Outline two steps that Adriana should take if she decides to dismiss the head of the Faculty of History, Jim (lines 89–100).

Explain strategies, in addition to redundancies, that PU could use to solve its cash-flow problems (lines 56–59).

Two steps include:

• Tell Jim and other faculty members.
• Follow PU’s HR procedure for dismissal.
• May need to meet with Jim and his trade union representatives. Prepare a case substantiating the reasons in case Jim takes PU to court for unfair dismissal, exactly as Patricia is doing after her own dismissal (line 90) (as ‘dismissal’ is about a fault, as opposed to ‘redundancy’).
• Ask HR to advertise for a new post, internally or externally, as Jim needs to be replaced
• Review of current staffing in the History department. Assess whether Jim needs to be replaced.

Accept any other relevant step, as long as they apply to what Adriana would need to do if she decides to dismiss Jim. Non-procedural steps can also be rewarded such as the department review.

Mark as a [2] + [2].

Award [1] for each appropriate step and [1] for application of each step. Maximum award, for two steps: [4].

Refer to Paper 1 markbands for 2016 forward, available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials.

Strategies include:

• 20 % of staff are on part time contracts. More staff could have their hours reduced.
• PU has maintained its marketing budget and this could be reduced.
• Some facilities are underused so could be let to provide additional income.
• Reduce overseas visits for lecturers.
• Stop courses that are not economically viable e.g. history, modern languages.
• Increase fees but these are competitive and there is a shortage of students.
• Make more/other staff redundant.
• Other methods which are generic include: delay payments to suppliers, reduce spending.
• Short-term sources of finance. These must be appropriate to PU.

Accept any other relevant strategy, or methods mentioned as part of an overall strategy.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 markbands for 2016 forward section A.

Award a maximum of [3] for a theoretical answer or for limiting answer to only one strategy.

Award a maximum of [5] if the answer is mainly descriptive but in context.

Award a maximum of [6].

Many candidates wrote good answers, though examiners noticed that some rephrased it. Instead of outlining the steps that Adriana should take to dismiss the head of the Faculty of History, they decided to outline the steps that Adriana should take to recruit a new head. As noted many times before, candidates must answer the question asked, not the one they would like to see or rehearsed in class.

Many candidates wrote good answers, explaining a range of relevant, realistic strategies to solve cash-flow problems, with good ideas to increase cash inflows and to decrease cash outflows. A small number of candidates answered a slightly different question solely about sources of finance: of course, short-term sources of finance may be appropriate, but the question was about cash-flow management more broadly, not just about sources of finance.