8/3/2019 Acca Dec 2011 p3 Tips

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/acca-dec-2011-p3-tips 1/2

BPP 

Important areas to cover:

Strategy models

Analysis of the environment and/or internal factors has featured in most exams. Key models include

PESTEL, Porter’s Five Forces and the value chain. Expect something on forecasting soon. 

Evaluation of strategic options is usually tested one way or another (although wasn’t in the last

paper).SAF can be a useful framework to generate ideas but don’t feel you need to follow it slavishly. 

Strategic action (largely change management and organisational configuration) is often overlooked,

but has featured in the last two papers, emphasising the need for good syllabus coverage.

Business Process Change

A popular area, which may be based around models such as Harmon, or completely unstructured,

describing a process and asking for improvements. Expect to see some numbers coming in to

questions in this area to help with decisions such as automation and outsourcing.

Information Technology

A pervasive theme in many questions. Make sure you are comfortable with some of the more

important recent concepts in technology such as cloud computing, viral marketing and new business

models.

Project Management

This is a major topic and was not tested in the last sitting so may well be this time. Questions could

well focus on analysis and realisation of benefits and again are likely to include a numerical element.

Financial Analysis

Lots of management accounting knowledge from F5 is assumed knowledge here, including

budgeting, variance analysis and relevant costing. The lessons from Q1 in the last paper are that, 1)

this may be in the compulsory question and 2) you may not be specifically told which techniques touse, but have to work it out from the data given.

People

This is most likely to be tested in conjunction with one of the other topics, as it was in the last paper.

Most importantly… 

Knowledge alone will not get you close to a pass on this paper. You need to be able to apply your

knowledge to specific situations. Practice this using past questions and stories in the press or on the

web as often as you can and you will be ready for whatever the exam throws at you!

Kaplan tips 

Question 1 may be less strategic than we have seen in the past and feature a large element of 

project management. It should have some element of strategic analysis, possibly a SWOT.

Section B will combine all elements of the syllabus (strategic analysis, choice and implementation)

possibly including:

•Pricing 

•Project appraisal 

•Strategy and people 

•Change management 

8/3/2019 Acca Dec 2011 p3 Tips

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/acca-dec-2011-p3-tips 2/2

Open Tuition

Q1 Normal appraisal and advice. Perhaps with takeovers and expected values

Q2 Marketing, particularly pricing

Q3 Project – project initiation documents and gateways

Q4 Strategic use of IT

Q5 Strategy and people

First Intuition 

Section A

Environment analysis, people with financial analysis

Section B

Project management

Strategic action

Information technology – pricing strategy

Icount 

•Project management skills 

•Internal resources and competences 

•Supply chain management 

•Decision tree 

•Budgeting 

•Change management