C → D → B → A
D → A → B → C
A → D → B → D
B → D → C → A
Correct answer is A
No explanation has been provided for this answer.
You accept the idea of the senior marketing manager. Since she is more senior she has more influence on your status in the company and therefore it is politically wiser to support her.
You accept the idea of your supervisor. Since he is directly above you, he has more influence on your daily routine in the company and therefore it is politically wiser to support him.
You weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of each side and decide accordingly without getting involved in their personal conflict.
You believe that getting involved in this dispute would be detrimental to you as both sides are superior to you. Therefore, you refuse to pick a side saying that both strategies are equally successful.
Correct answer is C
No explanation has been provided for this answer.
Remind your team of the problems and the clear need to meet every deadline.
Communicate to your team that you are resolving the problems personally.
Stay positive - and ask your immediate superior for additional resources.
Meet with the team to tell them what you believe is causing the problems.
Correct answer is C
The MOST effective option is (C). This is because missing deadlines is a major problem which needs to be escalated to your manager. You need to know where they stand on this issue.
(A) is in fact the LEAST effective option since it only pays lip service - without taking any direct actions to address the growing problem.
Answer option (B) is slightly better than the LEAST effective option (A). You are indeed resolving the issue personally and reminding the team that this leadership responsibility falls within your managerial responsibilities.
Answer option (D) starts with the good idea of holding a team meeting. The aim here needs to be keeping the team on board and asking for their thoughts/opinions on what's causing the issues. Telling them can easily be misinterpreted as blaming them. In which case they will be less likely to help you with the problem resolution.
You decide to leave the meeting explaining you have urgent work to do asap.
Gently wrap up the session, then hold a presentation review later that day.
Wrap-up the session by secretly messaging the whole team to ask questions now.
It's the presenter's responsibility to manage time, so this is not your responsibility.
Correct answer is B
(B) is the MOST effective solution, demonstrating collaborative decision-making in seeking a resolution. Plus taking the initiative to address the timing issue. Thirdly, it's your managerial responsibility to offer balanced feedback.
The LEAST effective solution is (A) which does not address the over-running presentation or that your team members are being similarly inconvenienced.
Whilst (C) is a 'positive' response to assume leadership of the issue; it also hands responsibility to your team. It sends a strong message to the presenter but this could have been in a more openly professional - and less secretive - manner. Also, the question session will itself take even more time (away from the team's other work).
Similarly (D) avoids taking responsibility for resolving the issue. Always look for an overall solution, which this isn't!
Call a one-off emergency meeting to highlight objectives and the lack of collaboration.
Start by introducing half-hour, weekly catch-up meetings for the whole team.
Implement compulsory training courses on interpersonal skills as soon as possible.
Familiarise yourself with the team objectives, then email regular updates on each one's progress.
Correct answer is B
(B) is the MOST effective response to the presented scenario. The key issue here is for you, as manager, to improve collaboration. Introducing short weekly meetings will do this in what should be perceived as an acceptable manner by your team. It's always good advice to select the solution likely to prove most effective in the long-term.
The LEAST effective response is (option (A). Rather than reminding colleagues of their team objectives, you need to be encouraging more regular team communication. A one-off meeting - even if it's given high priority - will not improve collaboration over the longer-term.
Regarding answer option (C); interpersonal skills training does offer some value. Still it's only one, albeit an important, component of effective collaboration.
Answer option (D) may work in the long-term. However it is not as proactive as option (B).