Judgement Test Question 97 – A head of profession questions your team in front of a client
Read the scenario and rate every action independently. Several actions can receive the same rating.
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Scenario
During an external steering group, the head of profession says your team lacks the expertise to lead the next phase and suggests transferring the work to their area. Your team has made two recent errors, although both were corrected and the claim that it lacks capability is overstated. The client looks concerned and asks whether delivery ownership should change. You need to protect confidence in the work, respond accurately to the genuine quality issue and preserve a relationship with the head of profession whose expertise remains important.
Rate the actions
For each action, choose Counterproductive, Ineffective, Fairly Effective or Effective.
Action A
Ask the chair to pause any decision and request a short paper comparing the evidence for each delivery option.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action B
Acknowledge the errors, correct the wider claim calmly and propose an evidence-based capability review with the head of profession before ownership changes.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action C
Defend your team by listing occasions when the head of profession's area has also made mistakes.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action D
Say nothing in the meeting and challenge the head of profession privately afterwards.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Click to reveal the answer
- Action A: Fairly Effective
- Action B: Effective
- Action C: Counterproductive
- Action D: Ineffective
Members can unlock the detailed explanation for all four actions, including why each response helps, falls short or makes the situation worse.
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