Wednesday 5 April 2017

NMIMS ANSWER SHEETS 2017 - Dr . Aravind Banakar - 09901366442 - 09902787224


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OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Q1. Assume that you are the Quality Head in a Pharmaceuticals manufacturing company. Your CEO has just asked you to prepare a report on TQM implementation in the company. Use the eight building blocks of TQM to prepare your report. 

Q2. Imagine that you are a Senior Production Planning and Control Manager in Tata Steel and you are invited to “NMIMS Global Access School for Continuing Education” to share your knowledge in PPC. How/what are you going to explain as the role of PPC in any manufacturing company? 
Q3. Assume that you are the Production Head in an Automobile manufacturing company. Discuss how you are going to explain the following to the new recruits in the Production department.

a) Different types of inventory and different type of inventory costs. 
b) Different inventory models. 

INTERNATIONAL HR PRACTICES

1. A leading telecommunication services company, ABC Ltd, is planning to start its operations in India. You are appointed as a compensation consultant by the company. To bring the clarity among the promoters of the company, you are asked to draft the objectives of the compensation management. Draft the same.
2. Which compensation strategy will you choose for a Multinational Food Chain based in USA wanting to set up its chains in a country like India? 
3. As an international HR consultant, you are approached by an MNC for an advice on
HRM issues in different regions. With respect to this, write on following.

a) HRM issues in North America 
b) HRM issues in Asia 


EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT AND TALENT MANAGEMENT

Q.1. SoloBolo Channel a leading name in Media industry is looking out for common development programmes used by organizations to develop the skills of their employees and improve their performance. Provide your inputs for the same.
 Q.2. Mr. Zishan is chalking out Process of Talent Management for the ease of policy making by the HR managers. Help Zishan to brief each of these steps in 500 words.
Q.3.
a) Raymond is your mentee. He is keen on understanding finer aspects of training from an excellent trainer like you. Explain The Kirkp
b) You have recenty attended a conference of “How to retain your talent” in the organization.


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NMIMS ASSIGNMENT ANSWER SHEETS - Dr . Aravind Banakar - 09901366442 - 09902787224



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Business Communication and Etiquette

Q1) What are the major blunders that you have seen speakers commit while addressing an audience? As a proficient public speaker, what advice would you like to share with these speakers to improve their delivery? (10 Marks)
Q2) Under what circumstances, would you recommend your team to employ surveys, interviews and focus groups. Which medium have you used the most to gather information in your career and why? (10 Marks)
Q3). Shreyansh was heading the team meeting at ABC Corporation. He seemed to have left home in a hurry for his appearance. He seemed stressed and his voice was shaky too. He did not seem to be in the best of his element which was unlike his usual confident self. His team which is always very attentive could not focus on the point that he was making despite their best efforts.
a) Which aspect is most important according to you – sound, appearance or body language?  (5 Marks)
b) In what ways can non-verbal communication complement verbal communication?  (5 Marks)

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Business Economics

1. Analyze various factors influencing the demand for a commodity. Which of these factors will particularly influence demand for the following commodities? Why?
a) Ice-cream b) Sugar c) Pen d) Designer Jean (10 Marks)
2. What do you mean by Monopolistic competition as a common type of market? Discuss two important features of monopolistically competitive market – product differentiation and selling cost by taking real world cases. Also discuss how these two features have an influence over the demand for products under monopolistic competition. (10 Marks)
3. Read the paragraph below and answer the question given at the end of the paragraph.
a. According to a study of a rental market for VCDs, the price elasticity of demand for VCDs rental is 0.7. It means, 10% increase in the price of rentals, leads to 7% fall in the demand. This further means, the demand for VCD’s on rental is price inelastic. Mr. Jagjit, who is in the business of VCD rentals, increases the rentals by 25% on the basis of the information made available by the study, with expectation of raising the revenue. But contrary to his expectation, his revenue in fact has decreased. What is the mystery? (5 Marks)
b. Business cartels are the unique feature of oligopoly. Explain the nature and working of cartels with the help of an example of OPEC as an international cartel.  (5 Marks)

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Business Ethics, Governance & Risk

1. McDonalds is the biggest food chain in the world. Beef is served in only those places where it is culturally accepted. In India, where vegetarian food is preferred, one finds ample varieties of it in their outlets. What is your opinion about cultural clashes in business. With the help of a real life product/ business example showcase how business has ingenious ways to cross over cultural differences.

2. “Reach for the stars but always keep one foot on the ground”, was the best advice that L.N.Mittal received. He says that ambition soars high and along with that the compulsions of achieving the goals. It then becomes difficult to practice integrity and to stay in touch with reality. Success means you fly and cannot keep your feet grounded. What do you understand by business ambition. Is it a moral quality? When does success define good business?

3. A) In the parking lot of malls in Bangalore, it is a common sight to see provisions made to recharge the car batteries of Reva, the electric car. Unlike Nano, Reva did not get much publicity, but the way it works is quietly making sense to the consumers. How can ethical consumerism change businesses, explain using Reva as a case.

3. B) An ordinary consumer in the market recognizes the various common brands, for instance Lipton, Mcdonalds, Tata Motors, Apple, Bata etc. thousands of companies that supply to the varied needs of consumer jostle for a place in the consumer’s heart and mind. These companies would like to build a good reputation and present themselves as most ethical. In this manner they build a good corporate culture. What brings ‘good’ in the corporate culture, elaborate?

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Business Law

1. Rakesh had approached Lena Bank for a Home Loan, one of the conditions of availing Home Loan was to obtain a Surety. Rakesh had for this purpose convinced Mohan to act as a Surety for Rakesh. Mohan agreed to act as a Surety for Rakesh. Can you explain what type of contract that Mohan will have to execute with the Bank. Give the features of such type of contract? In event of default by Rakesh, what steps can the bank take against Mohan? (10 Marks)
2. Please elucidate elaborately 2 practical instances where Right to Information Act, 2005 has increased transparency, accountability and better performance in the working and administration of the public authorities. (10 Marks)
3. Arvind had purchased a 3-BHK flat in Mumbai from Goldfin Builders in 2015. He had entered into a registered Agreement with the Builder towards the purchase. Arvind was promised possession of the Flat on or before 30th September 2016. The cost of the Flat was Rs. 4 crores, which Arvind had entirely paid for. However, the Builder had not handed him over the possession till date. Mr. Arvind has the Following queries:
a) Which Forum he should approach for filing a claim against the Builder? What reliefs should Arvind claim against the Builder? (5 Marks)
b) Can you help Arvind in identifying with at least 2 legal precedent (cases) supporting his claim against the Builder? (5 Marks)



Business Statistics

1. Sixty per cent of students applying for admissions at NGASCE are female. 30 applications were received on a particular day. What is the probability that exactly 15 of the applications will be from females? What is the probability that fewer than 10 of the applications will be from females? Also, calculate the expected number and variance of the number of applications from females? (10 marks)

2. The following data represent the number of Pen drives sold per day at a local computer shop and their daily average sales prices after bargain. (10 marks)
Develop a least-squares regression line and explain what the slope of the line indicates. Compute the coefficient of determination and comment on the strength of relationship between x and y.
3. The growth in bad-debt expense for Chadha and Chadha Company over the last 20 years is as follows.

a) With the help of different statistical tools discuss the financial health of the company. (5 Marks)
b) Assume that you are a branch manager with a leading bank and if the Chadha and Chadha Company’s Managing Director approaches you with a funding request for its expansion plan, what will be your decision? Justify your decision based on your statistical analysis. (5 Marks)

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Corporate Social Responsibility

Case Study: M/s Ujala deals with manufacturing and selling of Consumer Durables in the Indian Market. The largest selling items for company are TV, Washing Machine, Refrigerators, Tablets and Mobile Phones. The company is well known for exchange offers. The company has been positively involved into recycling of old products and also has a brand that sells refurbished products. The company board has keen interest towards free digital education for the poor. The company has appointed you as the Social Responsibility Head. Your task will be to manage all the CSR activities of this organization
Q1. You have been asked to identify all the stakeholders and list down the responsibility of an organization towards each stakeholder. (10 Marks)
Q2. Identify any five CSR activities for M/s Ujala that will be helpful to the society and is in line with current business operations. Explain each activity in detail with reason. (10 Marks)
Q3. Relate the given below theories of CSR with M/s Ujala. How will you apply the learning’s from these theories in your organization?
a) Social Contract Theory (5 Marks)
b) Gandhiji’s Trusteeship Theory (5 Marks)

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Essentials of HRM

Question 1
Rohan works as a Sr. Executive in HR department of a construction company. It has been a practice in his organization that whenever there is a shortfall of human resources a mail would arrive from the SBU head expressing a need for immediate recruitment. Rohan detests this kind of working and harps on Human Resource Planning. He has been asked by the management to prepare benefits or advantages of HRP. What all benefits can be listed by Rohan? (10 Marks)

Question 2
The world is changing and globalization has a big role to play in the same. Does this changing world has also changed the way individuals are recruited and selected. Discuss, compare and contrast any two modern and two traditional recruitment and selection methods. (10 Marks)
Question 3
POP Ltd. is a leading FMCG company where recently it has been discovered through an initiative taken towards organizational development by the HR department with the help of a third party survey that the employees are really demotivated. The employee morale has also found to be very low. The third party has recommended to come up with job designs to fight monotony and demonization.
a) What approaches can be used in POP Ltd towards job design? List all the approaches and discuss any two. (5 Marks)
b) What could be the disadvantages/challenges of the two job designs you have selected? Discuss. (5 Marks)

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Financial Accounting & Analysis


 Question 1
Income statement for the year ended 31st March 17, is as under (10 Marks)
                                                                                                         (Rs in lacs)

Question 2
The matching concept of accounting suggests that in order to calculate accurate amount of profit or loss for the period the expenses or revenues should be recognized correctly. Thus, it is important to differentiate between the capital and revenue items. Mr. Ramchandani purchased Shaper Jet 3D printer at Rs90000, extra printer cartridges and ink for Rs10000 for his business. Discuss how the expenditure will be treated while preparing the financial statements. Provided the rate of depreciation on printer and related assets is 10 % p.a. (10 Marks)
Question 3
a) TCD Ltd provided Rs50 lacs for inventory obsolescence in 2013-14. In the subsequent year, it was determined that 25 % of such stocks are usable. The accounts manager of the company wants to adjust the same through prior period adjustment account, as the provision was made in the earlier years. Give your opinion whether the contention of the accounts manager is correct or not. (5 Marks)
b) Rectify the following errors by passing Journal entry (5 Marks)
 Paid Rs15000 for advertisement debited to electricity expenses
 Received Rs250000 on account of cash sales to Jannaak omitted to recorded in the books

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Financial Institutions and Market

Q.1. XYZ Ltd. is listed on NSE & BSE. However the stock price of the Company is languishing for more than a year. As a CFO of the Company you are required to make presentation to the Board of the Company on various anomalies/ events that have impact on stock price movements? Also explain in brief the EMH concept.
Q.2. PSL Ltd. is a textile manufacturing Company with annual turnover of Rs. 1,200 Crores. The Company has decided to go public to fund the future CAPEX plan. The Company is looking to raise about Rs. 500 Crores. As a CFO, discuss the process and method of listing of the shares in the stock market.
Q.3. (a) You have joined LMH Ltd. as CFO. The company has annual export turnover of Rs. 700 Crores. The Company is expecting inflow of US$ 5 million in the month of April 2017. As a CFO you have to guide the management to hedge the financial exchange risk. Explain various hedging techniques.
(b) Indian financial system and financial market are witnessing a fast paced liberalization over past few decades. In light of these changes, as a CEO of a new E- commerce Start up, briefly explain various financial services/ payment options that you can offer to all your customers?

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Information System for Mangers

Q1. A company designs and manufactures modular microwave communication systems and exports them to the USA, Europe, and Mainland China. On the one hand, the existing system limited the company’s operating efficiency, caused much duplication of effort, and confused the business processes. On the other hand, the sales cycle of export and the need to maintain good customer service in the highly dynamic business environment put increasingly heavy pressure on the company. In order to maintain its competitiveness, the top management announced the launch of a series of projects including the adoption of an ERP system and the re-engineering of the complex business process to enhance the effectiveness of its global logistics and provide quick responses to customer demands. You have been appointed as a consultant to this company. How will you try to ensure smooth implementation of such ERP software and what criteria will you keep in mind during the selection of the ERP vendor for this company? (10 Marks)
Q2. The use of information technology (IT) is considered a prerequisite for the effective control of today's complex supply chains. With the help of an example, explain how a company like Apple or Mc Donald’s manages its global supply chain with the help of Information systems. (10 Marks)
Q3. a. Retailer’s build long lasting relationship with their customers to ensure repeat store visits, brand loyalty and ultimately sales conversions. With an example from the retail sector, explain how information systems play an important role in managing your customers. (5 Marks)
b. Data mining is the process of extracting maximum information from a data set and converting it into meaningful observation for further application. With the help of an example, explain how data mining is used by a bank to its benefit. (5 Marks)

Management Theory and Practice

Q1. Shyam’s spare parts business was doing very well. He was looking to expand into Asian countries like Japan and South Korea. Both these countries have great management practices and culture. As his close confidant he connected with you, he believed that management functions are not universal; they differ from types of company and country to country. What advise will you give him? Explain with reasons. (10 Marks)
Q2. The head of Sales for XYZ has just joined the company. He comes from a large organization and has a tendency to compare the existing processes and culture to the previous company. He is a senior resource and this behavior was beginning to impact the morale of the sales team negatively You being the head of HR of the company felt the need to have a counseling session with him in an attempt to explain that corporate culture is unique to every organization. Discuss this with him by giving at least 2 examples (10 Marks)
Q3a. Snap Deal is currently undergoing crises. The owners Rohit Bansal & Kunal Bahl met Mr Ajay Singh (the Co-Founder of Spice Jet), to understand how he turned around Spice jet from an almost certain closure. You are part of Ajay’s team, Ajay has explained to them the importance of having an organization structure that responds to the market situation. As an expert in organization structure Ajay asks them to meet you and understand this better. Explain this with examples (5 Marks)
Q3b. Your CEO has called you and asked you to ensure that the new joiners in the company are well introduced to Effective Communication skills. You have a 30 min time slot to do it for the current batch. What aspects will you explain to the new joiners (5 Marks)


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Marketing Management
Q1. Assume that you are planning to buy the first new car for the family. What will be the various stages involved in decision making process of a car? (10 Marks)

Case Study for (Q2 and Q3):

The demand for Green Tea has increased in the last few years. M/s ABC launches a new
brand of green tea called as “Green Chai” and wants to sell its product in the Indian
Market. “Green Chai” is available in tea bags with two flavours ie lemon and honey. Green Chai is naturally rich in antioxidants. The antioxidants help to reduce the harmful effects that stress and pollution may have on your body. The company wants to sell the green chai at 4 rupees each tea bag. It will be available in the size of 10, 20, 30 and 50 units pack size. The company is confused in finding the right market, right segments for “Green Chai”.

Q2. You as marketing head of the organisation for Green Chai have been asked to prepare the report on type segmentation for “Green Chai”. (10 Marks)

Q3. Answer on the basis of the case above:
a. Prepare the targeting and positioning strategy for “Green Chai”. (5 Marks)
b. Explain the promotion mix for “Green Chai”. (5 Marks)

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Marketing Research

1. “Sampling is usually preferable over a census method of conducting research”. Give your views on this statement by giving supporting reasons for your views. Also discuss the same with reference to the various sampling methods employed by Research firms to conduct any Research/ Survey. (10 Marks)

2. “Organizations have to frequently conduct Brand Equity Researches to enhance brand value”. Discuss this concept of Brand Equity Research with an emphasis of Sales Promotion, giving a relevant example where a Sales Promotion program has boosted a Brand’s value/equity (10 Marks)

3. A leading Men’s Clothes wear brand wants to study the youth in a leading metro city to find out their clothing taste and preferences. The result would be used to strategize a communication strategy by finding out demographic and psychographic profile of the youth

a. Design the objective of research & Design the questionnaire for the research. (5 Marks)
b. In the above case, how will you collect primary & secondary Data, briefly discussing the various options that you have decided for data collection? (5 Marks)

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Organizational Behavior

1. Rajesh works as a Manager-(Employee relations & wellbeing) in a leading organization. He deals with all the behavioral issues in the workplace. Varun his colleague in marketing department always mocks at him saying that with the kind of profile he has in which he needs to look after the organizational behavior overall does not call for much work. He also tells him (Rajesh) that marketing department has to face a lot of challenges which people from his domain cannot fathom. Rajesh then smirks and lists down all the challenges to Varun. What all challenges could Rajesh face in terms of organizational behavior? Discuss (10 Marks)
2. Consider any leader of your choice and discuss his traits as a leader with the help of any one leadership theory. (10 Marks)
3. Rohit works as a designer in a décor company but since past few months he is not happy with the kind of work he has been doing. He wants to go back to fashion industry from where he originally hails. He is really not able to concentrate in his current work and it shows in his behavior as he snaps at people at the drop of a hat. He is thinking of consulting his colleague and best friend Ajit in order to resolve this kind of behavior. Keeping this scenario in mind, explain:
a. What kind of conflict Rohit is facing here? Explain. (5 Marks)
b. What can Ajit suggest Rohit for resolving such conflict? Discuss (5 Marks)

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Project Management

1. Assume that your company is planning to construct a chemical factory in Navi Mumbai. Who are the key stakeholders? Why stakeholder analysis is important as a precondition of the decision whether or not to follow through with such a plan? As a Project manager how are going to negotiate with different stakeholders in the project? (10 Marks)
2. Construct a WBS (Work break-down structure) for a project in which you plan an event in your office/organization. (10 Marks)
3. All projects encounter some risk. New and unique projects have more unknowns and therefore more risks. A project manager needs to use an appropriate level of detail in risk planning enough to plan for all major and minor risks.
a) Assume yourself to be a project manager of a company involved in “new products development projects”, how are you going to do the risk planning to identify potential problems that could cause trouble for your project? (5 Marks)
b) What all methods will you use to assess the identified risks? (5 Marks)

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Services Marketing


1. A reputed pizza company wants to make its foray in launching burgers. You have been appointed as a Marketing Manager & have to develop the 7 P’s of Marketing. What will you do so as to create a USP? Also what will be the advertising strategy for the same?

Note: Assumptions should be supported with relevant justification (10 Marks)

2. Develop a Service Blue print with the diagram for any organization in organized retail industry (10 Marks)

3. Read the following Case & solve the questions given:

Amol booked a table in a restaurant for 12 people at the beginning of the Diwali period to celebrate the festive season with his family and friends. He had been a regular visitor to Moti Restaurant and had developed loyalty for this place famous for South Indian food. Most of his friends were from the South, so he preferred to treat them at Moti. Another reason for his selection was that the patron of Moti, Raj Kumar knew him well. Since he was regular visitor, he was quite confident that this dinner would be a success. Three days before the scheduled get-together dinner Amol spoke to Raj Kumar and asked him to increase the booking to 16. He looked busy but informed Amol it would be quite in order and he looked forward to seeing Amol and party later that week. As per programme's, all Amol’s friends met at his residence at 7.00 p.m. on the appointed day and after having a cup of coffee left for Moti to be there at the schedule time of 8.30 p.m. They were all relaxed and exchanged jokes on their way and reached the restaurant at 8.20 p.m. With slight difficulty, they located parking place at three different locations for the four cars in which they were traveling. The guests arrived at the restaurant on time and Amol was taken aback to find that the table has been set only for 12 persons. Raj Kumar came over seeing a large group gathered around the small table laid in one comer of the dining room. Amol reminded Raj Kumar of his earlier conversation which he had with him three days ago. He asked him to recollect that the booking had been increased from 12 to 16, and suggested that it may be an oversight that he had forgotten to set the table for 16 people. Amol then asked him to reset the table immediately for 16 people to avoid any embarrassment to him and his guest. To Amol's great amazement and embarrassment Raj Kumar denied that Amol has asked for a booking for 16 people. He, rather, told Amol that he had not phoned him at all this week to make amendments in the booking. "You must have been mistaken" said Raj Kumar. Amol tried to make him admit his mistake but Raj Kumar was too rigid and continued to take a stand that he had not received any such call and that the booking was for 12 people only. The restaurant was full and Amol asked Raj Kumar to resolve the matter as his guests had been standing for more than ten minutes. Raj Kumar expressed his helplessness and said there was nothing he could do at the moment. At such time, Amol knew that there was nowhere else they could go at this time. Amol and his wife along with another couple opted to wait and let 12 members of the group seat themselves. It was after a long wait that they could be accommodated with the group. This could happen only when the guests sitting next to them left after their meal. All of them settled for the dinner but discussions mostly centered around the service provided by the restaurant. At the end of the dinner Amol checked the bill and did not leave any tip for the waiters. Before leaving the restaurant, Amol met Raj Kumar in private and explained him that he would not be visiting him again. Raj Kumar admitted that he may have been hasty but thought Amol was being unreasonable as it was his busiest evening and he could make allowances. Amol never visited the restaurant again and his friends too stayed away. They narrated this incident to many people.

Questions:

a. What according to you are the causes of poor delivery in this case? (5 Marks)

b. What steps could have been taken to rectify the situation as a service recovery strategy? (5 Marks)


Strategic Management

Q1. Select any multinational corporation of your choice and explain various strategy levels of the same. Explain any two decisions taken at each level in an organization.
(10 Marks)

Case Study for Q2 and Q3

Q2. Assume you are starting a new company “Indian Tourister” which will deal with
manufacturing and selling of Bags of all types i.e. Hand Bags, Purse, Slings, Luggage Bag, Back packs, etc. The company will sell the bags of all sizes and will target male and
Female. The bags will be available online as well as company owned retail outlets. Frame the Vision, Mission, Goals, Objectives, Plans and Policies of the organization “Indian Tourister”. (10 Marks)

Q3. From the case above answer the following question:
a. Explain the Mintzberg’s 5P strategy for “Indian Tourister” (5 Marks)
b. Prepare a SWOT analysis for “Indian Tourister” (5 Marks)

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