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What are the most important factors to improve the managerial skills?
(Marks: 3)
Q#2
Explain the possible risks associated with Budgeting.
Risks
1. Interest Rates:The Council has no current long term debts but significant investments. Changes in interest rates
can have a significant effect on interest income. However much of the interest income is credited
to the HRA and there is usually an offsetting change to housing subsidy
2. Pension Fund:The Council contributes to the Essex County Local Government pension fund.
3. Changes in specific grant income:The Council receives large sums each year in specific grants, eg 25m for housing and council tax
benefit. The risk is that changes in Government rules or an inadvertent failure to comply with
grant conditions might result in a significant loss of income
4. Fraud:Major fraud might cause significant financial loss to the Council as well as weakening public
confidence
5. Insolvency of Counterparties:The Council might suffer losses in the event of the insolvency of major partners or commercial
suppliers. This is a particular risk in relation to investment transactions.
6. Changes to Housing Subsidy :The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) makes a net payment of subsidy to the Government.
However changes in subsidy rules could increase this payment and worsen the financial position
of the HRA (equally changes could benefit the HRA).
Q#3
Marks = 5
Identify the major elements of mega environment which effect an organization.
Elements of the Mega Environment
There are many external elements that can negatively affect a business, such as increased
competition, rapidly changing technology and economic fluctuations. Within these elements, you
will find, among other things, foreign competition, capital markets movements, legal contrasts and
non-responsive political solutions. A change in an external uncontrollable element will be felt by
all businesses in an industry, but the impact these changes have on a specific business depends on
the strength and stability of the management team.
A major problem with predicting the movement of uncontrollable elements is their interaction
with each other. External elements are closely interrelated, and consequently, anything affecting
one element can have a secondary effect on another element. For example, a cultural/social change
in our society can result in a legal/political change. These adjustments can affect our economic
environment, which can lead to changes in technological developments. The development of
technology, in turn, can affect the level of competition. These interactions prove circular when you
realize the status of competition then affects our economy, culture and society. (See Exhibit 3.)
Many managers do not realize that they can plan for changes in the external environment to
Ans:-
Rationality is nothing but assuming that every component of the decision making process is true
and complete. This decision making process is depending but not limited to following:
1) Proper and correct identification of the problem
3)
Government:- For ensuring implementation of the laws and regulations. Further,
success of an organization also supports strength of the government and subsequently the
nation.
4)
Owners:- The people who own the business. They are definitely interested to see the
profits & gains as well as the growth of the business. Efficient and learning owners have
now put their emphasis on TQM, effectiveness and customer satisfaction to stay competitive
5)
Religious, Social, Cultural groups:- Have their interest to ensure that there is no
6)
Shareholders:- They are another major stakeholder after owners as they have invested
7)
Employees:- The employees of the company are stakeholders as the reputation,
performance and growth of the business will have impact on their functionality,
8)
Competitors:- They are also stake holders as they have to compete and accordingly
9)
End users:- They look up on the organization to meet their needs in terms of products
10) Suppliers:- Every organization is dependant on the input from their suppliers.
Therefore, suppliers have great interest in the business activity and see the business as a
Q#7
Marks = 5
Under what conditions group decision making is preferable to individual decision making?
Ans:-
Therefore, the decision may be called as elective and not selective and will have higher
support.
2) Large number of ideas are generated. Brainstorming is effective tool in group thinking
and decisions.
same solution if presented in group thinking will be polished and made more suitable to fit
the requirement.
4) Group decisions has the edge of taking difficult decisions with ease when compared to
individual decision.
5) Group decisions are not influenced if properly controlled by the managers. Individual
6) Group decisions have the advantage of foreseeing the other end of the picture. The
decisions after effects can be seen, reviewed and accordingly the decision can be mended.
8) Group decisions takes into consideration the bigger picture / broader vision of the whole
Q#8
Marks = 10
CEO of a company is paid too much for is work give reasons of his High Salary
Q#9
Marks = 3
A manager is working in a telecom company, what legal-political and economic factors he
needs to be aware of, in managing globally?
Q # 10
Marks = 3
How the E - commerce is different from E - business?
Q # 11
Marks = 3
In the study of management, what are the four major approaches that make an important
contribution to overall understanding of management?
Q # 12
Marks = 3
Ali works in a manufacturing industry. How TQM will affect his job
Q # 13
Marks = 3
List down the key skills needed by a manager to perform his duties and activities?
Q # 14
Marks = 10
Describe in detail the Hawthorne studies and their contribution to management practices?
Q # 15
Marks = 10
To be successful in 21st century companies must take advantage of the new information
technology, globalization and entrepreneurship. How advances in these concepts positively
effect a business?
ANSWER:
In 21st century the trends are changing rapidly in the fields of Information technology,
globalization and entrepreneurship. The best manager is one who takes these changes as
opportunity and makes good use of it for their organization. We see great advances in the above
mentioned fields which positively affect a business.
2. Second he will categorize the problem, either is it crisis, non crisis or opportunity problem?
6. He/ she with his/her team will select the best alternative among all alternatives.
By these steps manager can forecast effectively, with almost negligible chances of failure.
Q # 15
Marks = 10
Describe Porters Model and explain how a manager would use it to develop a strategy to
achieve competitive advantage.
Q # 16
Marks = 10
Ali is working as the head of tea unit of a multinational organization. Expenses of tea unit
are increasing day by day. He is much worried. He decided to call a meeting and ask for
some suggestions to reduce expenses from his subordinates. Different subordinates ssuggest
for the downsizing of research department as it was not working efficiently. Ali still wants to
think over this suggestion. What steps he should take to make a rational decision?
Q # 17
Marks = 3
Considering all the unique characteristics of programmed decision making, what sort of
benefits can be achieved through this style of decision making?
Q # 18
Marks = 5
Q # 20
Marks = 5
Who are responsible for setting goals? Do you think different Managers set goals, or one
manager is responsible for it?
ANS: GOAL SETTING: Goals are the desired outcomes for the individuals, groups or
organizations. The success of an organization depends on its goals and how they are achieved.
Goal setting is the responsibility of a manager. There are three managers at three different levels:
Top manager
Middle manager
First Line manager
Each manager is responsible for setting goals at different level.
1. Top manager sets the strategic goals which are organization wide.
2. Middle managers set Tactical goals
3. First line managers set operational goals which are related to the operations of the organization.
But it is important that all the goals set by managers should be in accordance to organization's
mission.
Q # 21
Marks = 10
Describe the significant workplace issues that affect motivation in today's workforce.
ANS: MOTIVATION: It is the willingness to exert high levels of efforts to reach organizational
goals.
Motivation is an important aspect in today's world where competition is increasing day by day, so
there is a strong need for motivating employees in order to get best performance from them. In
spite the importance of motivation there are various issues which affect the motivation in today's
workforce. Some of the factors are given below:
Inappropriate Goals: the goal itself acts as a motivator but if not set well it creates lack of
understanding in employees which results in poor performance.
Recognition: In today's world recognition acts as a strong motivator. If a worker's
performance is good he needs to be recognized so that his performance is reinforced but if there is
lack of recognition it will de- motivate the worker.
Salary/Pay: The basic physiological needs are satisfied by money so salary /pay play an
important role in motivating an employee. If it is not up to the limit where it satisfies workers
basic needs it is obvious that low salary will cause de-motivation in employee.
Trust: It is very important while delegating to have full trust in the subordinates. If manger
lacks trust in subordinates he will always have a threat of their failure.
Training the subordinates: Delegation can be effectively done if subordinates know what
and how they have to do their work. For this they must be trained well.
Manager's knowledge about delegation: While delegating manager should know how to
delegate i.e. how to take work from subordinates and which tasks should be assigned to
subordinates.
Q # 23
Marks = 10
Discuss the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) matrix and explain its usefulness in
segmenting businesses. Discuss the characteristics for each of the four categories based on
the BCG matrix.
ANS: BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP (BCG) MATRIX: The BCG matrix was developed
by Boston Consulting Group. Its main purpose was to compare different businesses in an
organization's portfolio on the basis of market share and market growth. It helps the organization
in allocating resources to its various businesses.
Categories of BCG matrix:
The matrix defines four business groups. The SBUs plotted on BCG matrix can be classified as
follows:
Star: Star has a high market share in a growing market.
Cash Cow: Cash Cow is an SBU which has high market share in a slowly growing market.
Question Mark: Have low market share in a growing market. They are the problem creators.
Q # 24
Marks = 5
Is organizing important for all levels of managers? Give your opinion?
Q # 25
Marks = 10
ABC Ltd is a small marketing services company. You have been put in charge of a new project
team. It is the second week the team has been together, and progress on the task is frustratingly
slow. There are lots of creative ideas being put forward, but team members criticize everything
and try to put their own ideas over others. Your manager is getting concerned and asks you to
report on how the team is working.
Do you think motivation comes from within a person or it is a result of the situation?
What is motivation?
Motivation is the internal condition that activates behavior and gives it direction; and energizes
and directs goal-oriented behavior Motivation comes from within. Very few people are highly
motivated at work. Most people work at only a small fraction of their actual capabilities. Your
Employer can create only motivational environment. It is up to you to motivate yourself.
The highest levels of motivation come when we are in tune with our mind and thinking.
Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of Gantt chart and PERT analysis.
Answer:
A PERT network flowchart kind of system which represents the sequence of activities needed to
complete project.
A Gantt chart is special bar type charts which show the present progress of the project. It shows
Answer:
There are many external elements that can negatively affect a business, such as increased
competition, rapidly changing technology and economic fluctuations. Within these elements, you
will find, among other things, foreign competition; capital markets movements, legal contrasts and
non-responsive political solutions. A change in an external uncontrollable element will be felt by
all businesses in an industry, but the impact these changes have on a specific business depends on
the strength and stability of the management team.
A major problem with predicting the movement of uncontrollable elements is their interaction
with each other. External elements are closely interrelated, and consequently, anything affecting
one element can have a secondary effect on another element. For example, a cultural/social change
in our society can result in a legal/political change. These adjustments can affect our economic
environment, which can lead to changes in technological developments. The development of
technology, in turn, can affect the level of competition. These interactions prove circular when you
realize the status of competition then affects our economy, culture and society. (See Exhibit 3.)
Many managers do not realize that they can plan for changes in the external environment to
safeguard their businesses. Foresight is essential in order to adapt to changes in the external
environment. For example, consider a company that thrives on the sale of a single line of computer
software. If this company does not begin developing new products or improve its existing product,
it will quickly be shut out by the competition. Producing single or narrow-lined products with no
concentration on new product development severely limits a business's ability to compete. This is
true especially when external changes, such as technological discoveries, inspire competitors to
improve existing products or to create newer, more effective ones.
Managers can safeguard their businesses by planning for external changes. Consider the tobacco
companies as an example. They have known for many years about the external changes affecting
their industry. They have been affected by cultural/social and legal/political changes for the last
According to the rational model of decision making, managers engage in completely rational
decision processes, ultimately make optimal decisions, and possess and understand all
information relevant to their decisions at the time they make them. including all possible
alternatives
and
all
potential
outcomes
and
ramifications