Skip to content
English
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Global Business Perspective - Business Acumen

Understands how the organization makes money and what drives profitability.
Level 1 Demonstrates introductory understanding, directing people to the appropriate source for further information.

BEHAVIORS

  • Describes the basic business drivers of business profitability for the organization.
  • Identifies decision-making opportunities within their own role and the information required to make good decisions in those opportunities.
  • Knows where to obtain information needed to make decisions in your own role.
  • Describes expectations for quality and customer service within its own role.

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a time you needed to collect additional information before you made a decision at work.

Probing Questions

* What was the decision?

* How did you decide where to collect information from?

* What information did you collect? Why?

* Were you able to a decision?

  • Can you describe an instance where the decisions you made may affect the overall profitability of your organization?

Probing Questions

* What was the decision?

* How did it affect profitability?

* What information helped you make this decision?

* Can you describe the results of your decision?

Level 2 Applies the competency in common situations that present limited difficulties, working with a moderate level of guidance.

BEHAVIORS

  • Describes in detail the business drivers of business profitability for the organization, currently and in the near future.
  • Describes decision-making required in their own role and the impact of those decisions on business profitability.
  • Gathers data and information needed to support decision-making required in their own role.
  • Identifies products, services, customers, suppliers in their own area and how they relate to business profitability.

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a time you gathered data to support profitability decision-making.

Probing Questions

* What data was being gathered?

* How was the data used in decision-making?

* What was your involvement in data gathering and decision-making?

* Do you think your participation in the activity added value? Why or why not?

Level 3 Applies the competency in the full range of typical situations, requiring guidance in only the most complex or new situations.

BEHAVIORS

  • Applies fundamental business drivers to achieve the organization’s business and financial goals.
  • Identifies business issues and opportunities by analyzing financial and non-financial data.
  • Offers concrete suggestions to reduce costs, improve quality or revenue for aspects of key products or services.

QUESTIONS

  • Can you tell me about a business issue or opportunity that you identified?

Probing Questions

* What was the issue or opportunity?

* How did you identify it?

* What other information did you take into consideration?

* How did you communicate your findings?

* What was the result?

  • Describe a time you identified a future business driver for an organization.

Probing Questions

* What was the business driver?

* How did you identify it?

* Why was this business driver important?

* How did the business driver influence your decision-making?

Level 4 Applies the competency in new or complex situations and advises others.

BEHAVIORS

  • Identifies trends and takes action to meet changing business needs.
  • Makes decisions that clearly support the global business strategy and translates strategy to execution.
  • Formulates optimal ways to improve services/products, taking into account a broader organization wide perspective.

QUESTIONS

  • Can you describe a time you used your understanding of the business strategy to make a better decision?

Probing Questions

* What was the circumstance?

* How did your understanding of the strategy affect your decision-making?

* What other information did you use?

* How did you know you made a good decision?

  • Tell me about a time you identified a trend in the business or the environment which d affected overall business profitability?

Probing Questions

* What was the trend you identified?

* How did you identify it?

* How did it affect profitability?

* What did you do?

* What was the effect?

Level 5 Develops new approaches and methods in the area. Is recognized as an expert within the organization.

BEHAVIORS

  • Acts quickly and decisively to make critical business decisions that capitalize on changing market needs.
  • Aligns strategic planning and decision making in the function with global business strategy.
  • Develops capability of others to identify trends and take action to meet changing business needs.
  • Builds capabilities around market/consumer insights and builds deep customer partnerships.
  • Creates partnership opportunities with customers, suppliers, competitors and other organizations to further the organization’s business plan and profitability.

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a novel partnership that you created or were involved with.

Probing Questions

* What was the partnership?

* What was your involvement?

* Why did you believe this was a strong partnership?

* What was the result?

  • Tell me about a time you made a critical decision in response to a changing environment?

Probing Questions

* What was the circumstance?

* What factors did you consider?

* How did you make the final decision?

* What was the result?