What Is the CIMA E2 Paper?
Managing Performance (E2) is the Enterprise pillar paper at CIMA Management level. It focuses on the management skills required by finance professionals in leadership roles — project management, change management, people management, and stakeholder engagement. E2 is conceptual rather than numerical.
Exam Format
E2 is a 90-minute objective test with 60 questions. Pass mark is scaled. Available on demand. Questions test understanding and application of management frameworks and concepts.
Key Topics in CIMA E2
Managing projects: Project lifecycle, project planning (Gantt charts, network analysis, critical path), risk management in projects, project governance. Managing change: Change models (Kotter, Lewin), resistance to change, communication in change programmes. Managing people: Motivation theories (Maslow, Herzberg, McGregor), leadership styles, team dynamics (Tuckman, Belbin), performance management of teams. Managing relationships: Stakeholder analysis and management, negotiation, conflict resolution. Managing technology: Information systems strategy, IT governance, digital transformation management.
E2 Pass Rates
E2 pass rates are typically 60-72%. It is the most accessible Management level paper. Understanding the frameworks is key — questions often present scenarios and ask candidates to identify which management approach or theory best applies.
Study Tips for CIMA E2
Learn the key models well enough to apply them to novel scenarios. Questions rarely ask you to define a framework — they ask you to identify which framework applies or what action it recommends. Focus on project management calculations (critical path analysis) as these are reliably tested. Allow 6-10 weeks of part-time study.
FAQ
Does E2 have any calculations?
E2 is mostly conceptual but includes critical path analysis questions (network diagrams, float, critical path identification) which require numerical working. These are predictable and learnable — practise them specifically as they are reliably tested.
Further Reading
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