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    The document describes an in-basket prioritization test for a farm accountant position. It includes additional context about tasks and time constraints. There are 11 tasks to prioritize for today and tomorrow, including completing payroll, preparing for a veterinarian visit, and paying various bills and invoices. The tasks requiring the most time, such as the cow/feed inventory and pregnancy checklist, need to be completed today if possible.

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    The document describes an in-basket prioritization test for a farm accountant position. It includes additional context about tasks and time constraints. There are 11 tasks to prioritize for today and tomorrow, including completing payroll, preparing for a veterinarian visit, and paying various bills and invoices. The tasks requiring the most time, such as the cow/feed inventory and pregnancy checklist, need to be completed today if possible.

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    The document describes an in-basket prioritization test for a farm accountant position. It includes additional context about tasks and time constraints. There are 11 tasks to prioritize for today and tomorrow, including completing payroll, preparing for a veterinarian visit, and paying various bills and invoices. The tasks requiring the most time, such as the cow/feed inventory and pregnancy checklist, need to be completed today if possible.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    422 views2 pages

    In Basket

    Uploaded by

    sany12
    The document describes an in-basket prioritization test for a farm accountant position. It includes additional context about tasks and time constraints. There are 11 tasks to prioritize for today and tomorrow, including completing payroll, preparing for a veterinarian visit, and paying various bills and invoices. The tasks requiring the most time, such as the cow/feed inventory and pregnancy checklist, need to be completed today if possible.

    Copyright:

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    of 2

    In-basket / Prioritizing Test

    Farm Accountant Position, Wickstrom Dairy


    Tim Wickstrom
    November 1999

    You have a maximum of 20 minutes to complete this task. Let us pretend you have arrived for
    work today, Friday, at 8 AM, and you have a number of tasks to prioritize (see items in the in-
    basket, below, section II). What task would you complete first, second, and so on. If you do not
    have time to finish today, what task(s) would you leave for tomorrow?

    I. Here is additional data—that may or may not give pertinent information for this assignment.

    • You will be working 4 hours today (it is not an option for you to work longer or shorter
    hours).
    • You will also be working 4 hours tomorrow, Saturday.
    • Your next day on the job will be Wednesday, next week.
    • It takes about 5 minutes to pay each bill.
    • Our philosophy is to pay bills so they are received the day they are due, or earlier.
    • We have a tradition of paying employees midday when payroll is due. Payroll is due
    today and takes about 1 to 1 ½ hours to complete.
    • The feed and cow inventory takes about 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours to complete. It is critical to note
    that this task, once started, must be completed at one time and may not be left to finish at
    another day. We would like, if at all possible, to have this inventory completed today, but
    it is actually due tomorrow.
    • Our veterinarian is punctual and paid by the hour.
    • Tim Wickstrom goes to town once a day (at which time he delivers and gets mail), at 10
    AM. (For the purpose of this exercise, assume that this time is firm and cannot be
    changed, and that it is not practical for someone else to go into town.)
    • For the purpose of this exercise, let us pretend that additional distractions during the day
    will be negligible, other than the tasks you have in the to-do or in-basket now.

    II. The following items are found in the in-basket (here they are described, but actually consisted
    of paper notes including "work-order" forms, telephone message form, and invoices).

    • Work order form: From Tim. Submitted this Wednesday, completion wanted no later than
    this Saturday. Priority, not marked on form. Regarding: cow/feed inventory.
    • Invoice from Turlock Dairy Feed dated 5 November 99, and due 11/22/99, for $435.17.
    • Phone call form: Dan Smith, State of California Cost Analysis Office, called Thursday at
    4:30 PM. Phone (916) 838-7733. Remarks: Needs to re-schedule visit from next Tuesday
    to either next Monday or Wednesday. Sounds desperate! Telephoned and please call
    boxes checked. Message taken by Tim.
    • Work order form: From Vern (Tim’s dad). Submitted this Thursday, completion wanted:
    not marked on form. Priority: low. Regarding: milk weights, please enter milk weights
    into the computer as you have extra time (takes about 1 to 2 hours to complete).
    • Invoice from Union Oil Company, dated 10 November 99 and due 6 December 99, for
    $786.22.
    • Work order form: From Tim. Submitted this Thursday, completion wanted no later than
    this Friday. Priority, not marked on form. Regarding: pregnancy/check list, veterinarian is
    going to arrive at 11:30 PM. The list takes 1 ¾ to 2 hours to prepare and print.
    • Invoice from ABC Electric due 23 November 99, and dated 25 October 99, for $212.55.
    • Work order form: From Tim. Submitted this Wednesday, completion wanted no later than
    this Friday. Priority, not marked on form. Regarding: working cow report, herdsman
    needs report by 8:15 AM, and takes 5 to 15 minutes to complete.
    • Invoice from Hilmar Lumber, dated this Monday, 15 November 99, and due 12
    December 99, for $125.89. (Today is November 19th.)
    • Invoice from Hilmar Milk Equipment Supply due 11/22/99 and dated 1 November 99, for
    $2,245.00
    • Invoice from A1 Veterinary Supplies for $212.55. Dated 5/10/99, due 22/11/99.

    III. Prioritize

    A. Prioritize tasks for today (which would you complete first, second, etc.)

    1. ____________________________________________________

    2. ____________________________________________________

    3. ____________________________________________________

    4. ____________________________________________________

    5. ____________________________________________________

    6. ____________________________________________________

    7. ____________________________________________________

    8. ____________________________________________________

    9. ____________________________________________________

    B. Task(s) left for tomorrow (no need to prioritize these):

    1. ____________________________________________________

    2. ____________________________________________________

    3. ____________________________________________________

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