Practice to Pass Webinar

SEPTEMBER 2021
(Day 1)

Hasan Dossani
WhatsApp +971 555 245 672
 Our Strategy for 5 Days

• Important Topics
Time • Important Models

• Exam Techniques
• Professional Skills
Time
• Question Practice

Few Question Few Question

Topics Practice Topics Practice
 Before We Proceed

MANUAL OR CBE
• September 2021 Webinar is based on “CBE” approach

WEBINAR APPROACH
• All topics cannot be covered in this webinar due to limited time

• Missing topics have been covered in earlier Webinars

• I will share the list of topics to be watched from earlier webinars on Day 5

• It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to watch those topics if you want to cover all important topics
 How To Ask Question

• You can type your question in the Question Box

• Your question should relate to the slide / topic under discussion

• Any general / other question should be asked in last 10 minutes of the webinar
 Teacher’s Intro

Professional Qualification
• Fellow Chartered Accountant (1999)
• CMA, CISA, CIA and several more
• 20 years working experience in field of accounting and auditing
• Working as CFO in Dubai since last 10 years

Teaching Experience
• Teaching ACCA students since last two decades
• Taught appx 5000+ students
• I teach physical batch (in Karachi, Pakistan) and online batch (globally)
• I love to share real life / board room examples
• This is my 6th ACCA P2P Webinar

My Whatsapp: +971 5552 45672

 SBL WhatsApp Group

To join my global whatsapp group, pls message on the below number and you will be sent a link

+ 92 330 376 0125

 SBL Pass Rate

SBL PASS RATE

51 51
50
49 49

47
46 46 46

MAR-19 JUN-19 SEP-19 DEC-19 MAR-20 JUN-20 SEP-20 DEC-20 MAR-21 JUN-21

Since last 2-3 attempts, SBL has the highest pass rate amongst Strategic Professional Level Papers
 SBL is Very Very Different
• One “integrated” case study
o 6-8 Exhibits (appx 8-10 pages)

o List of requirements (2-3 pages)

• Longest paper (4 hours)

• 20 marks for professional skills

• Less emphasis on Models

• Various Formats Required: Reports, briefing notes, memos, presentation slides, press release,
emails, letters, PIDs

• 20-25% of paper is common sense

Different paper needs a different approach altogether

Think like a

Student CFO
Imagine that you are sharing your views with the

Examiner BOD
 Lets Look At SBL Paper / CBE Platform
• CBE practice platform is available in your MyACCA Portal

https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-
study-resources/strategic-business-leader/cbe-question-practice.html
 Why Students Fail SBL
(As per Examiner Report Mar / Jun 2021)

Overall, the standard of answers in June 2021 attempt was

one of the poorest in SBL so far
 Weakness
1. Answers not linked with Exhibits (often
theoretical / general answers given)
2. Merely copy/pasting material from the Exhibits
WITHOUT adding own comments or explaining
why the point is important or relevant
3. Poor technical knowledge and Professional Skills
(analysis skill, commercial skill)
4. Excessively short responses
5. Not reading the requirements carefully
6. Insufficient number of points according to marks
7. Weak grip over Word Response Tool (formats,
layouts, excessive typo/spelling errors)
8. Students not doing Practice on CBE Platform
Recommendations
Preparation:
1. Practice using CBE platform (e.g. solve Q1 of all SBL
past exams)
2. Do atleast 1 full mock exam on CBE under timed
conditions
3. Get your answer reviewed by a teacher or mentor
Exam Techniques:
4. Use case material in your answers
5. Explain how the point you made is relevant
6. Allocate time wisely
7. Constantly refer back to questions to keep focus
8. Present your answer professionally in the Word
Response Tool
 Study Plan In Last 3/4 Weeks
1. Watch September 2021 Webinar

2. Watch Earlier Webinars for additional topics (see list on Day 5)

3. Practice 3-5 SBL Questions on CBE Platform with Time Management

4. DO TWO MOCKS EXAMS UNDER STRICT EXAM CONDITIONS & HAVE IT CHECKED

OPTIONAL:
You can join my Mock Based Practice Classes starting 14 Aug 2021 (paid session):
- 5 SBL question solving (Live Classes)

- 2 Mock exams under strict exam conditions

- 1 Mock checking with marks and feedback

- All classes will be recorded for later viewing

- Message +92 332 337 8435 for details and registration

 STAY AWAY FROM
BOOK & REVISION KITS

Just Use Webinars, My Simplified Notes &

Practice SBL Case Studies
(all available in my SBL Whatsapp Group)
 List of Important Topics
MODELS
1 PESTEL / P5F / Strategic Position
2 SFA Framework
3 SWOT / TOWS
4 Corporate Parenting / BCG
5 Ansoff Growth matrix
6 Harmon Process matrix
7 Mendelow Stakeholder matrix
8 Cultural Web
9 Context of Change
10 Risk Mitigation Steps
PLUS
Professional Marks &
Exam Techniques
TOPICS
1 Financial ratios & Projections
2 Funding Strategies (debt vs equity)
3 Budgets / MIS
4 Project Management / PID
5 Value Chain
6 E - Business / E - Marketing
7 IT / Cyber risks and security
8 Big data / CRM
9 Professional / Corporate Code of Ethics & Public interest
10 NEDs / Committees / Family Owned
11 Integrated Reporting / 6 Capital
12 Social & Environmental Footprints
13 Risk management and recoms
14 Control weakness & recoms
15 Audit Committee / Internal Audit
 Today’s Plan
• Exam Technique:
o How to link answer with Exhibit

• Topics:
o Syllabus Change -

o Technical Articles -

o External Environment / PESTEL / Porter 5

SBL Mar/Jun 2019: Q1A (Smartwear)
Forces / Strategic Position

• Professional skill:

• Formats:
o Briefing Paper / Briefing Note / Memo
 Syllabus Change
NEW TOPICS ADDED
• Four line of defence approach (risk management)

• Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Machine Learning:

✓ Potential Benefits

✓ Risks
Syllabus changes are
✓ Ethical implications
quite minor…
• I will cover these topics on Day 5 of webinar
so nothing to panic about
TOPIC DELETED
• Tucker 5 Question approach for ethical situations

AMENDMENTS
• No significant amendments

• Most amendments are to add clarity to existing syllabus

 Technical Articles
Technical Articles in Last 1 Year:

Article On Covered In

1. Block chain technology

September 2020 Webinar (Day 5)
2. Crypto currencies and IPO

3. Cyber security March 2021 Webinar (Day 5)

No New Article Relating to September 2021 Attempt (as yet)

How To Link Answer With Exhibits
CBE Paper Manual Paper
Make a List of
On Online On Last Page of Physical
ANSWER SHEET Requirments
ANSWER SHEET

Read 1-2 Paragraphs

& STOP

Highlight relevant sentence,

facts and figures
Manual Paper
CBE Paper

REFERENCING

Repeat Above Steps

We will practice this technique TODAY So Stay Tuned…

 Briefing Paper / Briefing Note / Memo Format:
“BRIEFING PAPER”
To: (Addressee)
From: (Your Role)
Subject: (Copy Key Word From Requirement)
Date: 7 Sep 2021

This briefing paper (or briefing note or Memo as the case may be) ………..

(Body of your Answer) Conclusion or Recommendation

not required unless specifically
asked in the Question
Sincerely
Finance Manager / Consultant (Whatever is your Role)

(NOTE: Briefing Paper should have small size points with sufficient headings. The
purpose of a briefing paper is to be informative and factual
 External Environment
• There are 2 types of EXTERNAL Environment:

✓ Country environment

✓ Industry environment

• Country environment is also known as:

✓ MACRO environment

✓ General Environment

✓ Model to use: PESTEL

• Industry environment is also known as:

✓ MICRO environment

✓ Industry / market-place environment

✓ Competitive environment

✓ Model to use: PORTER 5 FORCES

 P E S T E L (Country / Macro Env)
Political: Technological:
• Government • Plant & machinery
• Govt policies • Skilled workers
• Govt Subsidies / loans • IT / technology
• Govt approvals / license • Internet / online
• Political stability • Roads and infrastructure
• Taxes
Ecological:
Economy: • CO2 Emission
• Economy • Carbon footprint
• Economic growth • Recycling
• Economic downturn • Pollution
• Recession

Social: Legal:
• Prosperous developed nation • Laws
• Standard of living • Regulations
• Educated population • Legislations
• Unemployment • Patent / trademark / copyright

- Mention Favorable or Unfavorable

- Impact
- Overlapping Points
 Porter 5 Forces (Industry / Micro Env)
Power of customer:
• Factors to decide HIGH or LOW:
o Size of customer (e.g. large global customer)
o Any brand or uniqueness in our product?
o Customer willing to pay any premium?
• Words to look for:
o Customers
o Consumers
o Buyers

Mention HIGH or LOW

Power of supplier:
• Factors to decide HIGH or LOW:
o Size of supplier (e.g. large global supplier)
o Are we willing to pay any premium?
• Words to look for:
o Supplier
o Vendor
o Manufacturer
Threat of new entrants:
• Look for Barriers to Entry:
o Patents
o Govt approvals
o Govt license
o Franchise

• If Barrier is High, then Threat is LOW (i.e. opposite relationship)

Threat of Competition:
• Words to look for:
o Competition/ rivalry Mention HIGH or LOW
o Number of competitors
o Market share
o Patents / Franchise

Threat of Substitute Product:

• Words to look for:
o Substitute
o Alternate / Alternatives
 Strategic Position Analysis
Includes 3 things in your answer:

1. Macro / Country Environment

2. Micro / Industry Environment

3. Internal Factors
a. Human resource (experience, expertise, management competencies,)

b. Financial resource (profitability / financial position / gearing)

c. IT / Brand (goodwill, online, website)

 Topic:
PESTEL

SBL Mar/Jun 2019: Smartwear

Q1A
(CBE Platform: Practice Exam # 3…….Read Overview & Exhibit 4 only)
 SBL WhatsApp Group

To join my global whatsapp group, pls message on the below number and you will be sent a link

+ 92 330 376 0125