Preparation for Final Exam

Study tips for students

Exam format

There will be two sections to the exam

In the first section, you need to answer all questions

In the second section, you can choose a subset of the questions to answer – this allows you to decide which questions you’re more comfortable with

The exam questions require essay answers: some of the questions will be case studies

Please write legibly, as your grade will depend on whether I can read what you’ve written

Read the questions carefully, to make sure you answer everything that is asked

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Example Questions from BA 563

We discussed the different approaches to improvement in the class. Please list and describe these approaches, and indicate the type of organizational situation to which each is best suited.

What am I looking for?

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1) List and describe approaches

2) Type of situation to which each is best suited

Example Questions from BA 563 (Cont’d.)

Your company has undertaken several improvement projects in the past, but they have not been as successful as executives had hoped. You recently took a class on process improvement at a local university, and have decided to recommend that senior executives commit to a formal process improvement approach. Write a memo to the executive team explaining the steps involved in process improvement, and some of the benefits of this approach. Include a discussion of the importance of organizational culture to success.

What am I looking for?

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1) Memo format

2) Steps involved in process improvement

3) Benefits of this approach

4) Discussion of how organizational culture impacts success

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For the final, be able to discuss BPM concepts

Types of process measures, and why and how to link them to KPIs Steps in implementing BPM Benefits of BPM, and items that help/hinder implementation Process network/architecture Value chain Balanced scorecard Process standardization and innovation, and their pros and cons Process capability Governance: what, why, how Process enterprise Organizational culture BPM COE

Test-taking Advice

Survey the entire test quickly, noting the directions and estimating the importance and difficulty of each question. If ideas or answers come to mind, jot them down quickly

Do a “brain dump” – write down anything that you fear you might forget later

Divide the time available among the questions. Allow more time for important or difficult questions. Allocate some time at the end to review your answers. Stick to your plan for timing – four partially complete answers will usually earn a better grade3 than two extremely complete answers and two blanks

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This and next 2 slides from Davis, B.G. (2009), Tools for Teaching, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Test-taking Advice (Cont’d.)

Analyze each question and its parts. The key nouns in the question should suggest the topic and subtopics, and the verbs (compare, define, predict) will indicate an approach to the topic. Observe any limitations expressed in the question (for example, “from 1910 to 1945”).

If you are completely stumped by a question, jot down anything you can think of that might be relevant. Free association may prompt your memory.

Re-read your exam before you turn it in. check for omissions, repetitions, and errors. Cross out and insert words as neatly as possible.

If you are running out of time, list your main points and examples, and write on the paper “ran out of time”.

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Test-taking Advice (Cont’d.)

Specifically For Essay Questions

Outline each answer before you begin to write. Write down you main points, arrange them in a pattern, and add details under each point. A quick outline will help you write with greater purpose, clarity, completeness, and speed.

The first paragraph of an essay response should include a thesis statement that expresses your main point or conclusion.

Follow your outline as you write. Skip every other line to leave room for additions or changes that occur to you as you re-read your response.

Support your thesis with examples and evidence.

Include a conclusion, even if only a sentence or two that ties together the main points and states their importance.

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Good Luck!

“Mr. Osborne, may I be excused? My brain is full.”

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