SBL*** ACCA Paper SBL June 2019 Exam was.. Instant Poll and comments ***

@olia8 said: For Q4(b) I used 6I model for inspiration. I wrote more or less the same, except for I didn't mention loyalty cards/filtering. Also, I suggested that there should be option to sell books online / deliver by downloading. And that website should be available in other languages too, because they trade globally.

Yeah I like the language/sell books one ideas! It’s a strange one since I remember writing down “6 i’s” when first reading the question but I think it was one of those questions where if you tried to force the model you’d find it harder to generate ideas like the ones above What about your Q5, as I was confident but unsure if I put the right points in the right boxes. I had the following in summary: Development/appraisal: one way feedback, feel they can’t further their career / management is bad due to standard box ticking, only annual review / fix by more frequent reviews and 2 way reviews Participation: employees are not wanting to participate due to their ideas being stolen / management issue due to stealing and crediting ideas as their own without rewarding employee / introduce open door policy of rewarding employees with good ideas to increase participation Communication: employees aren’t finding out big changes and leading to rumours and not getting to talk to customers or departments / management poor by actively discouraging talk cross boundary / fix by weekly departmental meetings and monthly whole org meetings etc Leadership: employees fed up due to company always lacking innovation and being behind competitors in progress and hence leaving / management issue for not innovating enough and being aware of competitors actions / fix by investing more in r&d and revise focus on strategy to be in a better strategic position

@bradeastham said: I definitely wrote enough to pass the exam, it just depends on if enough of what I wrote was correct! I didn't use the format for the last question but I did use each section + heading and then answered. Hoping this is okay.

Don’t worry I did the same as you for the format of Q5 doing one a page using all 3 headings each time. There’s no way I could do the exact format required as it would severely restrict my ability to write enough!

What was the Question on 4b again?

@matela said: What was the Question on 4b again?

Recommend ways in which the current digital platform can be enhanced to attract customers and create more value - professional marks in commercial acumen for identifying realistic solutions that would meet the criteria (10 marks and 3 p marks)

Having worked in a Publishing Company for about two years, I was delighted to see a case study of it. But as the time progressed, I was struggling with question 4b first and then with 5. Question 5 was too confusing, as format was to be followed, couldn't understand how exactly to go about it, specially under time pressure of last minutes of exam. I just put in all points from the entire case study, keeping in mind the Exhibit 5. I was well prepared to use models properly, but didn't find how and where to use them in the questions. It was more of Common practices and recommendations. Just hoping to impress the marker enough and get through this..:)

No models used. The whole exam was about reporting to the chairman/executive/board. Models (if any) may only be imbibed, not expressly stated.

Aren't Professional competence, integrity etc standards of how the member of an accounting body should conduct himself? Can we apply this on a company and its conduct? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Very valid conclusion

@noushie2008 said: Hi Amithr992, I totally understand what you're saying re: accounting ethics. However, I felt being an accounting exam they wanted something like that and really integrity, professional behaviour this isn't just restricted to accountants - it really should be applicable for all people in business. So I guess that's a good way to justify it if that's what you used in your answer. I can't imagine you'll be marked down as it was poor professional behaviour, lack of integrity and if the company published in general they weren't adhering to professional competency and due care element.

Well said. You can use any model or style as long as you relate to the case and apply it correctly to the question. Ie: you can use ACCA code as framework for supporting your answer but you’d need to relate it by example to the case to score. I just wrote specific points from my plan such as: - factual errors can lead to large recall costs - reputational damage from customers if false inaccurate book published - did he write and misquote the book to gain the film series - therefore unethical - expert classed it as fiction, therefore commercial issue since Fiveoaks only sell non fiction books

Hi, I don't know whether the question was easy or not. I answered 84 marks. But Don't know the Quality of the answer. 1. Weakness in Corpirate governance 2. Ethics part i tried Tuckers 5 question model. I don'tknow whether it is ok?? SAF but nothing found on Feasibility 3. I guess Control weakness answerd 4A, Weakness in Project Managemen answered 4b, CRM, Written some points on customer acquisitionand retention 5, Just touched the question. Overall i am not sure, whether i can manage 50 marks or not.. Can anyone suggest me in ethics part?

In overall the exam was not really difficult, however if I were to complain I'd complain on three things. (1) Q2b requirement was not clear. (2) TIME I think if extra 15 minutes were given it would be far better. I left some points myself I'd make trying to make time for other areas of the paper. I am not sure wheather this has worked for me.

It was my first time sitting SBL, and i found it a strange one. Can anyone here comment if they agree/disagree with my main answers to the questions: Q1) Corp Gov: In a very diplomatic way, i mentioned that that the board needed: more females younger age new blood/fresh eyes HR Director on the board A risk committee More regular meetings with more constructive agendas/focus on innovation Suppliers who have close ties with a director need extra oversight (the IT Director and the IT Platform provider)

Q2) Book release: Started off by mentioning that it had been done in the past, and couldnt have been so damaging if hes now got a tv show and another book. Mentioned that history isnt ever pure facts, and there's always a touch of subjective. Also mentioned that this is one critic, and although described as independent, how can we know for sure? Advised for a 2nd opinion Ethical i used Tuckers (with a crowbar) Profitable = Could be if public dont veto. Would be unprofitable otherwise Legal = Could be a potential lawsuit regarding credibility, but there's no hard laws being broken. Fair = Not fair to state something as factual if known it isn't. Not fair on the students Right = As an education publisher, its not right to include false facts. Environmental/Sustainable: Knowledge is passed down from generation to generation, thus misstatements reduce the intelligence of future generations. Financial: Loss of wasted inventory, unless they can find a publisher willing to buy the books Loss of sales/contracts as a result of reputation damage Bad publicity might reduce Pendeans desire to merge

G

@tm37 said: In overall the exam was not really difficult, however if I were to complain I'd complain on three things. (1) Q2b requirement was not clear. (2) TIME I think if extra 15 minutes were given it would be far better. I left some points myself I'd make trying to make time for other areas of the paper. I am not sure wheather this has worked for me.

So much time pressure.. :(