BCS BCS Certifications BAPV5 Questions & Answers

• Question 11:

  Paul has been struggling to make his farm profitable for a number of years Recently, an energy firm has asked him if it can survey his land in order to determine if there is natural gas deep under his fields If there is. they will pay him for the extracted gas.

  Paul has discussed this request with his business partner, explaining that he would like to explore the possibility as he feels that any subsequent extraction process is safe, will cause minimal damage to the farm, and will return the farm to profitability. Paul's business partner disagrees, believing that the process for extracting the gas is dangerous, that the machinery will spoil the landscape and that it would undermine the vision they had of living off the land.

  On which element of CATWOE are Paul and his business partner in disagreement?

  A. Customer

  B. Actor

  C. Transformation

  D. Work view

  Correct Answer: D

  CATWOE is a technique for exploring stakeholder business perspectives by identifying six elements: Customer, Actor, Transformation, Worldview, Owner and Environment. It helps to understand how different stakeholders perceive a business situation or problem and what they expect from a solution. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as Paul and his business partner are in disagreement on their worldview element of CATWOE. Worldview is the element that describes the beliefs, values, assumptions or principles that underpin a stakeholder's perspective. It helps to explain why a stakeholder thinks that a business situation or problem is worth addressing or solving. Paul and his business partner have different worldviews regarding the possibility of extracting natural gas from their land. Paul believes that it is a safe, profitable and reasonable option that will improve their financial situation. His business partner believes that it is a dangerous, unattractive and unacceptable option that will compromise their vision of living off the land. Option A is not a correct answer, as Paul and his business partner are not in disagreement on their customer element of CATWOE. Customer is the element that describes who benefits from or is affected by a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify who are the main beneficiaries or victims of a business situation or problem or its solution. Paul and his business partner have the same customer, which is themselves as the owners of the farm. Option B is not a correct answer, as Paul and his business partner are not in disagreement on their actor element of CATWOE. Actor is the element that describes who carries out or performs a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify who are responsible for implementing or delivering a business situation or problem or its solution. Paul and his business partner have the same actor, which is themselves as the owners of the farm. Option C is not a correct answer, as Paul and his business partner are not in disagreement on their transformation element of CATWOE. Transformation is the element that describes what changes or processes take place in a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify what inputs are converted into outputs in a business situation or problem or its solution. Paul and his business partner have the same transformation, which is extracting natural gas from their land. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 37.

• Question 12:

  A business case is being created for a new. automated auditing system that will improve the IT department's ability to record and monitor all the computing devices used across the organisation

  The sponsor of the project is keen to get a better idea of the financial implications of the project and has asked for the simplest calculation possible This calculation should consider the tangible costs and tangible benefits of the project, as well as showing when it will have saved the department as much money as it has cost.

  Which of the following investment appraisal calculations has the sponsor asked for?

  A. Payback calculation

  B. Net present value

  C. Internal rate of return

  D. Discounted cash flow

  Correct Answer: A

  An investment appraisal calculation is a technique for assessing whether a proposed business change or solution is financially viable and worthwhile. It helps to compare the costs and benefits of different options and select the best one based on objective criteria. There are different types of investment appraisal calculations, such as payback calculation, net present value, internal rate of return and discounted cash flow. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as payback calculation is the simplest investment appraisal calculation that considers the tangible costs and benefits of a project, as well as showing when it will have saved as much money as it has cost. Payback calculation measures how long it will take for a project to recover its initial investment by comparing its cumulative cash inflows with its cumulative cash outflows over time. It helps to show how quickly a project will break even or generate profit. Option B is not a correct answer, as net present value is not the simplest investment appraisal calculation that considers only tangible costs and benefits. Net present value measures how much value a project will add or subtract from an organisation by comparing its present value of cash inflows with its present value of cash outflows over time. It helps to show how profitable a project will be in today's terms. Net present value requires discounting future cash flows using an appropriate discount rate, which adds complexity to the calculation. Option C is not a correct answer, as internal rate of return is not the simplest investment appraisal calculation that considers only tangible costs and benefits. Internal rate of return measures how efficient a project is by calculating its annualised effective compounded return rate or rate of growth over time. It helps to show how attractive a project is compared to other investment opportunities. Internal rate of return requires finding an unknown discount rate that makes net present value equal to zero, which adds complexity to the calculation. Option D is not a correct answer, as discounted cash flow is not an investment appraisal calculation itself, but a method for estimating future cash flows by applying an appropriate discount rate to reflect their present value. Discounted cash flow can be used in other investment appraisal calculations, such as net present value or internal rate of return. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 31.

• Question 13:

  Halliday Holdings is embarking on a programme to improve its customer experience On joining the programme. Natasha wants to gain an understanding of how its current brand is perceived

  Which would be the BEST source of information for Natasha?

  A. Independent industry websites

  B. The company website

  C. The company's organisational structure

  D. The company's complaints procedures

  Correct Answer: A

  A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers. A brand perception is how customers and potential customers view a brand based on their experiences, associations and impressions. Therefore, option A is the best choice, as independent industry websites are likely to provide unbiased and reliable information on how customers perceive different brands in the market. They may also include customer reviews, ratings and feedback that can help measure customer satisfaction and loyalty. Option B is not a good choice, as the company website is likely to provide biased and selective information on its own brand that may not reflect how customers actually perceive it. It may also omit negative aspects or criticisms that could affect its image or reputation. Option C is not a good choice, as the company's organisational structure is not relevant to its brand perception. It may show how the company is organised internally, but it does not indicate how customers view its products or services externally. Option D is not a good choice, as the company's complaints procedures are not sufficient to measure its brand perception. They may show how the company handles customer issues or problems, but they do not capture how customers feel about its overall quality or value. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 22.

• Question 14:

  At a recent Board Meeting the Directors of an office fitting company ratified the company's mission as:

  To meet or undercut all our competitors' prices'

  Which of the following is MOST LIKELY to be the company's vision?

  A. To offer the best value office fitting service

  B. To reduce the cost of office fitting by 5%.

  C. To increase the company's market share.

  D. To be the premier office fitting company

  Correct Answer: A

  A vision statement is a concise and inspiring statement of what the organisation aspires to be in the future. It should reflect the organisation's core values and purpose, and provide direction and motivation for its stakeholders. A vision

  statement should not be too specific or focused on the current state of the organisation, but rather on the desired future state. Therefore, option A is the best choice, as it expresses a clear and aspirational vision that aligns with the company's

  mission of meeting or undercutting all its competitors' prices. Option B is too narrow and does not capture the essence of the organisation's purpose. Option C is too vague and does not indicate how the organisation will achieve its goal.

  Option D is too generic and does not differentiate the organisation from its competitors.

  References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 13.

• Question 15:

  Ajay works I the payroll department of his organization. Payslips for every employee are printed automatically at the each month. He is about to distribute the monthly for each employee when he receives a notification from senior management explaining that the wish to give everyone a 10% bonus, for exceptional performance in the least quarter. Ajay is pleased with the bonus, but annoyed that the needs to re-print the monthly payslips.

  Which types of business events can be identified from this scenario?

  A. Internal and Time based.

  B. External and Internal

  C. External and Time based.

  D. Time based only

  Correct Answer: D

  A time based event is one that occurs at a regular or predetermined interval, such as monthly or quarterly. In this scenario, the printing of the monthly payslips is a time based event, as it happens every month. The notification from senior management is not an external or internal event, as it is not triggered by an external or internal stakeholder or situation. Therefore, option D is the correct answer. References: Dependency arrows - IBM oop - of the UML arrows - Stack Overflow

• Question 16:

  Imani has been asked to prepare a SWOT analysis for her company, which sells van insurance Her investigation has revealed that

  The company is a UK-based company which sells insurance in the UK and Ireland. The recent increase in home shopping has led to a corresponding increase in delivery drivers and vehicles across both markets However, the call centre, which serves both markets, has not been able to deal with the large influx of calls this has resulted in It is unclear whether in the longer term the call centre capacity needs to be expanded due to customers moving to digital channels and new regulatory hurdles, following Brexit. to trading in Ireland.

  Which THREE of the following SHOULD be included in the SWOT analysis?

  A. Opportunity

  B. Weakness

  C. Threat

  D. Strength

  E. Technology

  Correct Answer: ABC

  A SWOT analysis is a technique for identifying and evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that affect an organisation or project. It helps to assess the internal and external factors that influence the performance and potential of the organisation or project. Therefore, options A, B and C are correct answers, as they should be included in the SWOT analysis for the company that sells van insurance. They describe different types of factors that affect the company's situation and prospects. Option A describes an opportunity, which is a favourable or advantageous circumstance or situation that arises from the external environment and that can be exploited to achieve the objectives of the organisation or project. An example of an opportunity is the increase in home shopping, which has led to an increase in delivery drivers and vehicles across both markets. This creates a potential demand for van insurance that the company can cater to. Option B describes a weakness, which is a negative or unfavourable characteristic or situation that arises from the internal environment and that can hinder or prevent the achievement of the objectives of the organisation or project. An example of a weakness is the inability of the call centre to deal with the large influx of calls, which may result in poor customer service, dissatisfaction and loss of business. Option C describes a threat, which is a harmful or adverse circumstance or situation that arises from the external environment and that can endanger or damage the achievement of the objectives of the organisation or project. An example of a threat is the new regulatory hurdles following Brexit, which may affect the company's ability to trade in Ireland and reduce its market share and revenue. Option D is not a correct answer, as strength is not a factor that has been discovered in the investigation for the SWOT analysis. A strength is a positive or favourable characteristic or situation that arises from the internal environment and that can facilitate or enhance the achievement of the objectives of the organisation or project. Option E is not a correct answer, as technology is not a type of factor that can be included in a SWOT analysis. Technology is an aspect of the external environment that can affect an organisation or project positively or negatively, depending on how it is used or adapted to. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 34.

• Question 17:

  A company is reviewing its critical success factors and key performance indicators So far. it has key performance indicators for the following

  The time to deliver orders for products Consumer satisfaction with products Wastage in product production The qualifications of production employees

  Which area of Kaplan and Norton's balanced business scorecard has NOT been considered?

  A. Learning and growth

  B. Internal business process

  C. Customer

  D. Financial

  Correct Answer: D

  Kaplan and Norton's balanced business scorecard is a strategic management tool that helps organisations to measure their performance across four perspectives: financial, customer, internal business process and learning and growth. The financial perspective focuses on how the organisation creates value for its shareholders and stakeholders. It includes measures such as revenue, profit, return on investment and cash flow. The customer perspective focuses on how the organisation meets the needs and expectations of its customers. It includes measures such as customer satisfaction, loyalty, retention and market share. The internal business process perspective focuses on how the organisation delivers its products and services to its customers. It includes measures such as quality, efficiency, productivity and innovation. The learning and growth perspective focuses on how the organisation develops its capabilities and competencies to achieve its goals. It includes measures such as employee skills, knowledge, motivation and empowerment. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as financial measures have not been considered in the given list of key performance indicators. Option A is not correct, as learning and growth measures have been considered in the qualifications of production employees. Option B is not correct, as internal business process measures have been considered in the time to deliver orders for products and wastage in product production. Option C is not correct, as customer measures have been considered in consumer satisfaction with products. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 17.

• Question 18:

  A business case contains the following in its management summary:

  'The recommended option meets the new regulatory requirements. It will ensure our products remain in the marketplace and be the first to receive compliance certification, which will enhance our reputation as the market leader

  New business policies and processes will be introduced, which may temporarily reduce productivity. The action plan will be communicated to all staff at the next monthly meeting?

  Which TWO categories of costs and benefits are described in this extract?

  A. Tangible costs

  B. Intangible costs.

  C. Tangible benefits

  D. Intangible benefits

  E. Irregular costs

  Correct Answer: BD

  A cost is an expenditure or sacrifice incurred or expected to be incurred as a result of a business change. A benefit is an advantage or improvement that is gained or expected to be gained as a result of a business change. Costs and benefits can be classified as tangible or intangible, depending on whether they can be measured in monetary terms or not. Therefore, options B and D are correct answers, as they describe intangible costs and benefits that are not easily quantified or valued. Intangible costs include the temporary reduction in productivity due to the introduction of new business policies and processes. Intangible benefits include the enhancement of the company's reputation as the market leader due to being the first to receive compliance certification. Option A is not a correct answer, as tangible costs are not described in the extract. Tangible costs are those that can be measured in monetary terms, such as the cost of purchasing new equipment or hiring new staff. Option C is not a correct answer, as tangible benefits are not described in the extract. Tangible benefits are those that can be measured in monetary terms, such as the increase in revenue or decrease in expenses. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 20.

• Question 19:

  A large retail company has asked a business analyst to investigate a problem with declining sales

  Which of the following techniques is the business analyst MOST LIKLEY to use to identify underlying causes of this problem?

  A. Customer journey maps

  B. Scenario analysis

  C. Use case diagram

  D. Business Activity Model

  Correct Answer: D

  A Business Activity Model (BAM) is a technique for modelling business activities within an organisation or project at a high level of abstraction. It helps to understand what an organisation does, how it does it, who does it, where it does it and why it does it. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as a BAM would help the business analyst to identify underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. A BAM would help to analyse how different activities within an organisation contribute or relate to sales performance and identify any gaps or issues that may affect sales performance. A BAM would help to compare current and desired situations or problems and identify what changes or improvements are needed to achieve desired situations or problems. Option A is not a correct answer, as customer journey maps are not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Customer journey maps are a technique for visualising customer experiences with an organisation or product across different touchpoints and stages. They help to understand customer needs, expectations and emotions and how they are met or influenced by an organisation or product. Option B is not a correct answer, as scenario analysis is not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Scenario analysis is a technique for exploring how different scenarios or situations could affect outcomes or impacts of an organisation or project. They help to test feasibility and desirability of different options or solutions under various circumstances or assumptions. Option C is not a correct answer, as use case diagram is not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Use case diagram is a technique for modelling functional requirements of a system or product at a high level of abstraction. They help to understand what functions or features are required or provided by a system or product and how they interact with actors or users. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 32.

• Question 20:

  You have been asked to explain divergent and convergent thinking to a colleague How would you describe the purpose of both divergent and convergent thinking to them

  Select the BEST TWO answers

  A. Divergent thinking generate ideas.

  B. Convergent thinking review ideas for way forward

  C. Divergent thinking creatively considering multiple solutions to the problem

  D. Convergent thinking define the solution in detail

  E. Convergent thinking define the action to be taken, broadly

  Correct Answer: AB

  Divergent thinking and convergent thinking are two types of thinking processes that can be used to solve problems creatively and effectively. Therefore, options A and B are correct answers, as they describe the purpose of both divergent and convergent thinking respectively. Option A describes the purpose of divergent thinking, which is to generate ideas. Divergent thinking involves exploring multiple possible solutions to a problem without judging or evaluating them. It helps to stimulate creativity and innovation by expanding the range and diversity of ideas. Option B describes the purpose of convergent thinking, which is to review ideas for way forward. Convergent thinking involves analysing and evaluating multiple possible solutions to a problem and selecting the best one for further development and implementation. It helps to ensure feasibility and suitability by narrowing down the range and diversity of ideas. Option C describes an aspect of divergent thinking, which is creatively considering multiple solutions to the problem, but not its purpose. The purpose of divergent thinking is to generate ideas, not just consider them creatively. Option D describes an aspect of convergent thinking, which is defining the solution in detail, but not its purpose. The purpose of convergent thinking is to review ideas for way forward, not just define them in detail. Option E describes an aspect of convergent thinking, which is defining the action to be taken, broadly, but not its purpose. The purpose of convergent thinking is to review ideas for way forward, not just define the action to be taken, broadly. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 47.