*** ACCA P3 December 2017 Exam was.. Instant Poll and comments ***

The paper was really doable just that my only issue was time management. I did the whole question in section A but it sucked too much of my time. In section B I managed to finish question 2 but I couldn’t attempt question 3 which was also doable. Though I didn’t finish all I remain strong with a narrow pass. It’s possible to pass with only 2 questions done particularly if you did question 1 in section A. I passed P1 back in march 2017 with only 2 questions attempted. Good luck guys.

Anyone know what the strengths of the HR department was in Q1?

after skimming twice looking for a strength, I just wrote ‘HR seem to have no strengths but the weaknesses are as follows:’

The P papers continue to be brutal in terms of time. I did Qs 2&3. Neither were too bad, but because of time there were bits of all questions that I didn’t get to address which of course is disappointing.

I also flexed the budget in Q1 so i could refer to some variances. I got raw material variance as favourable though so compared to the other replies here..whoops O_O.

Unlike P1 I thought the questions were interesting, time is my only complaint. Really hope I pull through and good luck to everyone else who wrote.

Edit: @sonyam11 – I got that 20,000 favourable variance too!

Really gutted with the exam. Felt like i did q2 ok and did bits and bobs for q1 but only had 30 mins to do q3 or q4. I knew harmons matrix really well beforehand but my mind went blank and i couldnt remember so did q4 as i remembered some parts of the cultural web but actually writing about in context to the college- i ended up writing next to nothing, didnt have a clue about part b. Ran out of time and wrote nonsense really lol.

Hi everyone I attempt question 1 time consuming but answer well up to 75%.Question2 was BCG and ashridge matrix I think first one cash cow second one problim child and and value trap, third one star business and edges of heart. Portfolio ,synergical and parental developer discuss a little bit .Q.4 culture web with how changes in culture.copetency frame work discuss only for 4 marks no time .
Guyes please reply me about bcg matrix I am confused if it is wrong then how much marks deducted.

@suf23 said:
Q #2 wasn’t bad at all.

wrote that the farm was a ‘dog’ company and a value trap business, the insurance company a star company and the last tech company a cash cow company and ballast business.

Thought that the parent company was more of a portfolio manager

I have classified the insurance company as Cash Cow and the electronic tech as star because it yield higher growth in Turnover, market turnover, Gross profit and Gross profit margin!!!!

am i wrong?

@vikar said:
Hi everyone I attempt question 1 time consuming but answer well up to 75%.Question2 was BCG and ashridge matrix I think first one cash cow second one problim child and and value trap, third one star business and edges of heart. Portfolio ,synergical and parental developer discuss a little bit .Q.4 culture web with how changes in culture.copetency frame work discuss only for 4 marks no time .
Guyes please reply me about bcg matrix I am confused if it is wrong then how much marks deducted.

first was in my opinion question mark.second cash cow and third star.about ashridge value trap second balast and third hearland.

@sonyam11 said:
Those are the total variances but each of those can be broken down further into efficiency and price variances. Regarding the raw materials for example there was actually a 20k favourable variance (suggests procurement had negotiated a discount?) in the price they paid which means the usage variance was 50k. And on labour they used more hours than they should and they also paid more per hour (because of the overtime element)

Do we need really to calculate the variance in such details?

I have only support my answer in strenght & weaknesses with the variance figures in a very simple form.

As per examiner comments, we dont need to bother too much with figures in the scenario. We are tested in analysing and applying results in the scenario and not to calculate it.

Anyone clarify?

Thanks

@anastassiya777 said:
first was in my opinion question mark.second cash cow and third star.about ashridge value trap second balast and third hearland.

I wrote exactly the same as you !!

@vervemj said:
Yes i think i wrote the same. Heartland because it was a good fit with the parent and made up about 50% of gross profits of the 3 companys in question and was in the same country as other subs so could offer resources to benefit.

about star and heartland seems was obvious because it was same industry of operating also of electronics to give value and experience to subsidiary.

@manas21 said:
Q2) I think the insurance business is dogs since it was low growth and low market share due to fragmented market and farming business as cash cows and tech business as stars

Hi- can you recall what you.wrote for strategy moving forward for these ? I wasnt sure what to say but said to get rid of the dog lol and perhaps the star to reduce price a little and try to take a bigger market share, kill off comp?