Ask a tutor
Other pages in this section
| Exam questions | Post exam guides | Study guides | Article archive | Ask a tutor |Questions and answers
We hold events twice a year which give you the opportunity to ask an experienced tutor a question.
You can use our 'ask a tutor' events to put a syllabus topic that you are having problems with to our tutors. All you need to do is log into your My CIMA account during the advertised days and submit your question using our online form. We'll get a response to you by email as soon as possible.
Details and dates of our next event will be published here and in Velocity, our student e-magazine.
Below are a selection of questions and answers relevant to the TOPCIMA exam from past events.
Question
What is the ideal format for presenting the observations and recommendations for the case study?
Answer
The recommended layout is:
Section 1 - Introduction (6-10 sentences)
Section 2 - Terms of Reference (1 sentence)
Section 3 - Prioritisation of issues facing the Board of Solberri (identify the top 5 issues and put the rest as 'other issues')
Section 4 - Discussion of the issues facing the Board of Soleberri (discuss the 5 issues and weigh up the alternatives)
Section 5 Ethical issues facing Solberri (3 issues identified with recommendations on what to do)
Section 6 - Recommendations (tell management what to do about the 5 top issues, why you say that, and how to do it)
Section 7 - Conclusions (2 or 3 sentences)
Appendices
Question
Do you have to include 'Other Issues' in the priorities section? I always run out of time after prioritising, anlaysing and recommending on 5 issues. Will I get penalised for not including other issues?
Answer
I recommend that you state 5 issues as priorities and then state the remainder as other issues. This shows judgement. There should be no penalty if you decide not to discuss the 'other issues' as they are, according to you, not important.
Question
I have a problem in producing a good recommendation . How do I give a detailed recommendation?
Answer
Recommendations count for up to 20 marks so, although you can pass without making good recommendations, it will be hard.
The best way to approach recommendations is to remember what, why, how.
Which option or decision should they take (based on the options discussed in your analysis)?
Why do you say that?
How should they go about it?
Use this model to make recommendations for each of the 5 prioritised issues.
Question
The new matrix has marks for both focus and diversity. These measures seem to conflict and therefore I would be grateful for any further insight you could provide on these two.
Also, I can see research of industry is important so that i'm aware of current issues and any recommendations made in the exam are realistic given the industry situation. I am unclear however, whether I need to make specific comments with regard to real life, projects/companies etc in order to gain marks in this area - or is it simply assumed that I have industry knowledge by way of the comments, conclusions and recommendations made throughout the report, and I can still gain marks in this way?
Answer
This focus/diversity thing is a bit of a puzzle I know. Its like being 'narrowly broad' isn't it?
My understanding is that marks are allocated strictly according to the wording in the assessment matrix. Therefore from this it seems that diversity is about bringing in a range of perspectives (by which is meant not just financial but also strategic and behavioural, risk and ethical) whilst focus is about sticking to what's important in the situation, and important to the recipients of the report, and dealing with it.
So taking Domusco as an example. You might take a diverse view of the Hadsi project by emphasising its synergies, the risks it runs, the possibility that its beyond the core competences of the firm and the danger of overtrading and also relying too much on the economy of Zee. However at the same time you interpret these issues in terms of the ability of the firm to deliver the EPS growth in its 5 year plan which, as we are told, is the key goal of management.
Industry research is covered in most of the study texts available, certainly the TOPCIMA Study System from CIMA Publishing. You should use the internet to find trade media related to the construction industry by searching using Google or Yahoo!. You could also try key work searches such as 'construction+industry+outlook+in+europe' and 'construction+industry+trade+media'. The examiner has made it clear that they value evidence in scripts that students have done some reserach of their own. Look into the prospects for construction investment in european countries and also any new laws that are coming along. Stability of Middle East is significant.
How you exhibit it is not so clear now that there is no criterion for 'Business Knowledge' in the matrix. Reading the examiners report from May 2005 will help you see that it is important. I understand that citing examples of projects that have gone wrong or building compnaies that have got into hot water with overstretching themselves is a good idea. Also have a look at some real construction firms' websites and see what they are saying about why they are doing stuff. You can use this as examples or cautionary tales for Domusco's managers (or investors or whoever you may be asked to write to)
