the organisation but as projects and situations arise you will be asked which of the available tasks you would like to do. You will get the same pay (and work the same hours) regardless of which choice you make. When making these choices you shouldn’t worry about whether you have the necessary abilities, just about what most appeals to you.

In each situation you should record which of the tasks you would most like to do and which you would least like to do.

Question 1 of 7

You are invited to work on the development team for the organisation's newest product. Which area would you most/least like to work in?

MOST

LEAST

a. Making sure staff have everything they need to develop the product

b. Working out how to make the product work

c. Designing the look of the product

d. Building a working model of the product

e. Teaching other staff how to make the product

f. Getting the managers and staff motivated to begin working on the product

Question 2 of 7

The prototype of the product blew up! The workshop and your colleagues are all covered in a thick green liquid that doesn't smell too good. Which task would you most/least like to take on?

MOST

LEAST

a. Meet with the (very) angry heads of the organisation and persuade them to carry on with the project

b. Clean up the workshop once all the people are out of there

c. Write a description for the company records of what happened and what it was like to be there when the prototype blew up

d. Make a list of everything that was damaged and order replacements

e. Help calm down some of the most distressed people and listen to their (seemingly endless) complaints

f. Analyse the available data to find out why the explosion happened

Question 3 of 7

Further prototypes were built and to everyone's delight none of them have exploded! We now need the approval of the company directors to begin production and will be making a presentation to the directors to persuade them that it should go ahead. Which task would you most/least like to take on?

MOST

LEAST

a. Prepare the room for the presentation (lay out the tables and chairs and check that the tea machine is working

b. Welcome the directors as they arrive at the presentation, get them drinks and make sure they are comfortable

c. Research the sales of similar products so that the directors can see how successful it is likely to be

d. Give the presentation to the directors

e. Design the slides for the presentation

f. Send out the invitations, record who is and isn't coming and make sure that there are enough copies of all the materials for everyone

Question 4 of 7

The directors loved the presentation and decide that we should start producing the product immediately. It will be the organisation's biggest product ever and a whole new factory is being fitted out and a suite of offices decorated for it. Please rate below.

MOST

LEAST

a. Decide on the layout for the office and pick the colours, furniture and decorations

b. Negotiate with the finance section to get more money for the office and then persuade other directors that this is fair and a good use of the money

c. Keep the team up to date with how the project is going, get their opinions on the decoration as it develops and provide feedback to those running the decoration

d. Keep track of the budget and of who should be doing what in the decoration team and keep a record of progress to give to the directors

e. Work out what all the costs for the decorations and fitting out will be (and how long it should take) by looking at costs and timescales from similar projects

f. Paint and wallpaper the offices and check that the machines in the factory are operating properly

Question 5 of 7

Demand for the product has been fantastic but the staff are becoming quite stressed. An expert was brought in and she recommended that they all take a course in how to manage their stress, which will be designed by us. Please rate below.

MOST

LEAST

a. Research the area of 'stress' to identify what should go into the training course to most help the staff

b. Design the training course materials e.g. the layout, the examples that will be used, how things should be communicated to the trainees

c. Check the course manual for errors, work out how many copies are needed, organise the distribution and keep a record of the feedback received

d. Photocopy the course materials, package them and deliver them personally to the training centres

e. Train the staff in stress delivering the course to groups of 20-30 staff at a time

f. Be available at the training courses to talk to staff on a one-to-one basis and listen to their concerns

Question 6 of 7

The product is working well and you are now to work in the Sales/Customer Service Division. Please rate below.

MOST

LEAST

a. Taking phone calls from people who are having trouble operating the product and guiding them through it

b. Keeping records of how many sales each salesperson has made and producing lists of places for them to make sales visits to

c. Going out and selling the products to people face to face

d. Helping the sales team identify the people most likely to buy the product by looking at the results of customer questionnaires

e. Maintaining and repairing the cars and bikes that the sales force use

f. Writing the leaflets that the salespeople give to possible customers

Question 7 of 7

The product has been such a success that everyone in the UK now owns at least one! The company is moving to larger offices and you have made so much money you can retire or travel around the world selling even more products to other countries. There are just a few loose ends to tie up before you go. Which task would you most/least like to take on?

MOST

LEAST

a. Write a press release explaining how successful you have been

b. Work out exactly how much each person in the company has made and how much more they are likely to make if they decide to work abroad now.

c. Demolish the old factory using sledge-hammers and/or explosives.

d. Make personal calls on the businesses that have supported the company to pass on everyone's thanks.

e. Find out who wants to travel and then organise their plane/cruise tickets.

f. Sell the equipment from the old factory for as much as you can get.