Judgement Test Question 25 – Urgent data return during staff absence

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Read the scenario and rate every action independently. Several actions can receive the same rating.

Practice level: EO

Scenario

A regional performance return is due tomorrow. Two colleagues who prepare key sections are absent. The remaining team has already worked late twice this week. Martin, the most experienced officer, offers to stay late again and complete the missing sections himself. A newer colleague says their urgent casework is already unmanageable and worries that asking for help will be seen as letting the team down. Last month's return needed several corrections. You coordinate the work and can pause lower priorities, request validated extracts from another team and raise any remaining gap with your manager. You need a plan that protects delivery and the people doing it.

Rate the actions

For each action, choose Counterproductive, Ineffective, Fairly Effective or Effective.

Action A

Ask the whole team to work late again so the return can be completed in the usual way without changing priorities.

Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective

Action B

Accept Martin's offer to complete the missing sections and remove some of his routine work for the rest of the week.

Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective

Action C

Discuss capacity openly, pause lower-priority work, obtain validated extracts, share tasks by skill and availability, arrange a peer check and update your manager early.

Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective

Action D

Copy last month's figures into the missing sections and correct them after senior leaders have seen the return.

Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective

Click to reveal the answer
  • Action A: Counterproductive
  • Action B: Fairly Effective
  • Action C: Effective
  • Action D: Counterproductive

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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