GGST - Global General Service Situational Judgement: Scenarios Questions and Answers

Question 1

You are part of a project team.
During a team meeting, two of your colleagues get into a heated argument about the best way to allocate tasks for an upcoming deadline.
The discussion becomes unprofessional and is derailing the meeting's progress.
What is the most appropriate immediate action for you to take?

Accepted Answer

Suggest that the team take a short break and that the two colleagues discuss their disagreement privately before reconvening.

Answer

Intervene and publicly side with the colleague whose idea you think is better to resolve the issue quickly.

Answer

Say nothing and wait for the project manager, who is chairing the meeting, to handle the situation.

Answer

Make a note of the unprofessional behavior and report both colleagues to your supervisor after the meeting.

Question 2

You are an administrative assistant supporting three different managers. On a Tuesday morning, all three give you tasks that they describe as "urgent" and "top priority," with a deadline of the end of the day. You assess the workload and realize you cannot complete all the tasks to a high standard within the given timeframe. What is the most effective course of action?

Accepted Answer

Inform all three managers about the conflicting deadlines, show them your task list, and ask for their help in prioritizing the work.

Answer

Attempt to complete all the tasks as quickly as possible, even if the quality of your work suffers.

Answer

Choose the task from the most senior manager and focus on that one, ignoring the others until it is finished.

Answer

Work on the task you find easiest first to build momentum, and then address the more difficult ones.

Question 3

You are responsible for managing office supplies. A colleague, who is also a good friend, asks if they can take a few high-quality notebooks and pens from the supply cabinet for their child's school project. The value of the items is minimal. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Politely explain that office supplies are for official use only and that you cannot grant their request.

Answer

Allow your friend to take the supplies, since their value is low and it is for a good cause.

Answer

Suggest your friend submit a formal request to the office manager, even though you know it will likely be denied.

Answer

Tell them you cannot give them the supplies, but look the other way if they decide to take them anyway.

Question 4

An external stakeholder from a partner organization arrives for a scheduled meeting with your unit head. You discover that your unit head was unexpectedly called into an urgent, high-level meeting and is now unavailable. The visitor seems annoyed as they have traveled a long way. Which of the following is the best immediate course of action to take?

Accepted Answer

Apologize for the inconvenience, offer the visitor a beverage, and see if another senior member of your unit is available to meet with them briefly.

Answer

Apologize and tell the visitor they will have to reschedule their appointment for another day.

Answer

Ask the visitor to wait indefinitely in the reception area until your unit head is free.

Answer

Explain that your unit head is very busy and that such last-minute changes are common.

Question 5

Your department has recently implemented a new digital filing system to improve efficiency. While you understand its long-term benefits, you are finding the new system to be counter-intuitive and it is currently slowing down your work. Several of your colleagues are quietly expressing similar frustrations. What is the most constructive action to take?

Accepted Answer

Dedicate extra time to going through the training materials, and propose a short, informal session where you and your colleagues can share tips and troubleshoot common problems together.

Answer

Continue using the old filing system for your own work since you are more efficient with it.

Answer

Complain about the new system to your colleagues during coffee breaks to build consensus against it.

Answer

Immediately write a formal complaint to your supervisor detailing all the flaws of the new system.

Question 6

While processing travel documents, you notice that a senior colleague appears to have claimed expenses for a personal dinner on a recent work trip, which is against policy. You are not this person's supervisor, and you are unsure if it was an honest mistake or intentional. What is the most appropriate first step to take?

Accepted Answer

Discreetly and privately bring the specific expense claim to the attention of your direct supervisor, presenting only the facts.

Answer

Ignore the issue, as it is not your responsibility and could create conflict with a senior colleague.

Answer

Discuss the situation with other colleagues to see if they have noticed similar behavior.

Answer

Anonymously report the colleague to the organization's ethics office.