Manx Executive Challenge 2012

The Manx Executive Challenge (MEC) offers individuals the opportunity to demonstrate their senior management potential by working in a team to address an issue which is topical, relevant and of strategic importance to the Isle of Man.

The Challenge is held every two years and is organised by the Chartered Management Institute's Isle of Man Branch in partnership with the private and public sectors.

Winning the Isle of Man Newspapers 2010 Award for Excellence for People Management and Development was a key achievement for Challenge being recognised as an innovative development tool for future leaders.

Key Benefits to participants

• Giving yourself an edge - this is a unique development opportunity for those seeking a career in senior management. By taking part in the Challenge you give yourself many advantages over those who do not;
• Proving your ability – you think you've got what it takes to be a senior manager - the Challenge can help you prove it;
• Gaining new skills - by providing you with access to an experienced business mentor plus 5 formal days of relevant training at the International Business School;
• Personal development – past participants of the Challenge have said that they ended up with more skills, greater self-confidence, a clearer view of what you can achieve, and huge satisfaction of a challenge met and conquered;
• Potential CMI Certificate in Strategic Project Management.

Key Benefits to employers

• Value for money - At £600 + VAT, the Manx Executive Challenge offers incredible value for money and benchmarks extremely favourably against other forms of staff development initiatives;
• Unique form of development – the Challenge is unique in the British Isles. You will not be able to send your staff on a management development programme which enables you to see how effective their general management skills are in an environment outside of their normal employment and industry sector;
• Getting more value from your employee.

How it works

Participants are selected and formed into teams combining people from public and private sector backgrounds. A number of economic sectors and industries have been represented including manufacturing; international finance; public services; teaching and retail. Educational background is less important than experience, attitude and the commitment to succeed.

Each Team is judged on a written report and a presentation made to the judges and audience including politicians, business and professional people. Media coverage on radio and in newspapers about the project and your team should be expected.

The Challenge

Induction

All successful applicants will be required to participate in a residential team induction workshop from 9am on Friday 16^th September 2011 to lunchtime on Saturday 17^th September 2011.

During the workshop participants will be placed in to their teams, each one featuring a wide cross section of the Island's business community. Shortly afterwards, their Challenge project will be presented to them. They will also be formally introduced to their mentor.

Mentor

Each team will be allocated a mentor who will be available to guide the team through their particular Challenge. This will be a participant from a previous Challenge.

Launch

The event will be formally launched to the Isle of Man business community on 17^th October 2011. Each team will be asked to introduce their Challenge to the invited audience.

The Process and Finals Night

Over the 8 months of the Challenge, each team will research and investigate the Challenge they have been given. They must submit a detailed report on 20^th April 2012 and subsequently present and argue the case for their recommendations to a distinguished panel of business people who act as judges.

The presentation and justification of the findings on Finals Night on 14^th May 2012 is a vital part of the adjudication process. Each team will be expected to propose realistic and practical solutions to real issues facing the Isle of Man today in front of an invited audience of Government Ministers and business leaders.

The winning team will be awarded the Manx Executive Challenge trophy and all participants will be presented with Certificates recording their involvement. Individual awards will be given to those participants who have developed the most over the course of the Challenge.

Details of the CMI Level 7 qualification

• 4 days of formal training will be provided at IBS through the course of the challenge on the CMI level 7 modules "7005 - Conducting a research project " & "7009 - Managing a project."
• Participants will be registered as CMI students which will give them access to the Institute's facilities, and IBS students which gives them access to IBS Library Resources.
• The challenge can also provide the opportunity for participants to achieve a level 7 Certificate in Strategic Project Management. For this each participant will be required to produce a reflective writing assignment immediately after the final. An optional session will be provided at IBS to give guidance on the approach to this assignment.
• If they achieve a pass in the assignment the participants will be part of the IBS graduation ceremony in October. Also, if successful and they wish to complete the full CMI Level 7 Diploma, they can be given exemption from the 2 modules taught on the Challenge.

Who is eligible to take part?

The Manx Executive Challenge is open to all and formal qualifications are not necessarily required. However, applicants should ideally have a minimum of two year's management experience gained within the Isle of Man business community.

How do I apply?

Download the application form here or e-mail info@mec.im. The closing date for all applications is 17th June 2011