How to approach the Advanced Advice from the Tackling

Performance Management (APM) exam examining team the exam

The APM syllabus has five capabilities which can be summarised as follows: n Remember that APM builds on PM Most frequently used APM exam verbs:
n Use strategic planning and control models knowledge by applying it in more
complex scenarios
n Assess the impact of risk and uncertainty
n Identify and evaluate design features of performance management systems n Create information from the detailed
n Apply appropriate strategic performance measurement techniques data provided in the scenario
n Advise clients on strategic business performance evaluation ASSESS EVALUATE ADVISE
n Add value to the organisation with
comments relevant to the issues at hand Read this article for more about exam verbs
Most of these will feature to some extent in every exam session.

Tips for success Writing a good answer

– how to earn
APM – A Strategic View in the APM exam professional marks:
The exam requires you to build on a good grasp of basic knowledge
Question 1 will include 4 professional
and skills and show awareness that performance management depends ✓ The key to exam success is question
on an organisation’s specific situation and environment.
marks, typically for a report:
practice. If you’re preparing for an APM
n Use an appropriate format
CBE, visit this page for guidance on how
n Plan a logical structure
to approach question practice, including Use suitable headings and subheadings
Fulfil advisory role – add value n
using the new ACCA Practice Platform n Write clearly and concisely
Create information from detailed data ✓ Understand the links between issues
at the strategic, tactical and operational
NEW KNOWLEDGE NEW SKILLS
levels Links to support
SWOT Porter BCG
✓ Understand in particular how the choice resources
Assess/Evaluate of operational performance measures
PEST McKinsey’s 7Ss
Recommend affects strategic performance
n Examining team guidance
BPR “the cloud”
✓ Be able to apply PM knowledge to n Examiner’s reports
Bu

Respond
more complex scenarios
ild

ills

Lean systems n Reading the requirements for APM

Justify
sk
on

n Technical articles
EVA Kaizen ✓ Use any exhibit, information, model
TM
on
kn

Six Sigma
Advise
or technique explicitly referred to in n Improving your APM answers (part 1)
ow

ild

a requirement n Improving your APM answers (part 2)

Bu
l

n Passing Strategic Professional exams

ed

Performance
✓ Interpret and further analyse data
ge

Management n How to earn professional marks

provided
Management ✓ Be selective in making calculations
Accounting
✓ Assess alternative approaches from
different perspectives
✓ Justify advice using the evidence
given in the scenario
✓ Quantify comments, where possible
✓ Discuss commercial implications
n Ethics and Professional Skills module
n Past exam questions and answers
n Big data and performance management
n Developments in IT and the impact on
performance management – Part 1
n Developments in IT and the impact on
performance management – Part 2
n Read the mind of the marker
n Strategic Professional CBE support
n FAQs