APM FAE 2013

searunner

This thread is for anyone who wishes to discuss APM exams issues for the 2013 sitting of the FAE.

lamhnse

Does anyone know whats the story with the recorded sessions of lecture 3 and 4? Will they be posted up at some stage?

pepp

I was wondering if there are any new cases for APM this year in the resources?

passwo

Lectures 3 and 4 were held in Griffith College.. may not have been recorded

StiofanMac

Hi,

I made notes as I was studying last year. They are just bullet points. May be of use to some people.

passwo

Thanks StiofanMac. Looks good

searunner

If there was any new cases published this year, could someone post a copy of them?

Thanks in advance....

toobeyshaw

One of my friends who did the exam last year sent these on to me - you may have them already? :pac:

searunner

Has anyone started studying this elective yet?

I would be interested in hearing peoples approach to studying this?

passwo

I havent really knuckled down with this subject yet. Not really sure what way to go about it.. I have attended the four days of lecs so far, but find it so unbelievably broad.

R0N BURGUNDY

Resitting here. Found last years paper to be much harder than the previous year. Hopefully they bring it back down a notch this year!!

passwo

I noticed lectures 3 and 4 were added to the recorded sessions on the institute website

MoMo1987

Hey does anyone have a copy of the 2010 Mock and Solution please?

myshirt

Guys does anyone have the APM Sample paper?

It is a dead link on the website.:(

passwo

Mock 10

passwo

hi myshirt, dont have the sample paper sorry.
Are people preparing much for this mock??

myshirt

passwo wrote: »

hi myshirt, dont have the sample paper sorry.
Are people preparing much for this mock??

I have done very little.

Really need to get a handle on this. Whistlestop tour of the course in the best way I can, and just take the exam.

Ron - any key advise 2nd time around?

ted2767

myshirt wrote: »

I have done very little.

Really need to get a handle on this. Whistlestop tour of the course in the best way I can, and just take the exam.

Ron - any key advise 2nd time around?

I think APM is all about applying the correct modelling tools e.g. porters diamond, 5C's etc.
That and picking up the obvious.
Hopefully that'll be enough.

passwo

How did people find that yesterday?

searunner

I am planning to get stuck into APM this weekend. think il go through the Manual and read the Report for starters, then get into past mock papers, and the past exam papers.

myshirt

searunner wrote: »

I am planning to get stuck into APM this weekend. think il go through the Manual and read the Report for starters, then get into past mock papers, and the past exam papers.

Would you get all that done in a weekend?

I'm getting depressed, I'm moving too slow!

searunner

myshirt wrote: »

Would you get all that done in a weekend?

I'm getting depressed, I'm moving too slow!

No i will split it up over the next 2 - 3 weekends.

Dmac_Aca12

Has anyone here had a look at the solution for the 2013 Mock - Sim #1 asked us to analysis the market looking at 2 countries and it used a Pest analysis . However in Stent Manufacturing there was a similar question but the solution used Ohmae's 5c's . How would you know when to use each model ??

Also does anyone know of a revision course for this?

R0N BURGUNDY

Sim 1 asked you to look at 3 countries = include Ireland. In appendix 3 it gave you the details you need for the 3 different countries. Categorising them with PEST isn't a big concern. Ranking each of the different factors eg. E-readiness was all you needed to do.

Dmac_Aca12

Yes but was the question stent manufacturing similar and used Ohmae's 5c's ?

Dmac_Aca12

What are you studying for this ? Is the book and sample cases / Exam papers enough or do you need to do a lot of other research ?

ted2767

Dmac_Aca12 wrote: »

Has anyone here had a look at the solution for the 2013 Mock - Sim #1 asked us to analysis the market looking at 2 countries and it used a Pest analysis . However in Stent Manufacturing there was a similar question but the solution used Ohmae's 5c's . How would you know when to use each model ??

Also does anyone know of a revision course for this?

Both are appropriate techniques that can be used in this scenario.
I think as long as you have utilise a framework and apply it to the case you'll be fine whichever you use.

Dmac_Aca12

Does anyone know what date the mocks results are out ?

Tricky1979

Was there anything important said in the mock review lecture? thanks

JAKE11

Dmac_Aca12 wrote: »

What are you studying for this ? Is the book and sample cases / Exam papers enough or do you need to do a lot of other research ?

I would say that there is not much to study for APM. There is only a couple of aspects to be clear on and I would leave it at that. Because god only knows what the actual exam will be like, but it has to be broadly based within the following areas. (And if you think the case is about something different maybe it is, but I think you might need to think again in case you have overlooked something obvious).
1. Foreign Investment Appraisal - just know how to do one. You will know it from finance in core in general, but be very clear on working in other currencies.
2. Understand how to attract FDI and selling points for Ireland as a location to invest in. And this also applies if you are dealing with a company who is in Ireland and HQ may be looking to move the Irish operation elsewhere. Be able evaluate reasons for remaining in Ireland.
3. Know what issues you will have if investing in another country. Be clear about simple and obvious issues that will arise. The more obvious your point is the better I think.
4. Don't worry about that book. Just mark where various frameworks are but you won't be using them at all really. But you may include something in your solution that comes to mind if you quickly review a framework and spot something that needs to be addressed.
5. Read exporters websites, listen to all the business news you can that is related to exporting and bring some context to a solution by referring to current issues / trends.
6. Know what the balanced scorecard is and other methods to try and manage performance.
7. Understand methods by which you can access new markets and the advantages and pitfalls of each method. Also, be very clear on what the risks are and how to manage/reduce/eliminate these risks.
8. Understand that an organisation has a lot of additional things to manage if it wants to get into exporting and it may need specialist advice or even new employees with relevant skills.
9. Be aware that IP rights are very different from country to country and this could be an issue for some companies.
10. Know where a company should go for advice when considering accessing new markets.
11. Understand cost escalation when exporting.

I don't believe there is anything else to it. It is just about importing/exporting and capital investment appraisal.

Sure a good days work would cover all of the above more than adequately.

Dmac_Aca12

Thanks for this. I m only siting the elective as have passed the core. I sat Audit twice and then changed over . I work in industry and audit just was nt for me - but I must say my knowledge of current affairs is bismol - that's the part I'm most worried about . My plan is to go through the book for the next week and then start on the cases.

Dmac_Aca12

Can you advise any good export website ??

VolvicWater

Hi, can someone tell me if the APM book is the same since last year? I know the book has been the same for the first 3 years of the course. I am just repeating APM this year and I am using last years books.

ted2767

VolvicWater wrote: »

Hi, can someone tell me if the APM book is the same since last year? I know the book has been the same for the first 3 years of the course. I am just repeating APM this year and I am using last years books.

Yes its the same

Dmac_Aca12

The book is very very outdated ... Are people updating the info/ stats in it ?

ted2767

Dmac_Aca12 wrote: »

The book is very very outdated ... Are people updating the info/ stats in it ?

Don't think there's much need really if you keep up with current affairs really.
As for the core technical info it's fine.

VolvicWater

Thanks ted

Dmac_Aca12

Are ye still studying the book or are ye doing cases !!

Tricky1979

Mock 2013 - Sim 3 Tryly PLC

is the second last para not an indicator? not given in solution.....

"you decide to briefly highlight some key points the measures tell us about performance in relation to the Irish Operation as you this has been worrying Laura for quite a while"

Tricky1979

Another q.

Has anybody attempted the Douglas q? seems to a few mistakes in the NPV calc.... the q. says 108BRL pre-tax net cash inflows yet 800BRL's are used in the NPV? presume just a typo.....

michelle224466

Any sample papers going around for APM?

Dmac_Aca12

Tricky1979 wrote: »

Mock 2013 - Sim 3 Tryly PLC

is the second last para not an indicator? not given in solution.....

"you decide to briefly highlight some key points the measures tell us about performance in relation to the Irish Operation as you this has been worrying Laura for quite a while"

I took this as an indicator too and think if it was the real thing it would be. I think in this case it's used to make sure you do a detailed discussion on the scorecard where as others are just do up the scorecard.

Tricky1979

Thanks Dmac.

There was no mention in the lectures or the text about the use of the Balanced Scorecard? Are we to assume it's a standard model and thus on the syllabus?

p.s. Michelle - you are up far too late!

Dmac_Aca12

Tricky1979 wrote: »

Thanks Dmac.

There was no mention in the lectures or the text about the use of the Balanced Scorecard? Are we to assume it's a standard model and thus on the syllabus?

p.s. Michelle - you are up far too late!

They talk about the balance scorecard briefly in the book and one of the questions in book pg 331 9.2 ! I'm hoping that once I start cases there will be examples of it

hooch-85

Dmac_Aca12 wrote: »

Thanks for this. I m only siting the elective as have passed the core. I sat Audit twice and then changed over . I work in industry and audit just was nt for me - but I must say my knowledge of current affairs is bismol - that's the part I'm most worried about . My plan is to go through the book for the next week and then start on the cases.

Hi dmac, I was in the exact same position as you last year, trained in practice but was working in industry and sat auditing twice having passed core first go, I found the workload way less in APM but it can be tricky, the book is where most of the material is centred around, if you can apply the theories to the cases in question on the day you will pass. Keep your cool on the day and get through all 3 cases. Do what you think is your best case first. I reckon that's where i fell down in auditing, I'd do one case badly and loose all confidence for the other two.

searunner

I have done all the Mock papers, and i am moving on the the past exams papers now. There is a lot of detail in every indicator, really hope i get enough down.

Are people keeping up to date with the business news?

hooch-85

If I remember correctly there was a case about two airlines last year and the whole terminal 2 was very topical in the news at the time, a lot of the time the cases will reflect some issue which is happening in the economy.

Off the top of my head something like the unrest in the Middle East and how its affecting their economies/overseas operations of companies might be an area they could target.

Dmac_Aca12

hooch-85 wrote: »

Hi dmac, I was in the exact same position as you last year, trained in practice but was working in industry and sat auditing twice having passed core first go, I found the workload way less in APM but it can be tricky, the book is where most of the material is centred around, if you can apply the theories to the cases in question on the day you will pass. Keep your cool on the day and get through all 3 cases. Do what you think is your best case first. I reckon that's where i fell down in auditing, I'd do one case badly and loose all confidence for the other two.

Did you pass APM first time? I think where i'll fall down is my general Knowledge - business cases. I ve spend the last 2/3 weeks in the evening going through the Book (so at least have all that read) and i m planning on starting the cases tonight. Did you have samples papers. I have 2 weeks study leave for it coming up so hoping that will be enough time for one subject. But im very stressed about it - My job and sanity are riding on it

hooch-85

Dmac_Aca12 wrote: »

Did you pass APM first time? I think where i'll fall down is my general Knowledge - business cases. I ve spend the last 2/3 weeks in the evening going through the Book (so at least have all that read) and i m planning on starting the cases tonight. Did you have samples papers. I have 2 weeks study leave for it coming up so hoping that will be enough time for one subject. But im very stressed about it - My job and sanity are riding on it

Yea, I got it first go, kinda had to cos I was in the last chance saloon! I'll have a look at home tonight for any sample papers I have and will upload it. Honestly I wouldn't stress too much about your general knowledge, most of it will be common sense and as long as you can apply your knowledge to the specific cases you will be fine. Best of luck!

Dmac_Aca12

searunner wrote: »

I have done all the Mock papers, and i am moving on the the past exams papers now. There is a lot of detail in every indicator, really hope i get enough down.

Are people keeping up to date with the business news?

Have you gone through the book? I'm only starting cases this week. Are you going looking at SFMA Paper ? and MABF ?

Are for the business cases - i wondering when in the year are the papers set. That might us try to narrow down some areas

Dmac_Aca12

hooch-85 wrote: »

Yea, I got it first go, kinda had to cos I was in the last chance saloon! I'll have a look at home tonight for any sample papers I have and will upload it. Honestly I wouldn't stress too much about your general knowledge, most of it will be common sense and as long as you can apply your knowledge to the specific cases you will be fine. Best of luck!

Thanks any bit of help would be so so good !! Im in industry and dont really know any people doing APM. LAST CHANCE SALOON ALSO !! Did you do a lot of study for it last year?