You are in a group of five candidates at an assessment centre. Your task is to develop a Go-to-Market strategy for a new Mondelez healthy snack bar aimed at Gen Z consumers in a provincial city. The group has 20 minutes to discuss and then present. Halfway through, two members strongly disagree on whether to prioritize digital marketing or on-ground activations. How would you handle this situation to help the group reach a consensus and deliver a strong presentation?
RoleManagement Trainee
DifficultyMedium
TopicCommunication
Asked at
Why This Is Asked
This mirrors a typical Assessment Centre group exercise that tests your teamwork, communication, and problem-solving under pressure. Mondelez's Taste the Future program requires you to influence without authority across regional teams, so they want to see if you can facilitate consensus, think strategically, and keep the group focused on outcomes.
General Approach
In your answer, show that you would step in as a mediator, not a dictator. Use a framework: listen, summarize, find common objective, propose a hybrid or data-driven resolution. Emphasize time management and the final presentation quality. You can reference a past group experience to anchor your approach.
General Answer
Begin by acknowledging the disagreement openly, but frame it as a natural part of building a better strategy, not as a problem. Say plainly that you will suggest a quick two-minute time-out to hear each side fully, and while they speak, take mental notes on their core arguments. Then, summarize what you heard, naming the shared goal: reaching Gen Z consumers in that provincial city effectively within the 20-minute window. From there, propose a hybrid that respects both views, for instance, using digital for awareness and on-ground activations for trial, and anchor it on a simple logic such as which channel builds credibility first in a smaller city. If they still resist, suggest a quick vote or ask the quieter members for their input, because in a group of five, the silent ones often hold the deciding perspective. Keep your tone collaborative, not controlling, and remind everyone that the presentation is the deliverable, so the group needs a clear, unified story in the last five minutes. In a Philippine context, you can mention that in BPO or regional team settings, this kind of assertive yet respectful mediation is what managers expect, and you would apply the same calm, structured approach here.
PH Interview Gotcha
Many Filipino candidates would say 'Okay lang, kayo na bahala' para hindi magkainisan, which avoids conflict but doesn't add value. Others might jump in with 'Sige, gawin na lang natin yung digital kasi mas madali' without analysis, just to end the debate. Assertive compromise is a leadership skill, not rudeness.
Sample STAR Answer▾
S
Situation
In a national case competition last year, my team of four had to develop a growth strategy for a local coffee chain. With only one hour to prepare, we got stuck because two teammates wanted to focus on product innovation while the other two insisted on geographic expansion. The clock was ticking, and we had to submit a one-page summary and a 10-minute pitch.
T
Task
My goal was to broker a compromise that used the best ideas from both sides and kept us on schedule, without alienating anyone.
A
Action
I quickly suggested we take three minutes for each side to bullet their strongest argument on a whiteboard. I then pointed out that both aimed to increase market share, just through different paths. I proposed a hybrid: test a new product line in the top-priority expansion city, so we could validate both concepts. I also volunteered to draft the one-pager while the others refined the financials and presentation flow. I set a timer on my phone to keep us moving.
R
Result
We submitted on time and presented a cohesive plan. The judges praised our integrated approach and we placed second out of 20 teams. Afterward, my team said they appreciated how I listened and kept us calm.
Key Takeaway
I learned that in high-pressure group settings, a facilitator who can structure the debate and identify common ground is crucial. It's not about having the best idea yourself but about unlocking the team's collective intelligence.
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