Smashing Strategic Business Management: How to Pass the ACA SBM Examination 2017

Smashing SBM is based around the same approach as our successful and best-selling Cracking Case book: practical, student-focused and simple advice on what to do to pass this unusual examination. This new 2017 edition has been fully updated for the new syllabus and the learning points raised by the 2016 examinations.

Given the relatively low number of questions in SBM (just 2) and the very open nature of the requirements, it is vital that you have a way of determining which areas are important and which issues are going to attract fewer marks.

Smashing SBM sets out an effective planning methodology (which we call MAPs) which helps you identify the mark allocation and spend your time effectively. Our MAPs give direction to your answer by providing reminders on how to assess the likely mark allocation whilst also reminding you of key things to do in Q1 and Q2, based on our review of examiner comments.

Smashing SBM also contains detailed reviews of the 6 real examination papers set to date with a view to understanding patterns in the question format and content, as well as the mark allocation.

Smashing SBM includes detailed revision of key financial management and business strategy topics, as assessed in the real examination papers and ICAEW SBM mock exams. We have also included selected questions from our Business Strategy and Financial Management Q&A books to help you revise these areas very quickly.

The book also contains detailed notes on the Specialist Audit & Assurance topics which are examinable at the Advanced Level. Our revision notes focus on areas other than statutory audit as we know that around 10% of the marks will be for these specialised areas such as internal audit, agreed upon procedures, review of prospective information and so on.

Smashing SBM contains detailed revision of ethics, including various ethical frameworks, to help you achieve the 5-10% of marks available for ethics in SBM.

Smashing SBM is designed to pair up with its sister publication, SBM Exam Room Notes 2017 which provides clear, alphabetically-referenced sets of notes on all key SBM topics to provide exam room reminders of mark-scoring points – perfect for avoiding exam room panic!

Full chapter listing of Smashing SBM:

PART ONE - How to Plan

1. Introduction: This Book and Why We Wrote It

2. Overview of Smashing SBM(TM): Chapter by Chapter

3. The Nature of the Examination and the Examination Paper

4. SBM, Case Study and the 4 Case Skills “Lenses” Translated

5. Need Direction? Use a MAP!

6. The Correct SBM Writing Style

7. Analysis of the SBM Past Papers

8. Useful Points from the Examiners’ Comments on the Past Papers

PART TWO – Scenario and Technical Content

9. The Mini-Case Study: What To Do and What Not To Do

10. Specialist Audit & Assurance Topics: Summary

11. Corporate Governance: Revision Notes and Examination Analysis

12. Assurance and Related Services: Revision Notes and Examination Analysis

13. Environmental and Social Audits and Assurance: Revision Notes and Examination Analysis

14. Internal Audit: Revision Notes and Examination Analysis

15. Practical Business Advisory: Revision of Key Topics

16. Revision of Key Business Strategy and Financial Management Topics

17. Ethics: Revision and Application to SBM

18. Comments from the ICAEW Tutor Conferences

19. Summary of VITAL Magazine Article on SBM

20. Advice for Exam Day

APPENDICES

App 1 MAP for SBM Q1

App 2 MAP for SBM Q2

App 3 Example Completed MAPs: November 2014 Examination Paper

App 4 Sample Pages from ACA Simplified SBM Exam Room Notes

App 5 SBM ICAEW Revision Resources: Some Important Points to Note