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About the In-Basket:
The In-Basket simulation puts teams and individuals into a "real-world"
scenario where they are forced to sift through a complex mountain of
information and make difficult decisions under pressure.
The object is to quickly identify individuals who are able to work under
pressure, prioritise information and make informed decisions in a
complex environment.
Participants have to sort through their in-basket, email and voicemail and then answer a series of questions that require them to prioritise, make difficult decisions and prove leadership under fire. Decisions have to be taken within a tough deadline and in the context of an unfamiliar political environment.
Participants are tested on the ability
to think strategically, anticipate future trends, events,
problems or opportunities and develop strategies for addressing them.
In ideal conditions the exercise takes an hour to run followed by an hour of debate. The exercise can last a whole morning and should never be attempted in less than an hour and a half.
The in-basket is provided in two forms, one for employers which includes a customizable version for for pointers and guidance notes, and one for individuals to hone their skills prior to an interview.
Why use the In-Basket?
a) For Recruitment:
The job interview is of course a vitally important element of the
recruitment process, though it is not without limitations. Candidates,
under observation at interview, adjust their behaviour to meet what is
expected of them, but what if we could simulate real working attitudes
and beliefs?
How can we find out how they will behave when the heat is really on? Will they snap? Make unforced errors? Go for short term fixes ignore the big picture?
Or, when the crisis comes, will they shine, perform beyond your expectations and realise their full potential?
The In-Basket simulation can reveal this information, thus proving to be a vital component of your recruitment process, assessment centre and promotion board.
b) For Team Building:
When used as a team building exercise, teams can compete against each
other in a fun and rewarding course exercise. Once the delegates have completed the
task the trainer works through the answers. Prepare for fireworks as the
teams debate the decisions they reached and justify them with
their peers who saw the same set of facts but made different decisions.
As well as being a team building game, or an enjoyable icebreaker, the In-Basket can be used on internal conferences as part of an assessment centre or as training material for a management program.
What you get:
The In-Basket exercise is downloaded directly from the internet in Adobe
Acrobat format. It comes with complete instructions for the instructor
and participants. It includes an organisation chart, a breakdown of your
team and the contents of the in-basket.
The facilitator is supplied with answers and explanations for the questions and a list of learning points.
You may copy all sheets for use within your own organisation as long as you retain the copyright note.
The In-Basket exercise is available in 2 versions - Personal and Corporate.
In-Basket - Personal is licenced for a single user only, and is available as a downloadable PDF (Adobe Acrobat file).
In-Basket - Corporate is licenced for your entire company. This means that it may be shared by as many users as required within your organisation. It is available as a downloadable word document, allowing you to modify it as necessary.
