CGMA Exam - Case Study Guide

chapter 6 Summary of the pre-seen materials

Chapter learning objectives

• In completing this chapter, you will apply the techniques covered in the previous chapter to the practice exam pre-seen materials.

1 Introduction

In the previous chapter, we showed you some techniques to help you in your analysis of the pre-seen.

Once you have completed your analysis of the pre-seen for the practice exam, you can review this chapter to ensure you have identified the key points. We will take you through each exhibit highlighting the key conclusions before bringing this together into a summary using the SWOT framework.

2 Exhibit by exhibit analysis

The key issues and conclusions that could have been brought out of the pre-seen exhibits are as follows:

Reference material 1—Company history, the present strategy, products, organisation and structure.

History and development

• The Cast Group began life in 1920 as a single shop formed by Frank Smith, to sell men’s clothing. By 1952, when Frank Smith retired as CEO, the company comprised eleven stores trading as Frank Smith and Sons, having diversified into women’s clothing and household goods.

• The company was now managed by the former CEO’s four sons who, in addition to changing the brand name to Wood Vale, embarked on a nationwide expansion policy taking the total number of stores to 65.

• All sites were purchased by mortgages, serviced by trading income and paid off by 1990. They aimed at the mass market with low prices but reasonable quality. The ...