The following extract is taken from Public Relations Advances by J. H. Crisford. It discusses what a businessman should do if his company wants to put up a stand at an exhibition. Prepare a summary of not more than 170 words, clearly setting out the steps (and their alternatives)

to be taken by an executive who seeks a well-designed stand.

NOTE: A 'brief' means a set of detailed requirements given to a designer.

A problem facing executives when planning exhibitions is, who shall they get to design the stand? Usually the executive will have the task of selecting a designer, and as the design of the stand can be critical to the success of the exhibition this is obviously an important decision.

There are two main alternatives: you can either first approach the designer and then, usually with his participation, choose the contractor who will build the stand that the designer has designed; or you can go first to the contractor and get his own designer to design the stand.

If your first choice is the designer you are then faced with the further alternatives of employing your designer's choice of contractor -

which may not be your own choice - or of finding a contrac~or who satisfies both you and your designer. One of the worst situations to find yourself in, prior to a big exhibition, is a squabble between your designer and your contractor.
Whatever you decide, you are about to entrust a large budget to designing and building the stand which has got to be superbly efficient at its job for the vital days of the exhibition. I believe - and this works very well - you should commission three designers to prepare plans and make a model.
You must be honest and tell each of the three that you are asking for competitive designs. You must give them all identical briefs. Ask each to come to your office (separately) to discuss your requirements, and give each the same number of working days to complete the plans and the model. Explain that you will pay an agreed sum to each of the losers and that the winner will get the contract for the full-size stand.
In due course you should have in your office three beautiful little models, all satisfying your brief and all, surprisingly, quite different!
Now you can choose the best of the three. Your stand is therefore likely to be better than many of your competitors.
It may be that to choose between the models is difficult. Make a careful assessment. Study the design. Are people attracted on to the stand? Can they see the whole exhibit without retracing their steps?
Once you have decided on the best of the three designs, ask the designers of the two losing designs to come to your office and tell them why you did not pick their design. This is not an enjoyable task but it is a courtesy you owe to the designer for the work he has put in on your behalf. He will naturally want to know why he has not been successful and if you explain this he will learn something and be grateful. If the runner-up is very close you can tell him that he will be asked again next time.
Next time, invite the successful designer, perhaps the runner-up and some new designers. In this way you will get to know designers and they will get to know you (500 words).
(LCC Private Secretary's Certificate)