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SUBJECTS
A B C
ACCOUNTING MANAGEMENT
AUDIT MANAGEMENT
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
AUTOMOBILE MANAGEMENT
ASSET MANAGEMENT
AVIATION MANAGEMENT
AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT
ARCHITECTURAL MANAGEMENT
AIR TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT
BANKING MANAGEMENT
BPO MANAGEMENT
BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES
MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS MARKETING
BUSINESS ETHICS
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
BUSINESS LOGISTICS
BIO TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
BUSINESS PLANNING
BUSINESS STRATEGY
BOI-TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT
CORPORATE LAW
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
CORPORATE FINANCE
COST MANAGEMENT & ACCOUNTANCY
CORPORATE & FINANCE MANAGEMENT
CORPORATE GOVERANCE
COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
CLINICAL PHARMACOLGY
CLINICAL RESEARCH
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CUSTOMER CARE MANAGEMENT
CALL CENTRE MANAGEMENT
CO – OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT
CONSUMER MANAGEMENT
CORPORATE FINANCE MANAGEMENT
CHARTERED FINANCE MANAGEMENT
D E F
DAIRY MANAGEMENT
DISTRIBUTION LOGISTIC
MANAGEMENT
DATABASE MANAGEMENT
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
E-BUSINESS SYSTEM
E-COMMERCE
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
EQUITY RESEARCH MANAGEMENT
ENTREPRENEUR MANAGEMENT
EVENT MANAGEMENT
ENTREPRENEURSHIP MANAGEMENT
EXPORT IMPORT MANAGEMENT
EXPORT MANAGEMENT
FINANCE
FINACE MANAGEMENT
FINACIAL & COST ACCOUNTING
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANCY
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FASHION MANAGEMENT
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MANAGEMENT
G H I
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
GLOBAL MARKETING
MANAGEMENT
H R MANAGEMENT
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT
HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT
HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
HOTEL MANAGEMENT
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT
HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION
HARDWARE MANAGEMENT
INTERNATIONAL FINACE
INTERNATIONAL FINACE MANAGEMENT
INTERNATIONAL HR MANAGEMENT
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT ANALYSIS MANAGEMENT
INDUSTRIAL MARKETING
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY MANAGEMENT
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
INDUSTRIAL RELATION LABOUR LAW
IT FOR MANAGEMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
INTERIOR MANAGEMENT
L M N
LOGISTICS
LOGISTIC MANAGEMENT
LOGISTIC ENGINEERING
MARKETING
MARKETING MANAGEMENT
MASS COMMUNICATION
MEDIA MANAGEMENT
MUTUAL FUND MANAGEMENT
MARKET RISK MANAGEMENT
MARKETING FINANCE MANAGEMENT
MATERIAL MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT OF SALES FORCE
MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
MANUFACTURING PLANNING & CONTROL
MASS COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
MARKET RISK MANAGEMENT
NETWORKING
NETWORK MANAGEMENT
NETWORKING MANAGEMENT
O P Q
OPERAIONS
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOR
OPERATING SYSTEM
OPERATION RESEARCH
PRINCIPLE & PRACTICE OF MANAGEMENT
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PRODUCTION & OPERTION MANAGEMENT
PROFFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
PURCHASING MANAGEMENT
PETROLEUM MANAGEMENT
PORTPOLIO MANAGEMENT
PHARMACOLOGY MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
QUANTITATIVE METODS
QUATITATIVE TECHNIQUES IN MANAGEMENT
QUANTITATIVE MANAGEMENT
R S T
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RETAIL MANAGEMENT
RISK & SAFETY MANAGEMENT
RISK & INSURANCE MANAGEMENT
RURAL MANAGEMENT
SALES & DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT
SIX SIGMA MANAGEMENT
SIX SIGMA GREEN BELT MANAGEMENT
SIX SIGMA BLACK BELT MANAGEMENT
STATICAL QUALITY CONTROL
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
STORE MANAGEMENT
SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGEMENT
SHIPPING MANAGEMENT
SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT
SAP CONSUTANCY MANAGEMENT
SALES MANAGEMENT
TELECOM MANAGEMENT
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT
TREASURY MANAGEMENT
TOTAL SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
TRAVEL & TOURISM
TRAINING & DEVELOPING
TAKE OVER AQUISATION
TAXATION MANAGEMENT
TEXTILE MANAGEMENT
ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
A) Define Advertising Copy? Please explain various ways of writing print advertising copy with examples?
B) Design an AD campaign for a construction engineering company? (Manufacturers of construction product)?
C) Write short notes on:
1: Characteristics of the ideal print advertisement
2: AIDA Model
3: Medial planning tools
4: ATL / BTL
5: Ad agency organization structure
D) Illustrate positioning statement for:
1: Maruti
2: Nirma washing powder
3: BOSCH
4: Harward business school
5: Apples
BANKING MANAGEMENT
CASE I : BANKING ON RELATIONSHIP
The birth of ABC Bank took place after the RBI issued guidelines for the entry of new private sector banks in
January 1993. Subsequently, the promoter of ABC Bank sought permission to establish a commercial bank and
retained KPMG, a management consultant of international repute, to prepare the groundwork for establishing a
commercial bank. The Reserve Bank of India conveyed its approval in principle to establish ABC Bank on February 11,
1994. Thereafter, the Bank was incorporated under The Companies Act in September 1994. The bank started its
operations in November 1995. The ABC Bank was promoted by the tenth largest development bank in the world,
which had a magnificent record of promoting world-class institutions in India. The promoter was a strategic investor in
a plethora of institutions, which had revolutionized the Indian financial markets.
Keeping in line with its policy of leveraging technology to drive its business, ABC Bank deployed Finacle, the eage
banking solution from Infosys to consolidate its position, meet challenges and quickly seize new business
opportunities. The entire Finacle rollout was remarkable, considering the fact that it was implemented across all
branches in a record timeframe of 5 months. Finacle provided the critical technology platform to propel the bank‘s
operations with new thrust and direction. The bank also implemented Kondor – a treasury front office software from
Reuters and ITMS – treasury back office software from Synergy Login. The achievement of these significant
milestones was consistent with ABC Bank‘s continued focus to create customer and shareholder value through
deployment of superior technology. Investments in technology were a part of the plan to put in place building blocks
for creating the right organizational infrastructure. In future, it would help ABC Bank to consistently deliver superior
products, convenient access channels and efficient service to its retail and corporate customers. Large investments
had been made in back-end technology to strengthen processes, systems and control. This, in the long run, propelled
by a top quality management team, clearly set ABC Bank apart from its competitors.
ABC Bank was a pioneer and an innovator in bringing state-of-the-art services to its customers. It was the
first private bank to enter and capture new markets. It was the first Indian Bank to provide – ATM Next (an
information portal on ATMs); Instant Account Opening; Talking ATMs; GiftCard (Prepaid Gift Card); EasyFill (Instant
Mobile Refill Service) – along with other services. The Bank introduced a SMS alert service, which gave the customers,
updated information on any transaction. The Bank had collaboration with other organizations rendering related
services –Insurance, National Saving Certificates and Post office Service –providing a platform to interact with
potential customers as well as offering other services to its existing customers. It also tried to tap potential rural
market segments, which had not been explored by any other private bank. A key achievement for the Bank was that
it emerged as the highest distributor for two top Mutual Fund Schemes consistently in the past, thereby
demonstrating the strength of the Bank‘s distribution channel of TPD business. It had registered huge success as a
collecting bank to several market IPOs that consequently leveraged the IPO financing business. It launched a strategic
B2B E-Commerce platform with BPCL to facilitate online payments from BPCL to its dealers, thereby enhancing
corporate business through new-age technology and offering Supply Chain Financing Solutions. Corporate banking
relationships were offered at 20 locations across the country and total Banking Solutions to its corporate customers
(Annexure).
The Value Chain Management Group also offered Supply Chain Finance Solutions to various Corporates and
special products like loan against credit card receivables. The lifeline of ABC Bank were its people, growing at a very
fast pace. The average age of the employee at ABC Bank was 31 years. Approximately 83% of the employee strength
was in the junior management category (which included trainees and probationers), while 14% made up the middle
level management. The remaining constituted the senior and top management. The various business units comprised
of 75%, while support functions made up for 12%, and operations for the remaining 13% of the total manpower
strength of the Bank. The bank had rolled-out broad based grant of stock options covering 75% of the employees to
align their interests with those of its shareholders. The bank had a stats-of-the-art training centre at Mumbai and
every employee received on an average 40 hours of training, annually.
ABC Bank entered Nagpur market in two phases. In the first phase, it started with corporate banking and
established itself as the best service provider. Afterwards, it leveraged its strengths by entering into retail banking.
Although, relatively a late entrant in the retail banking sector, it acquired easy access in the new segment due to its
brand image in corporate banking. In retail banking, ABC Bank opted for selective penetration based on two main
factors – volume of business and credibility of the account. This enabled them to create greater satisfaction in the
customers‘ mind. Initially, it started with the criteria of an average quarterly cash balance of Rs 25,000 focusing on
premium segment. Later on, to further penetrate the market, it reduced the average quarterly cash balance to Rs
5,000 and segmented the market on the basis of nature of business, volume and number of transactions per month.
In this phase, by reducing the minimum available balance, it tapped other individual customer accounts during the
course of its expansion.
ABC had always been particular about the specific needs of the customer and maintaining consistency in the
quality of products and services provided. The bank emphasized on dealing with them on a one-to-one basis and
providing tailor-made products. In course of penetrating this segment, ABC bank achieved great success due to its
deep understanding of the needs and expectations of local customers. On the other hand, some of the competitors
who displayed grand success in the beginning could not sustain it because of a mismatch between expectations of the
customers and delivery of services. As promotion was mainly through word-of-mouth, the bank operated on the
philosophy that 5 satisfied customers bring 5 new customers whereas 5 dissatisfied customers break 25 existing
customers. Therefore, they focused about maintaining quality of services and customer satisfaction. The bank was
very particular about reducing the turnaround time in extending its services to the customers. It also acted as an
investment consultant for their individual customers.
Apart from offering ‗tailor-made‘ products, the bank maintained a continuous personal relationship with each
of its existing customer, based on their business potentials. They took regular feedbacks from the customers and
responded sincerely to their suggestions or complaints. They used to call up their premium customers once a week,
asking for their views on the services offered by the bank and suggestions to improve the same. To enable an
impartial communication system, the bank created a dedicated e-mail ID for customers‘ queries and complaints, which
established a direct link between them and corporate office. The complaints and queries received from the customers
were then forwarded to the concerned branch offices for immediate redressal and branch heads were asked to confirm
the same. These complaint redressals formed an important component in performance evaluation of the branch as
well as the concerned employee.
Even though a large group promoted ABC Bank, its independent asset base was limited, which posed a
problem to finance large organizations. The limited asset base of the bank created hurdles in the expansion of its
business. In view of having just two branches, RBI guidelines did not permit ABC to have its own currency chest at
Nagpur, thereby affecting smooth management of hard cash. The bank had an insurance cover for a given amount of
cash it could hold. When the cash inflow increased over the given limit, keeping additional hard cash with the bank
increased risk. Therefore, it became necessary to transfer it to the right place. In the city of Nagpur, ABC had only
two branches, though its customer base was very large and continuously increasing. The changing economic scenario
was expanding business opportunities for the Bank. Butibori, a place 30 kms from Nagpur, was expected to be
declared as a Special Economic Zone, which would attract more industries and accelerate the related business
activities in the region.
An increasing number of private and foreign banks had begun entering Nagpur. The promotional activities of
these multinational banks increased awareness about private banking amongst the people in the region. ABC Bank
also planned to expand its services in credit cards and other value added services. With the entry of foreign and
private banks in Nagpur, the scenario was becoming more competitive and complex. As the new players tried to grab
experienced employees at higher salaries, the employee turnover at ABC Bank increased. Looking at the changing
business scenario, the Branch Head, Nagpur, was wondering about the strategies and measures to be taken for
sustenance and growth of the bank.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Analyze the case, using SWOT.
2. Comment on the strategies used by the bank for penetrating the Nagpur market.
3. Suggest strategies for sustenance and growth of the bank in view of the changing scenario of the Nagpur
region.
Section II
Answer Any six :
1. Explain buyers credit and suppliers credit by giving examples of each type of credit. Also explain with a case
study.
2. What is correspondent banking? Explain briefly the services offered by correspondent banking? Explain briefly
the services offered by correspondent banks to the banks having account relationship with them? Give some
examples?
3. Explain in brief, the role of Reserve bank of India in Indian Exchange control. Explain the role of EXIM bank in
promotion exports, and describe briefly facilities given by EXIM bank? Give examples.
4. The organizational career is a responsibility of the organization and the individual. Discuss.
5. Explain the general architecture of an integrated banking system. How is it useful? Explain with examples.
6. What do you understand by MICR? How does it help in clearing of instructions? Explain the field structure of
MICR cheque.
7. Explain how a digital signature is generated? Explain its use with examples.
8. How can Indian banks use legal recognition of digital signature for development of business.
9. What is market segmentation? Why is it important to advertisers? How is it useful for banking.
Business Ethics
Note : Section I is compulsory & Section II solve any six questions :
Section I
CASE STUDY:
No Minor Offence
Census data reveals high level of Under – age marriages
Census statics are generally full of surprises. But this one is startling : 6.4 million Indians under the age of 18
are already married. That‘s not all. As many as 1.3 lakh girls under 18 are widowed and another 56,000 are
divorced or separated. The legal marriageable age for women is 18, for men 21. A century and a half after
Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar‘s crusade against child marriage, the practice persists. Obviously, the Child
Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, exists only on paper and has not been able to deter parents from marrying off
under –aged sons and daughters. The incidence is understandably higher in rural areas, but not low as expected
in the cities. It‘s more common in the BIMARU states, with Rajasthan leading the way Ironically, the Act
renders all under-age marriages illegal but not void, which means that an illegally married couple can stay
married . It is, therefore, violated with impunity and hardly anyone is ever hauled up. Despite the fact that child
marriage is a criminal offence, action is rarely taken by the police. Even civil society remains a passive
spectator. There‘s not enough penalty-a fine of Rs.1,000 and imprisonment up to three shows that the state does
not view the crime seriously.
The practice is linked to the curse of dowary. ―Chhota Chhora dhhej kam mangta‖ ( the younger the groom,
the smaller the dowry demand) justifies many such alliances. The grimmest part of the scenario is the physical
havoc that early marriage wreaks upon girls who are too young to bear the burden of maternal and child
mortality. There is also the belief that a daughters‘ marriage is a scared obligation that parents must fulfill at
the earliest. A new legislation, Prevention of Child marriages Bill, 2004, to replace the loophole-ridden 1929
Act is awaiting parliament‘s approval. But legislation alone is not enough. Compulsory registration of marriages
is one way of tackling the problem. Creating awareness about the ill-effects of such marriages and mobilizing
committed social workers to intervence are others. However, social workers have to often function in hostile
conditions. The 1992 case of Bhanwari Devi, the Rajasthan saathin who was raped for preventing a child
marriage, is chilling. In the end only education, economic security and increasing empowerment of women can
eliminate the problem.
Questions
1. Discuss ethically the drawbacks you find in the under-age marriages?
2. How does the increasing empowerment of women help eliminate problems if this type?
Section II
Solve any six questions :
Q2.
a) What is moral hazards and why is it important?
b) What is emergent strategy?
Q3.
a) What are the objectives of a business, and which is the most important?
b) How many steps are there in the decision making process and what are they?
Q4.
a) What CSR issues exist for NFPs?
b) What measures of performance are typically used by these organization?
Q5.
a) How globalization effect CSR?
b) Is globalization threat for CSR?
Q6.
a) Why is the measurement of performance important?
b) What is ISO14000 and what factors does it cover?
Q7.
a) What are the responsibilities of business in their corporate decision?
b) What is the relationship between CSR and corporate behavior?
Q8.
a) What are the 4 factors of sustainability?
b) What are the factors of distributable sustainability?
Q9.
a) What justification does stakeholder Theory use for considering stakeholder?
b) What are the step involved in the incorporation of environmental accounting into the risk evaluation system of
an organization?
WE ARE PROVIDING CASE STUDY ANSWERS
ASSIGNMENT SOLUTIONS, PROJECT REPORTS
AND THESIS
ISBM / IIBMS / IIBM / ISMS / KSBM / NIPM
SMU / SYMBIOSIS / XAVIER / NIRM / PSBM
ISM / IGNOU / IICT / ISBS / LPU / ISM&RC
MBA - EMBA - BMS - GDM - MIS - MIB
DMS - DBM - PGDM - DBM - DBA
www.mbacasestudyanswers.com
www.casestudies.co.in
aravind.banakar@gmail.com
ARAVIND 09901366442 - 09902787224
BUSINESS ETHICS
Section I
CASE STUDY:
No Minor Offence
Census data reveals high level of under – age marriages
Census statics are generally full of surprises. But this one is startling: 6.4 million Indians under the age of 18
are already married. That‘s not all. As many as 1.3 lakh girls under 18 are widowed and another 56,000 are
divorced or separated. The legal marriageable age for women is 18, for men 21. A century and a half after
Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar‘s crusade against child marriage, the practice persists. Obviously, the Child
Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, exists only on paper and has not been able to deter parents from marrying off
under –aged sons and daughters. The incidence is understandably higher in rural areas, but not low as expected
in the cities. It‘s more common in the BIMARU states, with Rajasthan leading the way ironically, the Act
renders all under-age marriages illegal but not void, which means that an illegally married couple can stay
married. It is, therefore, violated with impunity and hardly anyone is ever hauled up. Despite the fact that child
marriage is a criminal offence, action is rarely taken by the police. Even civil society remains a passive
spectator. There‘s not enough penalty-a fine of Rs.1, 000 and imprisonment up to three shows that the state does
not view the crime seriously.
The practice is linked to the curse of dowry. ―Chhota Chhora dhhej kam mangta‖ (the younger the groom, the
smaller the dowry demand) justifies many such alliances. The grimmest part of the scenario is the physical
havoc that early marriage wreaks upon girls who are too young to bear the burden of maternal and child
mortality. There is also the belief that a daughters‘ marriage is a scared obligation that parents must fulfill at the
earliest. A new legislation, Prevention of Child marriages Bill, 2004, to replace the loophole-ridden 1929 Act is
awaiting parliament‘s approval. But legislation alone is not enough. Compulsory registration of marriages is one
way of tackling the problem. Creating awareness about the ill-effects of such marriages and mobilizing
committed social workers to intervence are others. However, social workers have to often function in hostile
conditions. The 1992 case of Bhanwari Devi, the Rajasthan saathin who was raped for preventing a child
marriage, is chilling. In the end only education, economic security and increasing empowerment of women can
eliminate the problem.
Questions
1. Discuss ethically the drawbacks you find in the under-age marriages?
2. How does the increasing empowerment of women help eliminate problems if this type?
Section II
Solve any six questions:
Q2.
c) What are moral hazards and why is it important?
d) What is emergent strategy?
Q3.
c) What are the objectives of a business, and which is the most important?
d) How many steps are there in the decision making process and what are they?
Q4.
c) What CSR issues exist for NFPs?
d) What measures of performance are typically used by these organizations?
Q5.
c) How globalization effect CSR?
d) Is globalization threat for CSR?
Q6.
c) Why is the measurement of performance important?
d) What is ISO14000 and what factors does it cover?
Q7.
c) What are the responsibilities of business in their corporate decision?
d) What is the relationship between CSR and corporate behavior?
Q8.
c) What are the 4 factors of sustainability?
d) What are the factors of distributable sustainability?
Q9.
c) What justification does stakeholder Theory use for considering stakeholder?
d) What are the steps involved in the incorporation of environmental accounting into the risk evaluation system of
an organization?
Business Management
1. Discuss the various provisions WTO has made for the developing countries? Critically evaluate the impact of WTO
on the India.
2. Discuss the present status of technology in India and Indian business organization. Discuss the role of technology
in the development of India.
3. Briefly describe the process of formation of company according to the company law? Describe the various modes of
winding up of companies.
4. Describe the various approaches to international business. Discuss the reasons why organizations cross borders.
Discuss the impact of MNCs on the host country.
5. Explore and explain the cross-culture dimension of international personnel management.
6. Compile stock market data for a few specific countries. Attempt a comparative trend analysis to throw light on
nation-specific investment climate.
7. Would you accept the view that economic and non-economic variables interact each other on the domain of
business environment? Explain.
8. In what sense, is ‗India going global‘? Develop some counter argument to conclude that it is a long way for India to
go really global
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
CASE – 1: Where Do We Go from Here?
As one of the many seminars held to discuss the corporate response of family-owned business to liberalisation
and globalisation, the keynote Mr Gurcharan Das concluded his speech by saying, ―In the end, I would say that
the success of Indian economy would depend on how the Indian industry and business respond to the reform
process.‖
As the proceedings of the seminar progressed it became clear that there was a difference of opinion in the
perception of participants. Those who were supporting the case for letting the family-owned businesses face
competition opined that such businesses in India have exhibited financial acumen; its members have generally
adopted an austere life style; they have demonstrated an ability to take calculated risks, and an ability to
accumulate and manage capital. They have devised unique managerial style and led the creation of the equity
cult among Indians. Several of them are low-cost producers.
The participants critical of the role of family business had this is to say: ―There has been a tendency to
mix up family‘s intent with that of businesses managed by them. There is a lack of focus and business strategy.
Family businesses have generally adopted a short-term approach to business causing less purposeful
investments in specially critical areas such as employee development and product development. Customers and
development of marketing skills have been neglected.‖
The valedictory session of the Seminar attempted to bring out the issues clearly. It culminated in an
agenda for reform by the family businesses. The points highlighted in the agenda are:
1. Indian family-owned business organisations need to professionalise management,
2. they need to curtail the diversified of their business groups and impart a sharper focus to their business
activities, and
3. they need to pay greater attention to the development of human capital.
Question
Suppose you were an observer at the seminar. During tea and lunch breaks you had an occasion to meet several
people who were skeptical and felt that the reform process was having only a superficial impact on the
corporates. Express your opinion that you form about the issues at the seminar.
CASE – 2 A Healthy Dose of Success
Muhammad Majeed represents a typical Indian who has created success out of sheer hard work and
commitment through his education and expertise. At the age of 23 years, Majeed, after graduating in pharmacy
from Kerala University, went to pursue higher studies in the US. He completed his masters and PhD in
industrial chemistry. Armed with high qualifications, he became a research pharmacist and eventually, as most
expatriate Indians do, set up his own company, Sabinsa Corporation. Experiencing difficulties with the longdrawn
drug approval process of the US Food and Drug Administration and his own dwindling savings, Majeed
focussed on ayurvedic products based on natural extracts. He returned to India in 1991 (incidentally, the year
when liberalisation started in India) and set up Sami Chemicals and Extracts Ltd, late renamed as Sami Labs
Ltd (SLL), Bangalore.
SLL has over three dozen products, and seven US patents. There are 25 European and other country
patents pending approval. SLL has four manufacturing units all based in Karnataka. The sales is Rs 44.5 crore
and the profit-after-tax is Rs 5.89 crore. It has pioneered specialised products based on Indian herbal extracts
relying on the principles of ayurveda. The major thrust is on remedies for cholesterol control, fat reduction, and
weight management. As against several Indian companies exporting raw herbs, SLL specialises in valueaddition
through extractions. The result is encouraging: SLL‘s products typically fetch an export price that is
more than double the price of raw herbs.
SLL thinks of its business as ―manufacturing and selling traditional standardized extracts and nutritional
and pharmaceutical fine chemicals‖. Sabinsa, its US-based company, secures contracts from the US companies
to manufacture certain chemicals in India. Its business plans are quite ambitious. Setting up a product
management team, assisting farmers in cultivation of pharmaceutically useful herbs, and international
collaborations for developing research-based intellectual property and its commercialisation are some of the
strategic actions on the anvil.
SLL looks forward to being a Rs 500-crore company by 2005 when the World Trade Organisation‘s
patenting regimes comes into force.
Question
How will you define the business of SLL? Comment on the business of SLL and your opinion on the likelihood
of its success.
CASE – 3 No Chain, No Gain
Textile industry is one of the oldest industries in India. Several business houses have their origin in this
industry. In the mid-1980s, the powerloom sector in the unorganised sector started hurting badly the interests of
the composite textile mills of the sector. Their cost structure, with lower overheads and no duties, was less than
half of that of mills for equivalent production. While the powerlooms sold cloth as a commodity, the mills tried
to establish their products as brands. The post-liberalisation period has seen a large number of foreign brands
enter India. It is in this scenario that the Mayur brand of Rajasthan Spinning and Weaving Mills (RSWM) had
to carve out a place for itself.
RSWM is the flagship company of the LNJ Bhilwara group. It has been the largest producer and trader of
yarn in the country and caters to the large demands for blended yarns and grey cloth fabric used for children‘s
school uniform. In 1994, the yarn business faced a severe crunch owing to overcapacity. From 1995 onward,
RSWM became a late follower of the industry trend as other competitors already moved up the value chain.
Textile manufacturing is basically constituted of the processes of spinning, weaving, processing, and
marketing. More than 50 per cent of the value is concentrated in weaving and processing. Moving up the value
chain from spinning involves large investments in machinery and labour. Graduating to marketing requires
getting closer to the customers. This is the challenge that a traditional spinning mill like RSWM had to face if it
was to sustain itself in a highly competitive market.
At another level, for RSWM, it was a matter of cultural transformation of the organisation long used to a
conservative, trader mentality. Imagine a company whose main driving force, Shekhar Agarwal, Vice-Chairman
and Managing Director having little interest in watching Hindi movies signing up Sharukh Khan at a
considerable price for celebrity advertising. From the market side, it has long been troubled with its
commitment to the loyal middle-class customers as it had to simultaneously pay attention to the upwardly
mobile upper middle class customers. Then there was the dilemma of being too many things to a wide range of
audience. RSWM wanted to have a stake in the export markets as well as keep its share in the rural markets. It
perceived itself as an efficient producer and wished to become a flamboyant retailer. It excelled in basic textile
processing yet dreamt of attaining sophistication in in-house production of readymade garments. And all this
while it has been a late mover, losing out to early movers such as Raymonds. No wonder it virtually landed up
on the fringes of the industry, far behind formidable competitors like Reliance, Grasim, and S. Kumar.
Question
Suggest how should RSWM manage its value chain effectively. Should it try to imitate the market leaders? If
yes, why? If no, why not? What alternatives routes to success do you propose?
CASE – 4 A Very Intriguing Package
It is not quite often that a positive product feature becomes an albatross around the neck of a company. VIP
Industries had held sway for over two decades in the organised Indian luggage market on the basis of the
durability of its moulded suitcases. Obviously, the customer perceives value-for-money in the long-lasting,
reasonably-priced Alfa brand of VIP suitcases which sells 1.5 lakh pieces a month. But this means that having
bought one suitcase the customer can do with it for several years. Market research by the company shows that
an average Indian family pulls out the suitcase merely for outstation travel a few times a year. Hence, there is no
pressing need for continual replacement of the old luggage.
The VIP products are made of virgin polymer as compared to the recycled grade I and II polymers used by
the unorganised sector. They are subjected to stringent stress tests for quality control.
VIP has a presence in a wide range of the market segments within a price spectrum of Rs 295 to Rs 6,000
apiece. It is her that the competition from the unorganised sector hurts the company most. VIP‘s economicallypriced
brand, Alfa is widely imitated and sold at much lower prices. This enables the unorganised sector to
typically sell 20 times more than VIP can. The lower price threshold seems to be Rs 225 which in nearly
impossible for VIP to achieve given its cost structure. In the Rs 1500 plus premium range, VIP has to contend
with Samsonite which is a formidable competitor.
The obvious tactic for VIP has been to cut costs. Distribution and logistics is one area where valiant
efforts have been made at cost reduction. VIP has four factories located in heart of India. The average
distribution costs come to Rs 7 to Rs 8 apiece. Reduction in cost has been attempted through distributed
manufacturing by having vendors making the product at different locations, thereby, avoiding transportation of
high-volume suitcases across long distances and reducing inventory build-up in the channel.
Severe pressure on sales has resulted in VIP Industries offering discounts and unwittingly entering into a
disastrous price war. Promotion of a high visibility product suffered and advertising expenditure has been
ruthlessly curtailed from the earlier Rs 11 crore to Rs 2 crore now. Its lead advertising agency is HTA. Action
on the promotion front has seen reorganisation of the brand portfolio. Incidentally, earlier its successful and
popular Kal bhi aaj bhi campaign served to reinforce its durability theme.
There are several roadblocks that the company has to negotiate. Increase in population, rising propensity
of Indian to travel, and the insatiable thirst of customers for state-of-the-art technological products with newer
designs and innovation, all at an affordable price are the opportunities and challenges before the company.
Introduction of new brands, Mantra and Skybags, product range of diversification to include children‘s bags and
ladies‘ bags, strategic alliance with Europe‘s leading luggage-maker—Delsey—are some of the steps taken by
the company.
Yet, caught in its self spun web of past successes, VIP is today faced with an uncertain future.
Question
How should the VIP Industries get out of the bind that it finds itself in? Outline the contours of the marketing
plans and policies that VIP needs to formulate and implement?
CASE – 5 Let There be Light
Traditionally, power plants, being capital-intensive, have been set up by the public sector and state electricity
boards (SEBs) in India. Everyone agrees today that the energy sector is the major infrastructure bottleneck
holding up economic development. A critical aspect of economic reforms thus is the reform of the energy
sector.
The Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) is not much different from its counterparts in other
states. It faces similar problems and is opting for identical solutions. The common elements in the power sector
reforms are: corporatisation by breaking the SEB into generation, transmission, and distribution; financial
restructuring including debt and interest payment rescheduling; reduction of manpower; and improvements in
operational efficiency.
Public utilities, like SEBS, have to be commercially viable in order to survive. Yet historically, this aspect
of SEB as an organisation has been sacrificed at the altar of political expediency. The ruling party, irrespective
of whether it is the Congress at present or the Bharatiya Janata Party earlier, have made pre-election promises of
supplying free or heavily-subsidised power. Digvijay Singh, the present chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, a
populist politician earlier, on longer sees electoral benefit in providing free electricity. ―It pays to pay‖ is his
refrain today, whether it is healthcare or electricity.
Bold steps—bold, as they still carry the risk of a political fallout with fiery BJP leader Uma Bharti
breathing down Digvijay‘s neck or the silent schemers of his own party working overtime behind the scenes—
have been initiated to reform the energy sector in Madhya Pradesh. MPSEB is to be divided into generation,
transmission, and distribution (T&D), and supply companies. Financial management and cash flow
management is to be improved. The retirement age of MPSEB employees has been reduced from 60 to 58 years.
Effective operational control is sought to be exercised by metering power supply at division / district level to fix
responsibility for T & D losses and power thefts. A sustained drive is on to identify non-paying consumers,
install meters, and make them pay their bills regularly.
MPSEB‘s annual losses are to the tune of a massive Rs 1,600 crore; total liabilities are estimated to be Rs
20,000 crore. Undeniably, are parameters indicating the rot that has corroded the system.
At one level, the reform of the energy sector is a political action but at another, and perhaps, a more
fundamental level, it is a question of managing an organisation strategically through strategic actions designed
to turn around a vital public utility.
Question
Analyse the problems of the MPSEB from the strategic management perspective. Do you feel that the actions
taken or being contemplated are strategic in nature? Propose what else needs to be done to make the MPSEB a
viable organisation.
BUSINESS ETHICS
Attempt All the case
Case - 1
GlaxoSmitbKine, Bristol – Myers Squibb, and AIDS in Africa 1
Questions
1. Explain, in light of their theories, what Locke, Smith, Ricardo, and Marx would probably say about the
events in this case.
2. Explain which view of property-Locke‘s or Marx‘s- lies behind the positions of the drug companies
GlaxoSmithKline and Bristol-Myers Squibb and of the Indian companies such as Cipla. Which of the
two group-GlaxoSmithKline and Bristol-Myers Squibb on the one hand, and the Indian companies on
the other –do you think holds the correct view of property in this case? Explain your answer.
3. Evaluate the position of Cipla and of GlaxoSmithKline in terms of utilitarianism, right, justice, and
caring. Which of these two positions do you think is correct from an ethical point of view?
Case - 2
Playing Monopoly: Microsoft
Questions
1. Identify the behaviors that you think are ethically questionable in the history of Microsoft. Evaluate the
ethics of these behaviors.
2. What characteristics of the market for operating systems do you think created the monopoly market that
Microsoft‘s operating system enjoyed? Evaluate this market in terms of utilitarianism, rights, and justice
(your analysis should make use of the textbook‘s discussion of the effects of monopoly markets on the
utility of participants in the market, on the moral rights of participants in the market, and on the distribution
of benefits and burdens among participants in the market), giving explicit examples from the operating
systems industry to illustrate your points.
3. In your view, should the government have sued Microsoft for violation of the antitrust laws? In your view,
was Judge Jackson‘s order that Microsoft be broken into two companies fair to Microsoft? Was Judge
Kollar-Kotelly‘s November 1, 2004 decision fair? Was the April 2004 decision of the European
Commission fair to Microsoft? Explain your answers.
4. Who, if anyone, is harmed by the kind of market that Microsoft‘s operating system has enjoyed? Explain
your answer. What kind of public policies, if any, should we have to deal with industries like the operating
system industry?
Case - 3
Gas or Grouse?
Question
1. What are the systemic, corporate, and individual issues raised in this case?
2. How should wildlife species like grouse or deer be valued, and how should that value be balanced against
the economic interests of the of company like Questar?
3. In light of the U.S. economy‘s dependence on oil, and in light of the environmental impact of Questar
drilling operation, is Questar morally obligated to cease its drilling operation on the Pinedale Mesa? Explain
4. What, if anything, should Questar be doing differently?
5. In your view, have the environmental interest groups identified in the case behaved ethically? `
Case - 4
Becton Dickinson and Needle Sticks
Questions
1. In your judgment, did Becton Dickinson have an obligation to provide the safety syringe in all its sizes in
1991? Explain your position, using the materials from this chapter and the principles of utilitarianism,
rights, justice, and caring.
2. Should manufacturers be held liable for failing to market all the products for which they hold exclusive
patents when someone‘s injury would have been avoided if they had marketed those products? Explain
your answer.
3. In your judgment, who was morally responsible for Maryann Rockwood‘s accidental needlestick: Maryann
Rockwood? The clinic that employed her? The government agencies that merely issued guidelines? Becton
Dickinson?
4. Evaluate the ethics of Becton Dickinson‘s use of the GPO system in the late 1990s. Are the GPO‘s
monopolies? Are they ethical? Explain.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
SECTION I
All questions are compulsory
1. Marks: 40
What do you understand by ―investment appraisal‖? Explain the following methods of project appraisal. What do
you understand by ―cash flow forecasting‖?. What neat sketches, explain the uses of S – curve.
(i) Return – on capital employed
(ii) Pay back method
(iii) Discount cash flow method
2. Marks: 20
A company is engaged in producing a spare part which is sold at an uniform price of Rs. 100 each. The variable
cost of producing the spare part amounts to Rs. 60 per unit while the fixed costs amount to Rs. 250000. How
many spare parts must be produced and sold so that company breaks even? How much sales would be made at
this level of activity, if the firm desires a profit of Rs. 150000.
3. Marks: 20
Define TQM. Explain its various elements. Discuss the application of TQM in the construction industry.
4. Marks: 20
What do you understand by ―break even analysis‖ and explain its salient features and limitations.
Consumer Behavior
Note: Solve any 4 Cases Study’s
CASE: I Starbucks
Question:
1. Based on the case information and your personal experiences, list at least five things you know about
Starbucks. This list offers you some idea about your cognitions concerning the coffee shop chain.
2. List at least things you like or dislike about Starbucks. This list gives you some idea of your affect for the
coffee shops.
3. List at least five behaviors involved in buying a gourmet coffee drink from Starbucks. This list gives you an
idea of the behaviors involved in a coffee purchase.
CASE: II Barnes & Noble
Question:
1. What affective responses do you think the Barnes & Noble environment creates? How might consumers‘
cognitive systems interpret these responses? From a marketing perspective, which is more important
to Barnes & Noble—affect or cognition?
2. Rob goes to Barnes & Noble location to hang out and meet people. Lisa goes only when she wants to
purchase a specific book or CD. Describe how their integration processes might convince them to
choose Barnes & Noble over the myriad other options they have.
3. Many of the activities that take place at Barnes & Noble stores (or at BarnesandNoble.com) do not
require a purchase. Participating in discussion groups and going to in-store performances are free.
And obviously it doesn‘t cost anything to simply go in, sit in a chair, and read a book. So why do
people buy? How do these free activities (behaviors) influence consumers‘ affect and cognition?
CASE: III Rollerblade Inc.
Question:
1. What role do you think modeling could have played in the diffusion of this innovation?
2. How could you use modeling to teach a friend how to use Rollerblades?
3. If you were designing a commercial for Rollerblades to be used for an in-store videotape
demonstration, how would you design the commercial to take advantage of your knowledge of
modeling?
CASE: IV The Saturn Family
Question:
1. Visit the Saturn website and try to determine the market segments the carmaker is targeting. What should
Saturn do to better serve those segments? How might Saturn tailor its offerings to address the different
stages of the family life cycle?
2. Other vehicles—such as Porsches, Mustangs, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles—also have ―cult‖
followings. But these products also have very strong symbolic meanings associated with them. The
Saturn is a solid and reliable, but basically unspectacular, car. Identify and discuss three reasons
that you think Saturn has such a devoted following of involved customers.
3. An automobile is a high-involvement purchase. Discuss how the manufacturer of a lower-cost, lowerinvolvement
product could generate greater personal relevance and long-term loyalty. Find and
discuss an example of a company that has done so.
CASE: V Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Question:
1. What kind of consumer owns a Har ley?
2. Wh a t a c c o u n t s f o r H a r l e y o w n e r s ‘ s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d b r a n d l o y a l t y ?
3. What role do you think the Har ley Owner Group plays in the suc cess of the company?
Consumer Behavior
CASE: I Toyota
Question:
1. In what ways is Toyota‘s new-product development system designed to serve customers?
2. In what ways is Toyota‘s manufacturing system designed to serve customers?
3. How does Toyota personalize its cars and trucks to meet individual consumer needs?
CASE: II Exposure, Attention, and Comprehension on the Internet
Questions:
1. Consider the e-mail campaigns discussed in the case. Why do you think these campaigns were
successful? Discuss the attention processes that were at work. Do you see any potential drawbacks to
this type of marketing?
2. During the 2000 Super Bowl, ABC invited viewers to visit its Enhanced TV website. Fans could play
trivia, see replays, participate in polls and chat rooms, and view player statistics. The site received an
estimated 1 million hits. Why? Frame your answer in terms of exposure, attention, and comprehension.
3. Think about your own Web surfing patterns. Write down the reasons you visit sites. Which of the
marketing strategies discussed in the case do you find most (and least) influential?
CASE: III Peapod Online Grocery—2003
Question:
1. What behaviors are involved in online grocery shopping? How does online shopping compare with
traditional shopping in terms of behavioral effort?
2. What types of consumers are likely to value online grocery shopping from Peapod?
3. Overall, what do you think about the idea of online grocery shopping? How does it compare with simply
eating in restaurants and avoiding grocery shopping and cooking altogether?
CASE: IV Sony.
Question:
1. Identify and discuss some of the cultural meanings for Sony possessed by consumers in your country.
Discuss how these cultural meaning were developed and how they influence consumers‘ behaviors (and
affect and cognition). What is the role of marketing strategies in creating and maintaining (or modifying)
these cultural meanings?
2. It is often stated that the world is becoming smaller because today people communicate relatively easily
across time and distance. Discuss whether that has been beneficial for Sony. What are some marketing
challenges it presents?
3. What do you think about Sony‘s tradition of region-specific or nation-specific marketing? Would Sony
be better served by working to create a more uniform global image?
CASE: V Pleasant Company
Question:
1. Why do consumers pay $84 for a Pleasant Company doll when they can buy other dolls much more
cheaply at retail stores?
2. Considering money, time, cognitive activity, and behavioral effort costs, are Pleasant Company dolls
more or less costly than dolls that can be purchased at retail stores?
3. What recommendations do you have for Pleasant Company to increase sales and profits?
Effective HR Training & Development
CASE – 1 Toyota Motor Company‘s Toyota Technical Training Institute in India
Questions:
1. Describe the probable reasons for the setting up of the TTTI in India. Describe the direct and indirect
benefits accruing to TKM by running the TTTI. What, according to you, are the short-term and longterm
benefits to the company?
2. The TTTI trainees were not under any compulsion to join the company (TKM) once they had completed
the training program. What are the possible advantage(s) and disadvantage(s) of such a policy?
3. In your opinion, will similar training initiative be successful in the service sector? Explain in the context
of a few service industries that you are familiar with.
CASE – 2 Dealer Training Programs – A New Trend
Questions
1. Indian companies, which used to focus mainly on sales training programs for their own sales force, are
now extending these initiatives to their business partners. What are the major reasons behind the
increasing prominence of such initiatives among Indian companies? Also throw light on the advantages
and disadvantages of outsourcing the training activities to third parties.
2. Behind every successful dealer is a smiling and efficient dealer salesperson. Explain the relative
importance of dealers in the consumer durables industry over and above those in the FMCG industry.
How have consumer durable players improved the performance of their dealers through training?
CASE – 3 Enhancing the Credibility of the Training Function: Involving Line Managers in Sales
Training
Questions
1. Discuss the importance of line managers in reinforcing initial classroom training. What are the issues
and challenges faced by training managers in partnering with the line managers? How can these be
overcome? In your opinion, how did Sharma succeed in forging a partnership with the line managers?
2. Training is viewed as a cost. Although experts opine that training is needed the most when a company is
going through tough times, it is in such situations that training budgets are most likely to be slashed.
What are the problems in ascertaining the ROI of training? How can training link training to bottom-line
results?
SECTION II: Solve any 4 questions.
1. If you were going to use online technology to identify training needs for customer service
representatives for a web-based clothing company, what steps would you take to ensure that the
technology was not threatening to employees?
2. What could be done to increase the likelihood of transfer of training if the work environment conditions
are unfavorable and cannot be changed?
3. Why would a company use a combination of face-to-face instruction and Web-based training?
4. What does ―managing diversity‖ mean to you? Assume you are in charge of developing a diversity
training program. Who would be involved? What would you include as the content of the program?
5. Why should companies be interested in helping employees plan their careers? What benefits can
companies gain? What are the risks?
6. Discuss how new technologies are likely to impact training in the future
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Energy Management
1. Explain in detail Energy Conservation Schemes?
2. What is energy management? Is energy conservation the same as energy efficiency in an effective
energy management program?
3. Comment on ―Alternate sources of power‖
4. Explain in detail Methods of investment appraisal?
5. Explain in detail ―Sources of Waste Heat and its potential applications‖
6. Write short note on:
i. Heat Transfer Coefficient
ii. Solar Radiation
iii. Rate of heat transfer
iv. Regenerators
7. Explain in brief Hydraulic power systems
8. Explain in your words the points you must consider for efficient use of energy?
9. Comment on ―Cost of Electrical Energy‖
10. Differentiate between Hot water systems and Cooling water systems?
Entrepreneurship Management
Case I
PROVIDE ADVICE TO AN ENTREPRENEUR ABOUT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
Questions:
1. In running this new venture, I need to invest al available resources in producing the products and attracting
customers. How important is it for me to divert money from those efforts to protect my intellectual property?
2. I have sufficient resources to obtain intellectual property protection, but how effective is that protection
without a large stock of resources to invest in going after those that infringe on my rights? If I do not have
the resources to defend a patent, is it worth obtaining one in the first place?
3. Are there circumstances when it is better for me not to be an innovator but rather produce ―knock-offs‖ of
other innovations?
Case II
Provide advice to an entrepreneur about firing employees
1. Gee, these managers discussed in the article are a bit rough. Even if one particular person is not producing as
expected, doesn‘t this person still deserve to be treated with respect?
2. It appears that the automatic assumption is that the employee is at fault for not performing and therefore
should be fired. But shouldn‘t the responsibility fall on me as the manager and the system that I have
introduced? Maybe the person is performing as well as the situation allows?
3. How am I to build team spirit within my small company when I single out one person for lack of production
and fire him or her?
Case III
Provide advice to an entrepreneur about small business investment companies
1. What are the advantages of going to an SBIC over and above a business angle or venture capitalist?
2. What are the disadvantages and how can they be minimized?
Case IV
Provide advice to an entrepreneur about being more innovative
1. This whole idea of experimentation seems to make sense, but all those little failures can add up, and if there
enough of them, then this could lead to one big failure-the business going down the drain. How can I best get
the advantages of experimentation in terms of innovation while also reduction the costs so that I don‘t run the
risk of losing my business?
2. My employees, buyers, and suppliers like working for my company because we have a lot of wins. I am not
sure how they will take it when our company begins to have a lot more failures (even if those failures are
small)- it is a psychological thing. How can I handle this trade-off?
3. Even if everyone else accepts it, I am not sure how I will cope. When projects fail it hits me pretty hard
emotionally. Is it just that I am not cut out for this type of approach?
Case V
PROVIDE ADVICE TO AN ENTREPRENEUR ABOUT NONTRADITIONAL FINANCING
1. I want to find a little pot of gold like Lissa D‘Aquanni. Where should I look?
2. I like the gift certificate idea to raise money and build my business. What other types of products do you think
that approach will work for?
3. Over the years I have paid a lot of taxes. Should I feel guilty for accessing government – subsidized monies to
build my business, or should I feel justified?
EVENT MANAGEMENT
1. Study a mega Event that you have enjoyed and chart out the pre, during and post-event activities. Also
study in detail the Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Leading and Controlling functions involved in the
effort.
2. Select a Family event and study the costing aspects involved in organizing it. Break up the costs into
relevant categories, analyze the cash flow, note down in detail the negotiations with suppliers and finally
carry out a variance analysis of the actual cost vis-Ã -vis the budget.
3. Redesign the above event into a commercial idea and look at it from an event organiser‘s perspective.
Carry out the pricing based on the clientele that you intend to attract, the target audience and how you
intend to attract them, whether the event would be a fully ticketed or invited show, what would the
audience size be, and finally, how much margin would you like to retain.
4. Look up today‘s newspaper and identify any five events that interest you. Carry out a research for
finding out the following information:
a) Who are the event organizers?
b) For whom are the events being organized i.e. who are the event organizer’s clients?
c) Who are the target audience for each event?
d) What is the event infrastructure involved?
e) Where are the events being held i.e. identify the venues. Also analyse why these specific venues were
chosen?
f) What is the networking mix on the media front?
g) Analyze and list down as many reasons that you can identify as to why the clients are using events?
5. A tyre manufacturer approaches an event management company as a client and is looking to sponsor a
sports event with the objective of market development with a positive brand identity and association
with popular sportsmen and women so as to project a youthful image among both male and female
target audience. Create a Popularity Share Matrix for the different types of sports such as Soccer,
Cricket, Basketball, Table Tennis etc. that might interest the client and recommend
a) A particular sport that the client should consider sponsoring.
b) A particular event in the chosen sport.
c) The risk level appropriate for the clients.
d) Chart out the event‘s objectives and strategies.
6. Identify a favourite event that you have attended or know about, break it down into 5 C‘s of events.
Identify 5 major clients you would like to resell the above event to and then redesign this event tailored
to the needs of these prospective clients.
7. Select an event, taking into consideration the Frito-Lay Test Marketing Example and establish the key
elements of such an event, both at micro level and at the integrated level.
8. Identify an event that you like, that is being broadcast live on TV while being performed in front of a
live audience. Identify the sponsors and do some research on them to find out about their products or
services, financial health, life cycle stage etc. Follow the event carefully for pre and post event
promotion activity. Attend the event and observe the positioning of the sponsors boards. Interact with
the event managers to find out the cost of advertising during the event and what other costs that the
sponsors have borne to make a success of their association.
9. Select an event organizer and carry out the entire analysis for that company in the form of a case study.
Chart out the various matrices given above and recommend steps that would help the company under
observation to grow exponentially.
10. Select any local event that is yet to happen. Try to understand the clientele that might be attracted to
sponsor such an event. Understand the networking elements and finally, call or visit any one of the
sponsors to find out exactly what was expected out of the event and what defined a successful event for
the sponsor, how was the evaluation carried out and what was the result?
Finance Management
NO. 1
COOKING LPG LTD
DETERMINATION OF WORKING CAPTIAL
Suppose you are Mr.Keen Kumar, the new manager. What steps will you take for the growth of Cooking LPG Ltd.?
NO. 2
M/S HI-TECH ELECTRONICS
(a) As a financial consultant, advise the proprietor whether he should go for the extension of credit facilities.
(b) Also prepare cash budget for one year of operation of the firm, ignoring interest. The minimum desired cash balance & Rs.
30,000, which is also the amount the firm has on January 1. Borrowings are possible which are made at the beginning of a
month and repaid at the end when cash is available
NO.3
SMOOTHDRIVE TYRE LTD
As a finance analyst, prepare a report for submission to the CFO and the Board of Directors, explaining to them the
feasibility of the new investment.
No. 4
COMPUTATION OF COST OF CAPITAL OF PALCO LTD
From the facts outlined above, what report would Neha submit to the Board of Directors of palco Ltd ?
NO. 5
ARQ LTD
Analyse the financial viability of the two options. Which option would you recommend ? Why ?
Financial Management
Case 1: Zip Zap Zoom Car Company
Question:
Analyse the debt capacity of the company.
CASE – 2 GREAVES LIMITED
Questions
1. How profitable are its operations? What are the trends in it? How has growth affected the profitability of
the company?
2. What factors have contributed to the operating performance of Greaves Limited? What is the role of
profitability margin, asset utilisation, and non-operating income?
3. How has Greaves performed in terms of return on equity? What is the contribution of return on
investment, the way of the business has been financed over the period?
CASE – 3 CHOOSING BETWEEN PROJECTS IN ABC COMPANY
Question:
If the cost of capital is 8%, which of the 3 projects should the ABC Company accept?
CASE – 4 STAR ENGINEERING COMPANY
Case 5: EASTERN MACHINES COMPANY
As a Statistician, advice what kind of Sampling schemes can we consider, and what factors will influence
choice of scheme. What are the questions we should ask Mr. Namdeo, who works in the assembly line?
General Management
CASE – 1 Your Job and Your Passion—You Can Pursue Both!
Questions
1. Create a three-column chart in which the first column lists nonmanagement skills you have. Are you
good at travel? Do you know how to build furniture? Are you a whiz at sports statistics? Are you an
innovative cook? Do you play video games for hours? In the second column, list the causes or activities
about which you are passionate. These may dovetail with the first list, but they might not.
2. Once you have you two columns complete, draw lines between entries that seem compatible. If you are
good at building furniture, you might have also listed a concern about families who are homeless.
Remember that not all entries will find a match—the idea is to begin finding some connections.
3. In the third column, generate a list of firms or organizations you know about that reflect your interests. If
you are good at building furniture, you might be interested working for the Habitat for Humanity
organization, or you might find yourself gravitating towards a furniture retailer like Ikea or Ethan Allen.
You can do further research on organizations via Internet or business publications.
4.
CASE – 2 Biyani – Pioneering a Retailing Revolution in India
Questions
1. The tremendous success of the ‗Pantaloons‘, ‗Big Bazaar‘ and ‗Food Bazaar‘ retailing formats, easily
made PRIL the number one retailer in India by early 2004, in terms of turnover and retail area occupied
by its outlets. Explain how Biyani is further planning to consolidate his businesses.
2. ―Our striving toward looking at the Indian market differently and strategizing with the evolving
customer helped us perform better.‖ What other qualities of Kishore Biyani do you think were
instrumental in making him top retailer of India
3.
CASE – 3 The New Frontier for Fresh Foods Supermarkets
Questions
1. What steps can Vivian Noble take to recruit and develop her new workforce?
2. What other ways can Noble help her company reach out to the community?
3. How will Fresh Foods Supermarkets as whole benefit from successfully moving into this new region of
the country?
CASE – 4 The Law Offices of Jeter, Jackson, Guidry, and Boyer
Questions
1. Do you agree with Howser‘s suggestion to ―sit tight and ride out the storm,‖ or should the partners take
some action immediately? If so, what actions specifically?
2. Assume that the creation of the GM—Operation position was a good decision. What leadership style and
type of individual would you try to place in this position?
3. Consider your own leadership style. What types of positions and situations should you seek? What types
of positions and situation should you seek to avoid? Why?
CASE – 5 The Grizzly Bear Lodge
Questions
1. Discuss how Rudy and Diane can use feedforward, concurrent, and feedback controls both now and in
future at the Grizzly Bear Lodge to ensure their guests‘ satisfaction.
2. What might be some of the fundamental budgetary considerations the Conrads would have as they plan
the expansion of their logic?
3. Describe how the Conrads could use market controls plans and implement their expansion.
General Management
CASE: 1 GEORGE DAVID
Questions
1. What makes George David such a highly regarded manager?
2. How does David get things done through people?
3. What evidence can you see of David‘s planning and strategizing, organizing, controlling, leading, and
developing?
4. Which managerial competencies does David seem to posses? Does he seem to lack any?
CASE: 2 BOOM AND BUST IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Questions
1. Why did the strategic plans adopted by companies like Level 3, Global Crossing, and 360 Networks
fail?
2. The managers who ran these companies were smart, successful individuals, as were many of the
investors who put money into these businesses. How could so many smart people have been so wrong?
3. What specific decision-making biases do you think were at work in this industry during the late 1990s
and early 2000s?
4. What could the managers running these companies done differently that might have led to a different
outcome?
CASE: 3 DOW CHEMICAL
Questions
1. Why did Dow Chemical first adopt a matrix structure? What benefits did it hope to derive from this
structure?
2. What problems emerged with this structure? How did Dow try to deal with them? In retrospect, do you
think those solutions were effective?
3. Why did Dow change its structure again in the mid-1990s? What was Dow trying to achieve this time?
Do you think the current structure makes sense given the industry in which Dow operates and the
strategy of the firm? Why?
CASE: 4 REBRANDING MCJOBS
Questions
1. Discuss McDonald's current situation from a human resource planning perspective.
2. Is McDonald's taking the best approach to improving its employer brand? Why or why not? If you were
in charge of developing the McDonald's employer brand, what would you do differently?
3. Would ―guerrilla‖ recruiting tactics help McDonald's attract more applicants? Why or why not? If so,
what tactics might be effective?
CASE: 5 TRANSFORMING REUTERS
Questions
1. What technological paradigm shift did Reuters face in the 1990s? How did that paradigm shift change
the competitive playing field?
2. Why was Reuters slow to adopt Internet-based technology?
3. Why do you think Tom Glocer was picked as CEO? What assets did he bring to the leadership job?
4. What do you think of Glocer‘s attempts to change the strategy and organizational culture at Reuters?
Was he on the right track? Would you do things differently?
General Management
CASE 1: Spirituality in the workplace
Question:
1. What is spirituality?
2. Is this topic appropriate for businesses?
3. What are the arguments for and against its inclusion in business?
CASE 2: Coke‘s European Scare
Question:
1. What are the management issues in this case?
2. What did Coke do and what could have been done differently?
What are the key factors that were or should have been considered by management?
CASE 3 Trials and Challenges For Barrett at Intel
Question:
1. What is your assessment of Barrett‘s performance and his vision for Intel? Is he the right person for the
job at Intel?
2. What are some problems associated with frequent reorganization?
3. What are the pros and cons for focusing on the distant futures and the heavy investments in new
technologies?
CASE: 4 Profiles of Two Visionaries—Bill Gates & Steve Jobs
Question:
1. Compare and contrast the careers of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
2. Compare and contrast the leadership styles and managerial practices of Gates and Jobs.
3. What do you think about the future of Microsoft and Apple Computers?
What is the outlook on life of the two computer nerds?
CASE 5: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AT AMERICAN AIRLINES
Questions:
1. Discuss the evolving use of information technology at American Airlines?
2. Should American Airlines expand its position in Europe? What are the arguments for and against this
expansion?
Human Resource Management
Case 1:
PROMOTING THE PROTÉGÉ
Question:
1. What should Divan do?
Case 2:
PREJUDICES IN WORKPLACES : REAL OR PERCEIVED ?
What should she do?
Case 3:
MECHANIST‘S INDISCIPLINED BEHAVIOUR
Questions:
1. How would you rate Dinesh‘s behaviour? What method of appraisal would you use?
2. Do you assess any training needs of employees? If yes, what inputs should be embodied in the
training programme?
Case 4:
RISE AND FALL
Questions:
1. Bring out the principles of promotion that were employed in promoting Jaggu.
2. What would you do if you were (i) Suresh, (ii) Prahalad or (iii) Ravi?
3. Bring out the ethical issues involved in Jaggu‘s behaviour.
Human Resource Management
CASE I
EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION IN A GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION"
QUESTIONS
1. Discuss the long-term relevance of motivational techniques used by Baheti in the light of prevailing
environment in the organization.
2. Had you been Baheti, what other techniques you would have used to improve the special services
provided by the organization?
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CASE II
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AUDIT
QUESTIONS:
1. Had you been in place of Alok Trivedi, what additional measures would you have taken?
2. Critically analyze the Employee Relations Audit in the light of its contribution to self motivation of
employees.
CA S E III
EMPLOYEE TURNOVER AT XYZ MOON LIFE INSURANCE
QUESTIONS:
1. If you were Malik, what strategies would you adopt to solve the problem?
2. With high employee turnover in insurance industry, how can the company retain a person like Malik?
CASE IV
FRAGRANCE COMPANY LIMITED
QUESTIONS:
1. What role do the non-financial incentives play in motivating the workers and minimizing the rate of
absenteeism?
2. What innovative solutions would you suggest to minimize the rate of absenteeism?
C A S E V
HE WHO RIDES A TIGER
QUESTIONS:
1. Discuss merits/demerits of the role of strike, agitation and legal approach in unionmanagement
relations.
2. What role does mutual trust play in building union-management relations?
Human Resource Management
Note: Solve any 4 Cases Study‘s
CASE: I Enterprise Builds On People
Question:
1. Would Enterprise‘s approach human resource management work in other industries?
2. Does Enterprise face any risks from its human resource strategy?
3. Would you want to work for Enterprise? Why or why not?
CASE: II Doing The Dirty Work
Question:
1. How relevant are the concepts of competencies to the jobs in a chicken-processing plant?
2. How might you try to improve the jobs in a chicken-processing plant?
3. Are dirty, dangerous, and unpleasant jobs an inevitable part of any economy?
CASE: III On Pegging Pay to Performance
Question:
But how should he see it through?
CASE: IV Crisis Blown Over
Question:
1. Do you think that the Bangalore-based company had practised participative management?
2. If your answer is yes, with what method of participation (you have read in this chapter) do you relate the
above case?
3. If you were the union leader, would your behaviour have been different? If yes, what would it be?
CASE: V A Case of Burnout
Question:
1. If the news is broken to Mahesh, how would he react?
2. If you were giving advice to the Chairman on this matter, what would you recommend?
CASE: VI ―Whose Side are you on, Anyway?‖
Question:
1. What should he do?
Industrial Relations & Labor Law
1. Define Industrial Relations? Explain in your words the dominant aspects of Industrial Relations?
2. Explain in your words the cause of strikes and effects of strike on the society as whole?
3. Explain in detail ―Methods of settling Industrial Disputes?‖
4. Write comment on ―Factors influencing bargaining units and levels‖
5. Explain principles of Modern Labour Legislation?
6. Differentiate between ―Payment of Wages Legislation‖ and ―Minimum Wage Legislation‖
7. Comment on Employment of Children in India
8. Explain in brief ―Importance Of Labour Administration‖
9. Give advantages and disadvantages of the Domination?
10. Comment on ―Social Security‖
Information Technology Management
CASE – 1 Dartmouth College Goes Wireless
Questions
1. In what ways is the Wi-Fi technology changing the life of Dartmouth students? Relate your answer to
the concept of the digital society.
2. Some say that the wireless system will become part of the background of everybody‘s life—that the
mobile devices are just an afterthought. Explain.
3. Is the system contributing to improved learning, or just adding entertainment that may reduce the time
available for studying? Debate your point of view with students who hold a different opinion.
4. What are the major benefits of the wireless system over the previous wireline one? Do you think
wireline systems will disappear from campuses one day? (Do some research on the topic.)
CASE – 2 E-Commerce Supports Field Employees at
Maybelline
Questions
1. IVR systems are still popular. What advantages do they have over even older systems in which the
reps mailed or faxed reports?
2. Summarize the advantages of the new system over the IVR one.
3. Draw the flow of information in the system.
4. The existing technology enables transmission of data any time an employee can access the Internet
with a wireline. Technically, the system can be enhanced so that the data can be sent wirelessly from
any location as soon as they are entered. Would you recommend a wireless system to Maybelline?
Why or why not?
CASE – 3 Precision Buying, Merchandising, and Marketing
At Sears
Questions
1. What were the drivers of SPRS?
2. How did the data warehouse solve Sears‘s problems?
3. Why was it beneficial to integrate the customers‘ data-base with SPRS?
4. How could RFID change Sears‘s operations?
CASE – 4 Dollar General Uses Integrated Software
Questions
1. Explain why the old, nonintegrated functional system created problems for the company. Be specific.
2. The new system cost several millions dollars. Why, in your opinion, was it necessary to install it?
3. Lawson Software Smart Notification Software (lawson.com) is being considered by Dollar General.
Find information about the software and write an opinion for adopting or rejection.
4. Another new product of Lawson is Service Automation. Would you recommend it to Dollar General?
Why or why not?
CASE – 5 Singapore and Malaysia Airlines Intelligent System
Questions
1. Why do airlines need optimization systems for crew scheduling?
2. What role can experts‘ knowledge play in this case?
3. What are the similarities between the systems in Singapore and Malaysia?
4. The airlines use ADSs for their pricing strategy (pricing and yield optimization). Can they use an ADS
for crew management? Why or why not?
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
CASE: I ARROW AND THE APPAREL INDUSTRY
Questions
1. Why did Arvind Mills choose globalization as the major route to achieve growth when the domestic
market was huge?
2. How does lifting of ‗Country-wise quota regime‘ help Arvind Mills?
3. What lessons can other Indian businesses learn form the experience of Arvind Mills?
CASE: II THE ECONOMY OF KENYA
Questions
1. Is the economic environment of Kenya favourable to international business? Yes or no—substantiate.
2. In the continuum of economic systems (see Fig 1), where do you place Kenya and why
Case III: LATE MOVER ADVANTAGE?
Questions
1. Why has the ‗late corner‘s strategy‘ of Toyota failed in China, though it succeeded in India?
2. Why has Toyota failed to capture the Chinese market? Why is it trailing behind its rivals?
CASE: IV DELVING DEEP INTO USER‘S MIND
Questions
1. What product strategy did WOI adopt? And why? Global standardisation? Local customisaton?
2. What pricing strategy did WOI follow? What, according to you, could have been the appropriate
strategy?
3. What lessons can other white goods manufacturers learn from WOI?
CASE V: CONSCIENCE OR COMPETITIVE EDGE
Can an ambitious employee afford to exercise a social conscience in his or her career? And can careerminded
individuals truly make a difference without jeopardising their future? Answer her.
International Business
CASE I: BPO-BANE OR BOON ?
Questions:
1. Which of the theories of International trade can help Indian services providers gain competitive edge
over their competitors?
2. Pick up some Indian services providers. With the help of Michael Porter‘s diamond, analyze their
strengths and weaknesses as active players in BPO.
3. Compare this case with the case given at the beginning of this chapter. What similarities and
dissimilarities do you notice? Your analysis should be based on the theories explained in this
chapter.
CASE II: PERU
Questions:
1. What are some current issues facing Peru? What is the climate for doing business in Peru today?
2. What type of political risks does this fishing company need to evaluate? Identify and describe them.
3. What types of integrative and protective and defensive techniques can the bank use?
4. Would the bank be better off negotiating the loan in New York or in Lima? Why?
CASE 3: LATE MOVER ADVANTAGE?
Questions:
1. Why has the ‗late corner‘s strategy‘ of Toyota failed in China, though it succeeded in India?
2. Why has Toyota failed to capture the Chinese market? Why is it trailing behind its rivals?
Case 4: McDonald's Global HR
Questions:
Identify cultural factors that might be important in a training programme for food handlers at McDonald's in
Saudi Arabia.
Rather than focusing on the differences, what similarities do you expect exist among McDonald's customers and
employees in both the United States and abroad?
CASE 5: GATT‘s LEGACIES
Question:
1. Do you think that the ghost of GATT is still haunting WTO? If years, how? If no, prove.
Inventory Management
1. Discuss a few steps that can be adopted to control WIP.
2. What is recycling? What benefits will it give to an organization?
3. MRP just prepares the shopping lists. It does not do the shopping or cook the dinner’.
Comment.
4. What is JIT? How does it eliminate inventory? What are the advantages of implementing JIT?
5. What is forecasting? Why is it done and what are its uses? List some considerations that
should be taken into account while forecasting.
6. What is the purpose of safety stock? How will the use of safety stock affect the EOQ? How will
the safety stock affect the total annual carrying cost of the material?
7. Comptek computers wants to reduce a large stock of PCs it is discontinuing. It has offered a
university book store a quantity discount pricing schedule as follows:
Quantity Price (Rs.)
1-49 14,000
50-89 11,000
>90 9000
The annual carrying cost for the bookstore for a PC is Rs. 190, the ordering cost is Rs. 2,500
and annual demand for this particular model is estimated to be 200 units. The bookstore wants
to determine if it should take advantage of this discount or order the basic EOQ size.
8. What is Safety Stock? List out the various factors influencing the safety stock.
9. Define Service Level? How does it help in determining the Safety Stock? Explain with
example.
10. Write Short notes of the followings: -
A) Inventory with Supplier
B) Inventory carrying cost.
Information Technology Management
Case 1
HOW GENERAL MOTORS IS COLLABORATING ONLINE
Questions:
1. Why did it take GM over four years to design a new car?
2. Who collaborated with whom to reduce the time-to-market?
3. How has IT helped to cut the time-to-market?
Case 2
Intranets: Invest First, Analyze Later?
Questions:
1. Where and under what circumstances is the ―invest first, analyze later‖ approach appropriate? where
and when is it inappropriate? Give specific examples of technologies and other circumstances.
2. How long do you think the ―invest first , analyze later‖ approach will be appropriate for intranet
projects? When (and why) will the emphasis shift to traditional project justification approaches? (Or has
the shift already occurred?)
3. What are the risks of going into projects that have not received a through financial analysis? How can
organization reduce these risks?
4. Based on the numbers provided for Cadence Design System‘s intranet project, use a spread sheet to
calculate the net present value of the project. Assume a 5-year life for the system.
Case 3
Putting IT to Work at Home Depot
Questions:
1. Explain why the team based structure at Home Depot is so successful.
2. The structure means that the SPST reports to both marketing and technology. This is known as a
matrix structure. What are the potential advantages and problems?
3. How is collaboration facilitated by IT in this case?
4. Why is the process flow important in this case?
Case 4
Dartmouth College Goes Wireless
Questions:
1. In what ways is the Wi-Fi technology changing the Dartmouth students?
2. Some says that the wireless system will become part of the background of everybody‘s life – that
the mobile devices are just an afterthought. Explain.
3. Is the system contributing to improved learning, or just adding entertainment that may reduce
the time available for studying? Debate your point of view with students who hold a different
opinion.
4. What are the major benefits of the wireless system over the previous wire line one? Do you think
wire line systems will disappear from campus one day? (Do some research on the topic.)
IT For Management
CASE – 1 E-Commerce Supports Field Employees at Maybelline.
Questions
5. IVR systems are still popular. What advantages do they have over even older systems in which the
reps mailed or faxed reports?
6. Summarize the advantages of the new system over the IVR one.
7. Draw the flow of information in the system.
8. The existing technology enables transmission of data any time an employee can access the Internet
with a wireline. Technically, the system can be enhanced so that the data can be sent wirelessly from
any location as soon as they are entered. Would you recommend a wireless system to Maybelline?
Why or why not?
CASE – 2 Precision Buying, Merchandising, and Marketing At Sears
Questions
5. What were the drivers of SPRS?
6. How did the data warehouse solve Sears‘s problems?
7. Why was it beneficial to integrate the customers‘ data-base with SPRS?
8. How could RFID change Sears‘s operations?
CASE – 3 Dollar General Uses Integrated Software
Questions
5. Explain why the old, nonintegrated functional system created problems for the company. Be specific.
6. The new system cost several millions dollars. Why, in your opinion, was it necessary to install it?
7. Lawson Software Smart Notification Software (lawson.com) is being considered by Dollar General.
Find information about the software and write an opinion for adopting or rejection.
8. Another new product of Lawson is Service Automation. Would you recommend it to Dollar General?
Why or why not?
CASE – 4 Singapore and Malaysia Airlines Intelligent System
Questions
5. Why do airlines need optimization systems for crew scheduling?
6. What role can experts‘ knowledge play in this case?
7. What are the similarities between the systems in Singapore and Malaysia?
8. The airlines use ADSs for their pricing strategy (pricing and yield optimization). Can they use an ADS
for crew management? Why or why not?
Logistics Management
Questions :
(a) Are the problems of moving people significantly different from the problems of moving goods or
Services?
(b) What are the benefits of public transport over private transport ? Should public transport be
encouraged and, if so, how ?
(c) What are the benefits of iniegrated public transport systems ?
(a) What, in your opinion, is the major reason for the failure of Kozmo?
(b) Do you think that Kozmo promised what its supply chain could not bear? What could have prevented
its shut-down?
a) What is ABL‘s strategy for good supply chain Management?
b) Give any two goals set up by ABL and list their implications on ABL.
c) What is the software being use at ABL? Apply that software to theoretical used and explain.
d) What is perfect order in this case?
e) What should be the basis for sharing benefits between FEML and its suppliers?
f) ―Managing lead time is more important than reducing the inventory in a supply Chain‖. Defend the
statement in the context of FEML.
g) Explain the brief performance indicators at FEML and its suppliers end.
h) List at least four factors on which suppliers of FEML needs to be evaluated.
Q 5. "There are many possible structures for supply chain, but the simplest view has materials
converging on an organisation through tiers of supplers and products diverging through tiers of
customers." Elaborate.
Q 6. Elobrate clearly the meaning of "World-Class" in World-Class Supply Chain
Management (WCSCM). What are the features of World-Class Companies ? Give your
answer highlighting different characterisrtics pertaining to management level, quality
control, operations/production and technological advances.
Q 7. What are the essential dlfferences in the Supply Chain Management of Products vs.
Services? Discuss the application of Supply Chain Managernent principles in Financial Services.
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Management Information Systems
CASE – 1 The 2004 Athens Olympics Network: Faster, Stronger—and Redundant
Questions
1. Could the 2004 Athens Olympics have been a success without all of the networks and backup
technologies?
2. The 2004 Olympics is a global business. Can a business today succeed without information technology?
Why or why not?
3. Claude Philipps said dealing with ―crazy scenarios of what might happen in every area: a network
problem, staff stopped in traffic jam, security attack…everything that might happen,‖ was the reason for
so much testing. Can you think of other business that would require ―crazy scenario‖ testing? Explain.
CASE – 2 Argosy Gaming Co.: Challenges in Building a Data Warehouse
Questions
1. What is the business value of data warehouse? Use Argosy Gaming as an example.
2. Why did Argosy use a ETL software tool? What benefits and problems arose? How were they solved?
3. What are some of the major responsibilities that business professionals and managers have in data
warehouse development? Use Argosy Gaming as an example.
CASE – 3 Allstate Insurance, Aviva Canada, and Others: Centralized Business Intelligence at Work
Questions
1. What is business intelligence? Why are business-intelligence systems such a popular business
application of IT?
2. What is the business value of the various BI applications discussed in the case?
3. Is a business-intelligence system an MIS or a DSS?
CASE – 4 Blue Cross, AT & T Wireless, and CitiStreet: Development Challenges of Self-Service Web
Systems
Questions
1. Why do more than a third of all Web self-service customers get frustrated and end up calling a help
center? Use the experiences of Blue Cross-Blue Shield and AT & T Wireless to help you answer.
2. What are some solutions to the problems users may have with Web self-service? Use the experiences of
the companies in this case to propose several solutions.
3. Visit the websites of Blue Cross-Blue Shield and AT & T Wireless. Investigate the details of obtaining
and individual health plan or a new cell phone plan. What is your appraisal of the self-service features of
these websites? Explain your evaluations.
CASE – 5 Avon Product and Guardian Life Insurance: Successful Management of IT Project
Questions
1. What are several possible solutions to the failures in IT project management at many companies
described at the start of this case? Defend your proposals.
2. What are several key ways that Avon and Guardian assure that their IT projects are completed
successfully and support the goals of the business?
3. If you were the manager of a business unit at Avon or Guardian, what are several other things you would
like to see their IT groups do to assure the success of an IT project for your business unit? Defend your
suggestions.
Managerial Economics
CASE – 1 Dabur India Limited: Growing Big and Global
Questions
1. What is the objective of Dabur? Is it profit maximisation or growth maximisation? Discuss.
2. Do you think the growth of Dabur from a small pharmacy to a large multinational company is an
indicator of the advantages of joint stock company against proprietorship form? Elaborate.
CASE – 2 IT Industry: Checkered Growth
Questions
1. Try to identify various stages of growth of IT industry on basis of information given in
the case and present a scenario for the future.
2. Study the table given. Apply trend projection method on the figures and comment on
the trend.
3. Compute a 3 year moving average forecast for the years 1997-98 through 2003-04.
CASE – 3 Outsourcing to India: Way to Fast Track
Questions
1. As money costs will decrease due to decision to outsource human resource, some real
costs and opportunity costs may surface. What could these be?
2. Elaborate the external and internal economies of scale as occurring to Contract
Counsel.
3. Can you see some possibility of economies of scope from the information given in the
case? Discuss.
CASE – 4 Indian Stock Market: Does it Explain Perfect Competition?
Questions
1. Is stock market a good example of perfect competition? Discuss.
2. Identify the characteristics of perfect competition in the stock market setting.
3. Can you find some basic aspect of perfect competition which is essentially absent in stock market?
CASE – 5 The Indian Audio Market
Questions
1. What major pricing strategies have been discussed in the case? How effective these strategies have been
in ensuring success of the company?
2. Is perceived value pricing the dominant strategy of major players?
3. Which products have reached maturity stage in audio industry? Do you think that product bundling can
be effectively used for promoting sale of these products?
Managerial Economics
CASE – 1 Indian Stock Market: Does it Explain Perfect Competition?
Questions
4. Is stock market a good example of perfect competition? Discuss.
5. Identify the characteristics of perfect competition in the stock market setting.
6. Can you find some basic aspect of perfect competition which is essentially absent in stock market?
CASE – 2 The Indian Audio Market
Questions
4. What major pricing strategies have been discussed in the case? How effective these strategies have been
in ensuring success of the company?
5. Is perceived value pricing the dominant strategy of major players?
6. Which products have reached maturity stage in audio industry? Do you think that product bundling can
be effectively used for promoting sale of these products?
CASE – 3 Automobile Industry in India: New Production Paradigm
Questions
1. Identify the most important factors of production in case of automobile industry. Also attempt to explain
the relative significance of each of these factors.
2. What more information would you like to obtain in order to draw a production function for Maruti
Udyog? Explain with logic.
3. Automobile industry is a good example of capital augmenting technical progress. Discuss
CASE – 4 From Wages to Packages: the Journey of Software
Questions
1. Which factors, according to you, are prompting organizations to adopt a package instead of traditional
salary?
2. Do you think package compensation is more suitable in modern globalised business? Can you draw
some lessons from marginal productivity theory?
3. Do you think that the case supports the efficiency wage theory or bargaining theory? Give arguments in
support of your logic.
Marketing Management
CASE: I Managing the Guinness brand in the face of consumers‘ changing tastes
Question:
1. From a marketing perspective, what has Guinness done to ensure its longevity?
2. How would you characterize the Guinness brand?
3. What could Guinness do to attract younger drinkers? And to retain its older loyal customer base? Can
both be done at the same time?
CASE: II The grey market
Questions:
1. Why is the grey market so attractive to business?
2. Identify the influences on the purchasing behaviour of the over-50s consumer.
3. Discuss the challenges involved in targeting the grey market.
CASE: III Nivea: managing an umbrella brand
Questions
1. Discuss the reasons for the success of the Nivea range of products across the world. Why did Beiersdoft
decide to extend the brand to different product categories? In the light of Beiersdoft‘s brand extension of
Nivea, critically comment on the pros and cons of adopting an umbrella branding strategy. Compare the
use of such a strategy with the use of an independent branding strategy.
2. According to you, what are the core values of the Nivea brand? What type of brand extension
framework did Beiersdoft develop to ensure that these core values id not get diluted? Do you think the
company was able to protect these core values? Why/why not?
3. What were the essential components of Beiersdoft‘s global expansion strategy for Nivea? Under what
circumstances would a ‗global-strategy-local execution‘ approach be beneficial for a company? When
and why should this approach be avoided?
CASE: IV Pret a Manger: passionate about food
Questions
1. How has Pret a Manger positioned its brand?
2. Explain how the different elements of the services marketing mix support and contribute to the
positioning of Pret a Manger.
Case V ‗Fast Fashion‘: exploring how retailers get affordable fashion on to the high street
Questions
1. Discuss how supply chain management can contribute to the marketing success of these retailers.
2. Discuss the central components necessary for the fast fashion concept to work effectively.
3. Critically evaluate the concept of ‗market-driven supply‘, discussing the merits and pitfalls of its
implementation in fashion retailing.
Marketing Management
CASE: 1 Absolut Vodka: creating advertising history
Questions:
1. Discuss the role advertising plays in increasing brand awareness and brand loyalty among consumers,
especially for products that have very subtle differentiable attributes. In the above context, examine the
impact Absolut advertisements had on its target audience. Do you think the advertisements fulfilled their
purpose?
2. ‗The Absolut advertising campaign is successful because it is contemporary.‘ How did TBWA maintain
the ‗freshness‘ of the Absolut campaign? Discuss with respect to the brand‘s association with different
media: art, fashion, technology and music.
3. Even though Absolut ads have been depicted in different media, the central theme of the campaign has
remained unchanged (the bottle and the two-word slogan) over the years. In light of the above statement,
do you think that the campaign will manage to hold sway or lose in impact in the near future? Give
reasons to support your arguments.
CASE: 2 Tesco: the customer relationship management champion
Questions:
1. Analyse Tesco‘s Clubcards scheme in depth and comment on the various customer segmentation models
the company developed after studying the data gathered.
2. How did Tesco use the information collected to modify its marketing strategies? What sort of benefits
was the company able to derive as a result of such modifications?
3. What measures did Tesco adopt to support the CRM initiatives on the operational and strategic front? Is
it enough for a company to implement loyalty card schemes (and CRM tools in general) in isolation?
Why?
CASE: III Pret a Manger: passionate about food
Questions
3. How has Pret a Manger positioned its brand?
4. Explain how the different elements of the services marketing mix support and contribute to the
positioning of Pret a Manger.
CASE: IV The Sudkurier
Questions:
1. Explain how you will methodically go about compiling the requested information covered in the seven
questions for management. Include in your explanation an estimate of the expense involved in obtaining
the information.
2. Develop a 10-question questionnaire for the purpose of making a survey.
CASE: V Marketing Spotlight - Disney
Questions :
1. What have been the key success factors for Disney?
2. Where is Disney vulnerable? What should it watch out for?
3. What recommendations would you make to their senior marketing executives going forward? What
should it be sure to do with its marketing?
Marketing Management
Note: Solve any 4 Cases Study‘s
Questions:
1. Discuss the micro and macro forces that are affecting the music industry.
2. Based on this analysis, what strategic options would you recommend for both music publishers and
music retailers in the current marketing environment?
3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages associated with online distribution from a music label‘s
perspective.
Questions:
3. Explain how you will methodically go about compiling the requested information covered in the seven
questions for management. Include in your explanation an estimate of the expense involved in obtaining
the information.
4. Develop a 10-question questionnaire for the purpose of making a survey.
CASE: III Unilever in Brazil: marketing strategies for low-income customers
Question:
1. Describe the consumer behaviour differences among laundry products‘ customers in Brazil. What
market segments exists?
2. Should Unilever bring out a new brand or use one of its existing brands to target the north-eastern
Brazilian market?
3. How should the brand be positioned in the marketplace and within the Unilever family of brands?
Case 4 Ryanair: the low fares airlines
Questions:
1. How does Ryanair‘s pricing strategy account for its successful performance to date? Would you suggest
any changes to Ryanair‘ pricing approach? Why/why not?
2. Is the ‗no-fares‘ strategy a useful approach for Ryanair in the short term? In the long term?
3. Do the issues facing Ryanair threaten its low-fares model?
Case V LEGO: the toy industry changes
Questions:
1. Why did LEGO encounter serious economic difficulties in the late 1990s?
2. Conduct a SWOT analysis of LEGO and identify the company‘s main sources of advantage.
3. Critically evaluate the LEGO turnaround strategy.
MARKETING MANAGEMENT
Case Study -I
―Waiting in New Delhi
1) Why did Richard not able to jell with local conditions?
2) If you were Richard ,What would you do
CASE: II The Sudkurier
Questions:
1. Explain how you will methodically go about compiling the requested information covered in the seven questions
for management. Include in your explanation an estimate of the expense involved in obtaining the information.
2. Develop a 10-question questionnaire for the purpose of making a survey.
CASE: III Unilever in Brazil: marketing strategies for low-income customers
Question:
1. Describe the consumer behaviour differences among laundry products‘ customers in Brazil. What market
segments exists?
2. Should Unilever bring out a new brand or use one of its existing brands to target the north-eastern Brazilian
market?
3. How should the brand be positioned in the marketplace and within the Unilever family of brands?
Case 4 Ryanair: the low fares airlines
Questions:
1. How does Ryanair‘s pricing strategy account for its successful performance to date? Would you suggest any
changes to Ryanair‘ pricing approach? Why/why not?
2. Is the ‗no-fares‘ strategy a useful approach for Ryanair in the short term? In the long term?
3. Do the issues facing Ryanair threaten its low-fares model?
Case V LEGO: the toy industry changes
Questions:
1. Why did LEGO encounter serious economic difficulties in the late 1990s?
2. Conduct a SWOT analysis of LEGO and identify the company‘s main sources of advantage.
3. Critically evaluate the LEGO turnaround strategy.
Marketing Research
Question
1. Write don a brief summary of all the answers given above. How does this differ from the analysis of
structured-response questions?
Question
Case 2: Conduct Chi-square test to cross-tabulate and to understand the relationship between the independent
and the dependent variable. Also calculate contingency coefficient and the lambda asymmetric coefficient to
find the strength of the association between the two variables. Take Sample size as thirty. Analysis of crosstabulation
using SPSS software package would be required.
CASE – 3 Tamarind Menswear
1. Do you have Tamarind? Yes/No
2. What do you think about it?
3. Is there place in the market for one more readymade garment company?
4. What kind of products does Tamarind have? Are they good?
5. Is it a threat to any existing brand? If yes, which one?
6. If it is not a available, what is your view about advertising so heavily before the product is launched?
7. Are people coming and asking for Tamarind?
8. The range of clothes with the retailer.
9. Price range.
10. Name of the shop and so on.
TAMARIND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR CONSUMERS
1. Which ads do you recall?
2. Which garment ads do you recall?
3. Have you seen the Tamarind ad?
4. What do you remember from the ads?
5. Do you like the ad? Why?
6. What is the main message?
7. What kind of clothes are Tamarind?
8. What do you think will be the price range?
9. Will you buy it? Why?
CASE – 4 Logistics Regression
Question:
Case 4: Using logistic regression proof that particular drug for women has characteristics that cause some of
them an adverse reaction to a particular drug.
CASE – 5 Conjoint Analysis
Question:
Case 5: Use conjoint analysis to determine from a potential customer‘s point of view, how important each
attribute is to him. Also determine how much utility the customer derives from a given combination of these
levels of attributes. The attributes are life, price and colour.
CASE 6
Questions:
1. Can you add to methodology section?
2. Distribute the sample of 75 among the different categories of respondents mentioned under ―Sample
Composition‖.
Material Management
1. What is supply chain? Describe five important factors in supply chains.
2. A company wants to develop a level production plan for a family of products. The opening inventory is 600 units,
and a decrease to 200 units is expected by the end of the plan. The demand for each of the months is given in
what follows. How much should the company produce each month? What will be the ending inventory in each
month? Do you see any problems with the plan?
3. What are the major inputs to the MRP system?
4. Define “capacity available” what are the four factors that affect it?
5. If purchase were 45% of sales and other expenses were 45% of sales, what would be the increase in profit if,
through better purchasing, the cost of purchases was reduced to 43% of sales?
6. What is bias error in forecasting? What are some of the causes?
7. Define each of the following in your own words and as a formula:
a. Annual ordering cost
b. Annual Carrying cost
c. Total annual cost.
8. Why is cycle counting a better way to audit inventory records than an annual physical inventory?
9. Describe general-purpose and special-purpose machinery. Compare each for flexibility of use, operator
involvement, run time per piece, setup time, quality, capital cost and application.
10. What is the difference between ISO 9001, 9002 and 9003?
Operation Management
Attempt Only Eight Question:-
1. How would operations strategy for a service industry be different if any from that for a manufacturing industry ?
(Its an example & explain)
2. Consider the following two mutually exclusive projects. The net cash flows are given below:
If the desired rate of return is 10% which project should be chosen?
3. What are the levels of aggregation in forecasting for a manufacturing organization? How should this hierarchy of
forecasts be linked and used ?
4. How would forecasting be useful for operations in a BPO (Business processes outsourcing) unit ? What factors
may be important for this industry ? Discuss .
5. A good work study should be followed by good supervision for getting good results. Explain with an example.
6. What is job evaluation ? Can it be alternatively used as job ranking ? How does one ensure that job evaluation
evaluates the job and not the man ? Explain with examples ?
7. What is the impact of technology on jobs ? What are the similarities between job enlargement & job rotation ?
Discuss the importance of training in the content of job redesign ? Explain with examples ?
8. What is an internet connectivity ? How is it important in to days business would with respect to materials
requirement planning & purchasing. Explain with examples ?
9. Would a project management organization be different from an organization for regular manufacturing in what
ways. Examples.
10. How project evaluation different from project appraisal? Explain with examples.
Organizational Behavior
CASE: I Pushing Paper Can Be Fun
Question:
1. What performance problems is the captain trying to correct?
2. Use the MARS model of individual behavior and performance to diagnose the possible causes of the
unacceptable behavior.
3. Has the captain considered all possible solutions to the problem? If not, what else might be done?
CASE: II How Did I Get Here?
Question:
1. Identify the stressors in John Breckenridge‘s life. Which ones could he have prevented?
2. What were the results of the stress? Would you consider these to be typical to stress situations and
lifestyle choices John made, or was John Breckenridge unlucky?
3. Assume you are a career coach retained by John Breckenridge to guide him through his next decisions.
How would you recommend that John modify his lifestyle and behavior to reduce stress? Should he
change jobs? Do you believe he is capable of reducing his stress alone? If not, where should he seek
help?
4.
CASE: III The Shipping Industry Accounting Team
Question:
1. What type of team was formed here? Was it necessary, in your opinion?
2. Use the team effectiveness model in Chapter 9 and related information in this chapter to identify the
strengths and weaknesses of this team‘s environment, design, and processes.
3. Assuming that these four people must continue to work as a team, recommend ways to improve the
team‘s effectiveness.
CASE: IV Conflict In Close Quarters
Question:
1. Identify the different conflict episodes that exist in this case. Who was in conflict with whom?
2. What are the sources of conflict for these conflict incidents?
3. What conflict management style(s) did Lapierre, the international team, and Gushin use to resolve these
conflicts? What style(s) would have worked best in the situation?
CASE: V Hillton‘s Transformation
Question:
1. Contrast Hillton‘s earlier corporate culture with the emerging set of cultural values.
2. Considering the difficulty in changing organizational culture, why did Hillton‘s management seem to be
successful at this transformation?
3. Identify two other strategies that the city might consider to reinforce the new set of corporate values.
Organizational Behavior
CASE: I Diana‘s Disappointment: The Promotion Stumbling Block
Question:
1. Within the framework of the emotional intelligence domains of self-awareness, self-management, social
awareness, and relationship management, discuss the various factors that might have to led to Diana‘s
failure to be promoted.
2. What competencies does Diana need to develop to be promotable in the future? What can the company do
to support her developmental efforts?
CASE: II Buddy‘s Snack Company
Question:
1. You have met three employees of Buddy‘s Snacks. Explain how each employee‘s situation relates to
equity theory.
2. Explain the motivation of these three employees in terms of the expectancy theory of motivation.
CASE: III Sabeer Bhatia: An Icon Of Creativity
Question:
1. What competencies are needed to be creative?
2. Identify methods through which creativity can be nurtured.
CASE: IV Women Leaders In The Corporate World
Question:
1. What are the barriers for women to become corporate leaders?
2. What competencies are needed by women to succeed in corporate life?
CASE: V The Excellent Employee
Question:
1. Identify the sources of resistance to change in this case.
2. Discuss whether this resistance is justified or could be overcome.
3. Recommend ways to minimize resistance to change in this incident or in future incidents.
Organizational Behavior
CASE I
A DIAMOND PERSONALITY
Questions:
1. What factors do you think attributed to Suraj bhai‘s success? Was he merely ``in the right place at the
right time‘‘, or are there characteristics about him that contribute to his success?
2. How do you believe Suraj bhai would score on the Big Five dimensions of personality (extroversion,
agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness to experience)? Which ones would he
score high on? Which ones might he score low on?
3. Do you believe that Suraj bhai is high or low on core self-evaluations? On what information did you
base your decision?
4. What information about Suraj bhai suggests that he has a proactive personality?
CASE II
BULLYING BOSSES
Questions:
1) Of the three types of organizational justice, which one does workplace bullying most closely
resemble?
2) What aspects of motivation might workplace bullying reduce? For example, are there likely to be
effects on an employee‘s self-efficacy? If so, what might those effects be?
3) If you were a victim of workplace bullying, what steps would you take to try to reduce its
occurrence? What strategies would be most effective? What strategies might be ineffective? What would
you do if one of your colleagues was a victim of an abusive supervisor?
4) What factors do you believe contribute to workplace bullying? Are bullies a product of the situation,
or are they flawed personalities? What situations and what personality factors might contribute to the
presence of bullies?
CASE III
THANKS FOR NOTHING
Questions
1) If praising employees for doing a good job seems to be a fairly easy and obvious motivational
tools, why do you think companies and managers don‘t often do it?
2) As a manager, what steps would you take to motivate your employees after observing them
perform well?
3) Are there any downsides to giving employees too much verbal praise? What might these downsides
be and how could you alleviate them as a manager?
4) As a manager, how would you ensure that recognition given to employees is distributed fairly and
justly?
CASE IV
WILL GEORGE W. BUSH BE A GREAT PRESIDENT?
Questions
1. How would you rate President George W. Bush on the four characteristics outlined at the beginning
of the case? How would you contrast his reaction to Hurricane Katrina with his reaction to the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001? What do you think his handling of these two events says about his
leadership?
2. Do you think leaders in other contexts (business‘, sports, religious) exhibit the same qualities of
great or near-great U.S. presidents?
3. Do you think being in the right place at the right time could influence presidential greatness?
Case V
A UNIQUE TRAINING PROGRAM AT UPS
Questions
1. Do you think individuals can learn empathy from something like a 1-month CIP experience? Explain
why or why not.
2. How could UPS‘s CIP help the organization better manage work-life conflicts?
3. How could UPS‘s CIP help the organization improve its response to diversity?
4. What negatives, if any, can you envision resulting from CIP?
5. UPS has 2,400 managers. CIP includes only 50 each year. How can the program make a difference
if it includes only 2 percent of all managers? Does this suggest that the program is more public relations
than management training?
6. How can UPS justify the cost of a program like CIP if competitors like FedEx, DHL, and the U.S.
Postal Service don‘t offer such programs? Does the program increase costs or reduce UPS profits?
Personnel Management
CASE I
Questions:
1. Briefly discuss the importance of motivation to organizations.
2. Study an organization, unit, or an individual employee and suggest ways and means to motivate
him to perform more effectively.
CASE II
Questions:
1. The number of consumers is projected to increase by 2000 every month. What would be the
requirement for the following categories:
1. bill distributors;
2. meter readers;
3. estimators; and
4. inspectors?
2. Given urbanization, leading to houses and buildings like apartments for consumers, with
personalized transport like two wheelers for meter readers, can you refix the norms for the
Categories in 1 above taking into account an increase in productivity. What other factors need to
be balanced against this increase in productivity? (Specify your group productivity increase and
other factors.)
3. Propose a revised organization structure at the zonal office, where the company feels that with
existing manpower more consumers have to be serviced (the Naranpura area is in a high
population growth zone).
CASE III
1. What factors would you take into account in evaluating this demand from the workers?
2. Provide the rationale for implementing or not implementing this demand.
CASE IV
1. Identify a personnel problem that has to be solved. This can be done by discussions with the
personnel manager of an organization. Write a detailed proposal of how you would carry out the
research to find the answer.
CASE V
Questions:
1. Discuss the concept of social responsibility. Why should and enterprise be concerned with it?
2. How have some firms in India gone about discharging their social responsibilities? What other
approaches can be tried? Give reasons.
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Principal Practice Management
Case I
PANDIT TO AFAUZI
QUESTIONS:
1. What was the cause of fear in RBM?
2. What were the symptoms of fear displayed by RBM?
3. How did the RMO come to know of the war phobia of RBM?
4. What actions should be taken to avoid building up of fear among the troops? Which of these steps
were taken by the officer?
Case II
HE WHO RIDES A TIGER
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
3. Discuss merits/demerits of the role of strike, agitation and legal approach in unionmanagement
relations.
4. What role does mutual trust play in building union-management relations?
CASE III
COMPETITION AHEAD: VSNL AT CROSS ROADS
Questions:
1. What were the strengths and weaknesses of VSNL?
2. Do you think that VSNL should have changed its thrust from basic telephony to cellular services?
3. If you were the Deputy General Manager, what strategies would you have undertaken to deal with
the competition?
Case IV
DISNEY‘S DESIGN
Questions :
1. What environmental factors influenced management style at Disney?
2. What kind(s) of organizational structure seem to be consistent with ―Dream as a Team‖ ?
3. How and where might the informal organization be a real asset at Disney ?
Principal Practice Management
McDonald‘s: Serving Fast Food Around the World
Questions :
1. What opportunities and threats did McDonald‘s face ? How did it handle them ? What
alternatives could it have chosen ?
2. Before McDonald‘s entered the European market, few people believed that fast food could be
successful in Europe. Why do you think McDonald‘s has succeeded ? What strategies did it
follow ? How did these differ from its strategies in Asia ?
3. What is McDonald‘s basic philosophy ? How does it enforce this philosophy and adapt to different
environments ?
4. Should McDonald‘s expand its menu ? If you say no, then why not ? If you say yes, what kinds
of precuts should it add ?
5. Why is McDonald‘s successful in many countries around the world ?
Case No. :2
Developing Verifiable Goals
Questions :
1. Can a division manager develop verifiable goals, or objectives, when the president has not assigned
them to him or her? How? What king of information or help do you believe is important for the division
manager to have from headquarters?
2. Was the division manager setting goals in the best way? What would you have
done?
Case No. :3
The Daimler-Chrysler Merger: A New World Order?
Questions :
1. Evaluate the formulation of the merger between Daimler and Chrysler. Discuss the strategic fit
and the different product lines.
2. Assess the international perspectives of Eaton and Schrempp.
3. What are the difficulties in merging the organizational cultures of the two companies?
4. What i s the probabi l i ty of success of fai lure of the merger? What other mergers
do you foresee in the car indust ry?
Case : 4
Re-engineering the Business Process at Procter & Gamble
Questions :
1. The re-engineering efforts focused on the business process system. Do you think other processes,
such as the human system, or other managerial policies need to be considered in a process
redesign?
2. What do you think was the reaction of the brand managers, who may have worked under the old
system for many years, when the category management structure was installed?
3. As a consultant, would you have recommended a top-down or bottom-up approach, or both, to
process redesign and organizational change? What are the advantages and disadvantages of
each approach?
Case No. : 5
Managing the Hewlett Packard Way
Questions:
1. Is the Hewlett – Packard way of managing creating a climate in which employees are motivated to
contribute to the aims of the organization? What is unique about the HP Way?
2. Would the HP managerial style work in any organization? Why, or why not? What are the conditions for
such a style to work?
Case No.: 6
Quality as the Key Success Factor In Winning the Global Car War
Questions:
1. In the NUMMI joint venture, what did Toyota gain? What were the benefits for General Motors?
2. As a consultant, what strategies would you recommend for European carmakers to improve
their competitive position in the global car industry?
Principal Practice Management
CASE – 1
Questions
1. What can Joshi and her staff do to select the type of entry-level candidates they want?
2. How can Joshi ensure that those who are hired come to accept the core cultural values of the hospital?
What steps would you recommend?
CASE – 2
Questions
(a) Do you think the number of units of a product to be manufactured is a random number? Explain your
reasoning.
(b) How does one determine the number of units of a product to be manufactured in an organisation?
(c) What are the elements you would take into consideration for forecasting the production and sales
requirement of the product developed by Leo Medical Center?
(d) How would you go about planning and organising the manufacturing and selling efforts of the
organisation?
CASE – 3
Questions
(a) What type or types of organisation design do you feel this task force should recommend in the third and
final phase of the approach to their assignment?
(b) Explain how the systems and the contingency theories of organisation can each contribute to the analysis
of this case.
(c) Do you think Hari Mohan was correct in his suggestion of how the task force should proceed? What
types of problems might develop as by-products of the recommendation you made in question 1?
CASE – 4
Questions
(a) Discuss the nature and characteristics of the problems in this case.
(b) What steps should be taken by Mr Kumar to overcome these problems?
CASE – 5
Questions:
1. Is George‘s view of the situation realistic?
2. How do you evaluate Vipulabh‘s position?
3. How might this conflict be associated with factors in the formal organisation?
4. What should the president of Simplex Mills do now?
Production & Operation Management
1. In your Opinion, where is India on the trajectory of the changing operations management function?
Discuss.
2. How are people important in an operations strategy? Discuss what needs to be done in your organization
and in India, in general.
3. Suppose the average cost of maintenance for a piece of equipment is related to its life as follows:
Period Cost, Rs. Period Cost, Rs.
1 50 7 230
2 70 8 270
3 90 9 340
4 120 10 410
5 150 11 480
6 190 12 560
If the purchase price of the new equipment is Rs.1,600, what is the optimal life of the equipment (when
replacement with new equipment is done)?
(Assume that there is no salvage value. The firm uses 10% discount rate per period.)
4. Read through the literature and find out what ‗Technology Assessment‘ is? How is it useful to
operations management?
5. What is organizational learning? Is it important for quality? Discuss.
6. How does one ensure that ‗job evaluation evaluates the job and not the man‘?
7. Discuss the importance of training in the context of job redesign.
8. ‗Group Technology as applied to a operations system is a human relations technology.‘ Would you
agree with this statement? Discuss
9. Should cost be the primary criterion in operations planning? Explain.
10. What role for production and operations management do you foresee in another 15-20 years time in
India?
Production Management
Q 1 : Identify the appropriate level of risk for the following items and justify your answer.
(a) Space Shuttle
(b) X-ray machine
(c) Camera
(d) Canned soup
(e) Pencil
(f) Computer keyboard
(g) Chair
(h)Running shoe
(i) Automobile
(j) Fresh vegetables
(k) Child‘s toy
(l) Golf club
(m) Baby food
(n) Restaurant food
Q .2 : The bearing department is planning their schedule for the following week. They need an understanding of
last week‘s performance. The schedule called for two 8-hour shifts per day for five days. Downtime charged to
production averaged 76 minutes per day. Downtime charged to maintenance averaged 135 minutes per day.
Calculate the actual running time and the percentage of available time.
Q 3 : (a) Does exponential smoothing track a trend in the demand satisfactorily? What is the reason?
( b) How would forecasting be useful for operations in a BPO unit? What factors may be important for this
industry? Discuss
Q.4 : (a) Would a six sigma implementation involve significant financial investment? Discuss
(b) Can total organizational satisfaction be achieved while a company is also aiming for key business
results? Is there a conflict in these two goals? Discuss.
Q.5 : How would have good production & Operations Management Practices averted the terrible Bhopal Gas
strategy? Research & Discuss
Q.6 : Differentiate between Loading and Scheduling. Is a clear-cut distinction between the two possible under
all production situations? If so where is it possible & where is it not possible?
Q.7: What are the advantages of the HMMS model over the Linear programming model? The HMMS.and other
sophisticated models have not been very popular in practice. What may be the reasons?
Q.8: What is the scope of purchasing activities? Where would you fit purchasing in the materials management
function? In the Organizational structure, where should purchasing be fitted?
(i) in a single plant situation (ii) in a multiple plant situation
Q.9: Some say that we need a ―national level job evaluation‖ in India. Can you envisage the issues involved? Is
it possible to do such a national level exercise? How would you proceed in this regard?
Q.10 :How can work study be used for arriving at (i) Manufacturing Budget (ii) Production Plan (iii) Personnel
Policies (iv) Materials Planning? Explain.
Production Planning & Inventory
1. In your Opinion, where is India on the trajectory of the changing operations management function?
Discuss.
2. How are people important in an operations strategy? Discuss what needs to be done in your organization
and in India, in general
3. Suppose the average cost of maintenance for a piece of equipment is related to its life as follows:
Period Cost, Rs. Period Cost, Rs.
1 50 7 230
2 70 8 270
3 90 9 340
4 120 10 410
5 150 11 480
6 190 12 560
If the purchase price of the new equipment is Rs.1,600, what is the optimal life of the equipment (when
replacement with new equipment is done)?
(Assume that there is no salvage value. The firm uses 10% discount rate per period.)
4. Read through the literature and find out what ‗Technology Assessment‘ is? How is it useful to
operations management?
5. What is organizational learning? Is it important for quality? Discuss.
6. How does one ensure that ‗job evaluation evaluates the job and not the man‘?
7. Discuss the importance of training in the context of job redesign.
8. ‗Group Technology as applied to a operations system is a human relations technology.‘ Would you
agree with this statement? Discuss
9. Should cost be the primary criterion in operations planning? Explain.
10. What role for production and operations management do you foresee in another 15-20 years time in
India?
Case V
―THAT‘S NOT MY JOB‖ – LEARNING DELEGATION AT CIN-MADE
Questions:
1. How were principles of delegation and decentralization incorporated into Cine – Made operations?
2. What are the sources and uses of power at Cin – Made?
3. What were some of the barriers to delegation and empowerment at Cin –Made?
4. What lessons about management in a rapidly changing marketplace can be learned from the
experience of Cin – Made?
Case VI
Questions:
1. With retailers as their primary customers, what customer competitive imperatives could be affected
by Rollerblade‘s inventory problems?
2. How appropriate might a just – in – time inventory system be for a product such as roller skates?‖
3. What opportunities are therefore Rollerblade managers to see FOR themselves as selling services,
instead of simply roller skates?
Professional Communication Skills
Case I
HAZARDS OF HILLS
QUESTIONS:
1. What are the qualities of a good leader? In this case, how were they applied?
2. Which factors contributed to motivate the troops to go ahead for such a difficult task as recovering a damaged
vehicle from such a difficult and treacherous terrain and getting it repaired in such a short time?
3. Which incidents indicate the importance of good interpersonal relationships with juniors, peers and superiors
and what is the importance of good interpersonal relationships?
Case II
Questions:
1. Is it appropriate to have the manager finish the check-out? Or, should the front desk agent just take the heat?
2. Would you have handled the situation in the same manner?
3. What would you have done differently?
4. Communication improvement is required for both of the parties involved or any one of them? Justify your
opinion.
CASE III
EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW OF R P SINHA
Questions :
1. Do you find Mr. Sinha‘s responses to various questions effective? Give reasons for your view on each answer
given by Mr. Sinha.
2. Rewrite the responses that you consider most effective to the above questions in a job interview.
3. Mr. Sinha has observed the norm of respectful behaviour and polite
conversation. But, do you think there is something gone wrong in his case ? Account for your general
impression of Mr. Sinha‘s performance at the interview.
Case IV
Outsourcing Backlash Gets Abusive, Ugly
Questions:
1. Assume you are working as an operator at a call centre in India and are receiving irate calls from Americans
and Lodoners. How would you handle such calls? Conceive a short conversation between you and your client,
and put it on paper.
2. ―Keep your cool.‖ What does this mean in term of conversation control?
3. Do you agree with the view that such abusive happenings on the telephone do not have any impact on
business? Justify.
Project Management
Case 1 Disaster Recovery at Marshall Field’s (Another Chicago River Story)
QUESTIONS
1. In what ways are the Marshall Field‘s flood disaster recovery effort a project? Why are large-scale disaster
response and recovery efforts projects?
2. In what ways do the characteristics of crisis management as described in this case correspond to those of
project management?
3. Who was (were) the project manager(s) and what was his or her (their) responsibility? Who was assigned to
the project team and why were they on the team?
4. Comment on the appropriateness of using disaster recovery efforts such as this.
5. What form of project management (basic, program, and so on) does this case most closely resemble?
Case 2 Flexible Benefits System Implementation at Quick Medical Center
QUESTIONS
1. What form of project management (basic, program, and so on) does this case most closely resemble?
2. The project manager is also the director of FS, only one of the departments that will be affected by the new
benefits system. Does this seem like a good idea? What are the pros and cons of her selection?
3. Comment on the team members‘ part time assignment to the project and the expectation that they give the
project top priority.
4. Much of the success of this project depends on the performance of team members who are not employed by
Quick, namely the HBS consultants. They must develop the entire hardware/software benefits system. Why
was an outside firm likely chosen for such an important part of the project manager in meeting project goals?
Case 3 Glades County Sanitary District
Questions:
1. What is the system? What are its key elements and subsystems? What are the boundaries and how are they
determined? What is the environment?
2. Who are the decision makers?
3. What is the problem? Carefully formulate it.
4. Define the overall objective of the water waste management program. Because the program is wide-ranging in
scope, you should break this down into several sub- objectives.
5. Define the criteria or measures of performance to be used to determine whether the objectives of the program
are being met. Specify several criteria for each sub-objective. As much as possible, the criteria should be
quantitative, although some qualitative measures should also be included. How will you know if the criteria
that you define are the appropriate ones to use?
6. What are the resources and constraints?
7. Elaborate on the kinds of alternatives and range of solutions to solving the problem.
8. Discuss some techniques that could be used to help evaluate which alternatives are best.
Case 4 West Coast University Medical center
QUESTIONS
1. Why was the system a failure?
2. What was the likely cause of its lack of use?
3. What steps or procedures were absent or poorly handled in the project conception phase?
Case 5 X-philes Data Management Corporation
QUESTIONS
1. What do you think will happen?
2. How do you think the crisis facing Yrisket will affect the Mulder project? The Agentfox project?
Case 6 Star-Board Construction/West-Starr Associates
QUESTION
1. What steps or actions should the architect and contractor have taken before committing to the specifications
on the window units and spacing between granite slabs the would have reduced or eliminated this problem?
Public Relation Management
CASE – 1 MEDIA RELATIONS
Indefinite Strike by Employees—Role of PR: The VSNL Experience
Question:
1. What measures would you take if you were the PR of BSNL
2. What according to you was the outcome of the solution taken by PR of BSNL?
CASE – 2 MEDIA RELATIONS
NEEPCO Ltd: Accidental Death of a Woman Worker—Role of PR
Question:
1. Explain in detail the management‘s point of view and PR‘s point of view on the accidental death of
woman worker?
2. What would have been the situation if neepco didn‘t face the press?
SECTION 2: Solve any 4 Questions:
1. What is public relations? How is it a two-way communications process?
2. ―Style has many meanings in journalism.‖ Discuss.
3. Discuss the duties and responsibilities of a reporter.
4. Discuss the various features of pictorial journalism.
5. Discuss Media Relation. Explain why it is so important for public relations.
6. Discuss the role of new information technology media in public relations.
Quantitative Techniques
1. a. ―Statistics is the nerve center for Operations Research.‖ Discuss.
b. State any four areas for the application of OR techniques in Financial Management, how it
improves the performance of the organization.
2. At the beginning of a month, a lady has Rs. 30,000 available in cash. She expects to receive certain
revenues at the beginning of the months 1, 2, 3 and 4 and pay the bills after that, as detailed here:
Month Revenue Bills
1 Rs. 28,000 Rs. 36,000
2 Rs. 52,000 Rs. 31,000
3 Rs. 24,000 Rs. 40,000
4 Rs. 22,000 Rs. 20,000
It is given that any money left over may be invested for one month at the interest rate of 0.5%; for two
months at 1.0% per month; for three months at 1.5% per month and for four months at 1.8% per month.
Formulate her problem as linear programming problem to determine an investment strategy that maximizes cash
in hand at the beginning of month 5.
3. What is degeneracy? How does the problem of degeneracy arise in a transportation problem? How can
we deal with this problem?
4. Give the various sequencing models that are available for solving sequential problems. Give suitable
examples.
5. A company has determined from its analysis of production and accounting data that, for a part number
KC-438, the annual demand is equal to 10,000 units, the cost to purchase the item is Rs 36 per order,
and the holding cost is Rs 2/unit/pear
Determine
a. What should the Economic Order Quantity be?
b. What is the optimum number of days supply per optimum order?
6. A TV repairman finds that the time spent on his jobs has an exponential distribution with a mean 30
minutes. If he repairs sets on the first-come-first-served basis and if the arrival of sets is with an average
rate of 10 per 8-hour day, what is repairman‘s expected idle time each day? Also obtain average number
of units in the system.
7. What is critical path? State the necessary and sufficient conditions of critical path. Can a project have
multiple critical paths?
8. Explain and illustrate the following principles of decision making:
a. Laplace
b. Maximin
c. Maximax
d. Hurwicz
e. Savage
f. Expectation
9. A salesman makes all sales in three cities X, Y and Z only. It is known that he visits each city on a
weekly basis and never visits the same city in successive weeks. If he visits city X in a given week, then
he visits city Z in next week. However, if he visits city Y or Z, he is twice as likely to visit city X than
the other city. Obtain the transition probability matrix. Also determine the proportionate visits by him to
each of the cities in the long run.
10. ―When it becomes difficult to use an optimization technique for solving a problem, one has to resort to
simulation‖. Discuss.
Sales Distribution Management
CASE 1: Phillips Company
Question:
1. What action should the Phillips Company have taken to change the company image in the public utility
field?
CASE 2: Diamond Pump
Questions:
1. Describe Castleberry‘s major operations responsibilities. How well is he carrying out each of these
responsibilities?
2. What kind of planning activities should Castleberry be carrying out regularly? What planning areas need
immediate attention?
3. How do you suppose Castleberry‘s time should be divided operations and planning?
CASE 3: Central CATV, Inc.
Question:
1. Suggest what Wagner should have done to reduce personnel turnover and eliminate the other problems
at Central CATV.
CASE 4: Driskill Manufacturing Company
Questions:
1. If you were acting as a consultant for the Driskill Company, what recommendations would you make
with respect to the preparation of quotas of the sales force?
2. How would you evaluate the arguments of the sales manager and the marketing research director?
Store Management
Q 1 : Describe Open & Close Store Systems ? When can it be employed?
Q.2 : How does ERP resolve Typical Problems faced by organizations wanting to automate materials
management? Describe different reports generated under ERP for use by different functions.
Q.3 : Describe ABC analysis. How is it used to control inventory. What are different stock levels determined to
control inventory? How are they calculated?
Q.4 : If proper stores Ledgers are maintained for each material, Bin Cards are not required for stores control. Do
you agree? Why?
Q.5 : What measures are required to prevent thefts by outsiders? Would you recommend use of stores manual to
train stores employees in safety & security? Why?
Q.6 : Damage to materials can be avoided by proper segregation of materials in the stores. Explain.
Q.7 : What are the requirements for handling, storing and packing materials as issued by international
organization for standards under ISO 9000?
Q.8 : Who should manage the scale of scrap? Sales manager or purchase manager? Why?
Strategic Management
CASE – 1 MANAGING HINDUSTAN UNILEVER STRATEGICALLY
Questions:
1. State the strategy of Hindustan Unilever in your own words.
2. At what different levels is strategy formulated in HUL?
3. Comment on the strategic decision-making at HUL.
4. Give your opinion on whether the shift in strategic decision-making from India to Unilever‘s
headquarters could prove to be advantageous to HUL or not.
CASE: 2 THE STRATEGIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
Questions:
1. Consider the vision and mission statements of the Reserve Bank of India. Comment on the quality of
both these statements.
2. Should the RBI go for a systematic and comprehensive strategic plan in place of its earlier pragmatic
approach of responding to environmental events as and when they occur? Why?
CASE: 3 THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF KALYANI GROUP
Questions:
1. What is the motive for internationalisation by the Kalyani Group? Discuss.
2. Which type of international strategy is Kalyani Group adopting? Explain.
CASE 4: THE STORY OF SYNERGOS UNFOLDS
Questions:
1. Identify the type of organisation structure being used at Synergos and explain how it works. What are
the benefits of using this type of structure? What are the pitfalls?
2. Express your opinion about whether the structure is in line with the recruitments of the strategy that
Synergos is implementing.
3. Based on the information related to the information, control and reward systems available in the case,
examine whether these systems are appropriate for the type of strategy being implemented.
CASE: 5 EXERCISING STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL CONTROLS AT iGATE GLOBAL
SOLUTIONS
Questions:
1. Analyse the iGATE case to highlight how it could apply some of the strategic controls such as premise
control, implementation control, strategic surveillance and special alert control.
2. Analyse and describe the process of setting of standards at iGATE.
3. Give your opinion on the effectiveness of the role of reward system in exercising HR performance
management at iGATE and suggest what improvements are possible, given the environmental
conditions in the IT/ITES industry in India at present.
Strategic Management
Case I
THE STRATEGIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
Questions
1. Consider the vision and mission statements of the Reserve Bank of India. Comment on the quality of
both these statements.
2. Should the RBI go for a systematic and comprehensive strategic plan in place of its earlier pragmatic approach
of responding to environmental events as and when they occur? Why?
Case II
WHAT LIES IN STORE FOR THE RETAILING INDUSTRY IN INDIA?*
Questions:
1. Identify the opportunities and threats that the retailing industry in India offers to local and foreign companies.
2. Prepare an ETOP for a company interested in entering the retailing industry in India.
Case III
HELPAGE INDIA
Questions
1. In your opinion, what is the distinctive competence of HelpAge India?
2. Prepare a strategic advantage profile for HelpAge India.
Case IV
BHARAT HEAVY ELECTRICALS LIMITED CONCENTRATES ON THE EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY
Questions
1. BHEL is mainly formulating and implementing concentration strategies nationally as well as globally, in the
power equipment sector. Do you think it should broaden the scope of its strategies to include integration or
diversification? Why?
2. Suppose BHEL plans to diversify its business. What areas should it diversify into? Give reasons to justify your
choice.
Case V
THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF KALYANI GROUP
Questions
1. What is the motive for internationalization by the Kalyani Group? Discuss.
2. Which type of international strategy is Kalyani Group adopting? Explain.
Case VI
CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING OF THE INDIAN REAILWAYS
Questions
1. Comment on the steps taken to reduce the extent of vertical integration at the Indian Railways. Suggest a few
more measures that could be taken.
2. Discuss the measures taken for corporate restructuring of the Indian Railways, in your opinion, are these
adequate for dealing with the problems faced? Why?
3. Propose the basic elements of a corporate turnaround for the Indian Railways.
Supply Chain Management
A CASE OF ALPHA TELENET LIMITED
1 . Give a critical analysis of the privatisation of telecom sector in India.
2. Highlight the secrets of success of Alpha Telenet Ltd. in terms of technological advancements and service~
provided.
CASE II
GEARING· FOR GROWTH
1. Comment on the upstream and downstream supply chain portions operating in the company.
2. How far are the plans to improve the supply chain efficiency in the company feasible?
3. "Internal supply chain at the company can be characterized by the lack of it". Comment.
CASE III
INTELLIGENT MOVEMENTS: ANYWHERE ANYTIME
Questions
1. What made SCL a leader in the logistics industry?
2. Discuss the strategies adopted by SCL for its survival in the competitive scenario.
3. Comment on the contributions of SCL to society.
4. What steps the company should take to globalize its network reach?
Discuss the strategies adopted by SCL for expansion.
CASE IV
LOGISTICS OUTSOURCING
1. Analyze the case in view of the logistics outsourcing practices of the ISL.
2. Discuss the importance of logistics outsourcing with reference to supply chain management.
3. Suggest strategies for further strengthening the supply chain of ISL.
4. The participants/students are expected to have a clear understanding of Supply Chain and Logistics
Management concepts.
5. The issues involved in the case are Sales Forecasting, Strategic Sourcing, Selection of Warehousing Service
Provider, Transportation Mode and other nuances in Logistics Management.
Supply Chain Management
Case I
DABBAWALLAHS OF MUMBAI (A)
Questions:
1. Comment on how following issues may be affecting the dabbawallah system:
Competition and resulting shrink in customer base
Lifestyle Changes
Workforce Management
2. How do the dabbawallahs find recruits?
3. How can an incentive system based on "equal pay for all" work?
4. Do the dabbawallahs know their clients?
5. How does the dabbawallah system ensure that the individual links in the delivery network do not break down?
6. How is the Trust dealing with the issue of growth?
7. How is the Trust coping with dabbawallah competitors?
8. The world around you is changing but the dabbawallahs have not changed; why not?
9. Is there a future for Dabbawallahs?
10. Following are the foundations for the success of the dabbawallah service
Low-Cost Delivery
Delivery Reliability
Decentralization
Suburban Railway Network
Perceived Equality.
Justify.
CASE II
LOGISTICS OUTSOURCING
1. Analyze the case in view of the logistics outsourcing practices of the ISL.
6. Discuss the importance of logistics outsourcing with reference to supply chain management.
7. Suggest strategies for further strengthening the supply chain of ISL.
Total Quality Management
1. Describe the four tiers of quality documentation.
2. Determine which element of ISO 9001 is referenced in each of the following situations‖
(a) An audit found that no supplier reviews were being performed.
(b) There were no inspection records.
(c) During an audit, it was found that a punch press operator had not received the technical instructions necessary for running
the punch press.
(d) During an audit, it was discovered that no manager had been given the responsibility of ensuring that the quality system
was being maintained.
3. Describe how a two party audit system works.
4. Select members of a quality by design team for the development and production of two or more of the following products. If
possible, the team should be limited to ten members of different disciplines.
(a) Ballpoint pen
(b) Car windshield sunscreen
(c) Manual can opener
(d) Computer keyboard
(e) Clothes iron
5. Design a check-sheet for the maintenance of a piece of equipment such as a gas furnace, laboratory scale, or typewriter.
Give the flow-diagram for the manufacture of the same.
6. Identify the appropriate level of risk for the following items and justify your answer.
(o) Space Shuttle
(p) X-ray machine
(q) Camera
(r) Canned soup
(s) Pencil
(t) Computer keyboard
(u) Chair
(v) Running shoe
(w) Automobile
(x) Fresh vegetables
(y) Child‘s toy
(z) Golf club
(aa) Baby food
(bb) Restaurant food
7. Describe how benchmarking can be used to improve both efficiency and effectiveness. Identify and explain three main types
of benchmarking. In what circumstances would each type be most appropriate?
8. What difficulties are typically encountered when benchmarking direct competitors? Describe the ways employed to work
around these problems.
9. Write a comprehensive note on at least five different types of metrics. What is the significance of the different metrics used
in daily work routine in an airport? Critically analyze the dependence of aviation systems on metrics. Cite two examples to
support your analysis.
10. Using the Internet or other sources, find examples of the role computers play in each of the six quality functions. As an
auditor how will you assess a website?
International Business
1. Trace the evolution of international business.
2. What is the contribution of MNCs towards the development of developing countries?
3. Explain the following theories of FDI:
(i) Product Life Cycle.
(ii) Market Imperfections.
4. What is new economic policy? Why was it needed?
5. Define the term `international business’. Compare and contrast international business with domestic business.
6. What is an MNC? What are its salient features?
7. Describe, in brief, all the components of economic environment?
8. What are the limitations of social responsibility?
9. Define international financial management. Bring out its scope.
10. What is international financial management? How does it compare and contrast with domestic financial
management?
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CORPORATE LAW
Note: Solve any 8 out of 10.
1. (a) Discuss the term ‗Continuing Guarantee‘. How can it be revoked?
(b) State briefly the rights and obligations of a bailee.
2. (a) What do you understand by the term Implied ‗Authority of a partner‘?
(b) Enumerate the acts which are not covered under implied authority.
3. (a) What are the rights and duties of a minor in relation to partnership business?
(b) Distinguish between --
(i) Sub-agent and Substituted Agent
(ii) Sale, Bailment and Pledge
4. (a) Explain the rights of a partner.
(b) Distinguish between the following:
(i) Succession and Assignment.
(ii) Contract of Indemnity and Contract of Guarantee.
5. Write short note on.
i) Non-registration of a firm.
ii) Capacity of Contract
iii) Kinds of Bailment.
iv) Anticipatory breach of a Contract.
6. a) When is a Surety Discharged from Liability by the conduct of the creditor.
b) Describe the rules relating to passing of property in the sale of goods.
7. a) What is an illegal agreement? State the effects of illegality.
b) What is ‗Supervening Impossibility‘? What are its effect upon the contract?
c) What are the remedies available to the buyer when goods in wrong quantity
delivered to him?
d) When shall a retired partner be discharged from his liabilities for the acts of the firm before
retirement?
8. (a) State the principles on which damages are assessed for breach of contract.
(b) Describe the law relating to the ‗right of resale‘ available to an unpaid seller
in the Sale of Goods Act, 1930.
9. a) What are the rules regarding delivery of goods?
b) Distinguish between:
i) Novation and Alteration.
ii) Liquidated damages and penalty
10. a) Transferee of a partner‘s interest cannot exercise the right of transferring partner.
b) Appropriation is a right primarily of the debtor and for his benefit.
c) A proposal can be revoked otherwise than by communication.
d) Right of stoppage in transit is an extension of the right of lien.
Environment Management
1. Explain the scope of environmental engineering
2. Compare the various types of energy with respect to its suitability for Indian Conditions.
3. Explain the role of producers, consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem.
4. Compare and contrast natural ecosystem with agro ecosystem.
5. Is biotechnology a threat to biodiversity? Substantiate your answer with examples?
6. Discuss the status of Disaster Preparedness in India
7. Explain the working of the following air pollution control equipments mentioning their advantages,
disadvantages and applications.
i. Cyclone separator
ii. Fabric Filter
iii. Electrostatic precipitator
iv. Wet Collector (scrubber)
8. Explain the phenomenon of global warming and the factors contributing to it.
9. What are the major issues on Energy Utilization in Urban Planning.
10. Discuss the salient features of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by UN.
Retail Management
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is Rainforest Café‘s retail offering and target market?
2. Were malls good locations for Rainforest Cafés? Why or why not? What would be the best location types?
3. Many retailers have tried to make their stores more entertaining. In a number of cases, these efforts have
failed. What are the pros and cons of providing a lot of entertainment in a retail store or restaurant?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Is the Build-A-Bear concept a fad, or does it have staying power?
2. What can Build-A-Bear do to generate repeat visits to the store?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) What are the keys to making WeddingChannel.com a success from the perspective of the companies investing
in it?
(2) Why would a retailer want to invest in a virtual community like WeddingChannel.com?
(3) Can you think of other retailers that might benefit from developing a virtual community?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Outline the decision-making process for each of the Chens‘ bicycle purchases.
2. Compare the different purchase processes for the three bikes. What stimulated each of them? What factors
were considered in making the store choice decisions and purchase decisions?
3. Go to the student side of the Online Learning Center (OLC) and click on multiattribute model. Construct a
multiattribute model for each purchase decision. How do the attributes considered and importance weights
vary for each decision?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Is there an overlap in these two consumer segments?
2. Can Wal-Mart changes its image and appeal to an upscale shopper, or should it stick to loyal, cash-strapped
customers?
3. Would you recommend that Wal-Mart purchase additional pages in Vogue magazine this year? Explain your
rationale.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is the target market of extreme value retailers like Dollar General and Family Dollar?
2. Why are customers increasingly patronizing these extreme value retailer stores?
3. How do extreme value retailers make a profit when their prices and average transactions are so low?
4. Can extreme value retailers defend themselves against general merchandise discount retailers like Wal-Mart,
or will Wal-Mart eventually drive them out of business? Why?
Questions:
1. Evaluate Sports Authority‘s new design in light of the retailer‘s objectives.
2. Discuss the pros and cons of Sports Authority‘s use of specialty boutiques instead of its previous
warehouse format.
3. Develop a promotional campaign for Sports Authority to capitalize on ―the authority‖ image.
4. Do you think the WTSA network will prove to be a major contributor to Sports Authority‘s
atmospherics or will it turn out to be a fad? Explain your answer.
Hospitality management
Case I
Airline Commission Caps
Travel agents have begun legal action and public campaigns to combat several airlines‘ decisions to lower
commissions for writing tickets, and have warned of higher ticket costs if other airlines follow. Most U.S. airlines have
lowered the commission rate on tickets for domestic flights to a $20 cap for a round-trip fare. International
commissions also fell and vary from airline to airline.
As consumers begin to balk at rising ticket prices and Wall Street presses for continued earnings growth,
airlines must cut costs by turning to their second largest expense, that $12 billion spent annually for costs such as
travel agent commissions. It has become clear that airlines can do nothing about fuel prices and can do very little, if
anything, about labor costs. The only area that airline management has any power over is the area of distinction
expenses.
American Express Corporate Services Agencies, which books mostly business travelers, warned that if other
airlines follow suit, some travel agencies will go out of business. That would send more businesses to airlines‘
reservation agents, who do not offer the lowest available fares from all carriers, or could result in travel agents
passing costs along to consumers.
The American Society of Travel Agents, which represent 24,000 agents, and The Association of Retail Travel
Agents, a trade group that represents 4,000 travel agents, have announced they will seek U.S. congressional approval
to allow small, ―business-sized‖ travel agents to bargain collectively with the major airlines and to steer customers to
―friendly‖ airlines when negotiating fails. The associations believe that the cut in commissions in less than three years
is a slap in the face.
After the introduction of the initial cap of $25 for one-way domestic tickets and $50 for round-trip tickets,
many agents complained caps would eliminate jobs and reduce earnings. A class action lawsuit followed on behalf of
33,000 travel agents, alleging price fixing. Some travel agents also steered customers away from other airlines such
as Delta in retaliation.
In September 1996, American, Delta, Northwest, and United agreed to pay $72 million in cash to settle the
lawsuit
Discussion Questions
1. If you owned a travel agency, what would your reaction to the reduced commission cap be?
2. What options would you consider?
Case I
Developing the San Diego Waterfront
San Diego, California, has a diversified economic base with tourism as an important component of the
economy. The city hosts about 18 million tourists who spent some $6 billion, and tourism is steadily expanding each
year. Most tourists are domestic, although a fair number of foreigners also visit the city. The attractions for tourists in
San Diego are the mild Mediterranean-type climate; attractive natural setting; beaches developed with resort and
park facilities; and major attractions including Sea World, the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park,
interesting and well-preserved historic areas, and picturesque shopping districts. A variety of resort and urban hotels
have been developed, the most notable being the historic Hotel del Coronado. The policy of government, which is
supported by most residents, is for the continued but controlled development of tourism as a major source of income
and employment.
A major focal point for tourism development is the downtown area located next to the waterfront of San Diego
Bay. As a result of concerted planning efforts and substantial investment during the past several years, the San Diego
downtown is undergoing new development and redevelopment. Changes include a recently completed convention
center; the preservation and renovation of numerous shops and restaurants in the historical Gaslamp Quarter; the
development of a maritime museum on the waterfront of historic ships; the Seaport Village shopping and restaurant
complex and related park, also located on the waterfront; and others. New urban residential complexes are also
developing. In response to the revitalization of downtown, several new high-rise hotels have been developed and
some historic hotels have been renovated to provide good quality tourist facilities. Many conferences and conventions
are now being attracted to the downtown and this area, with its interesting features, has become an important center
for tourism for both business conferences and holiday tourists.
San Diego recognizes the importance of its waterfront and the views it affords as a major attraction for both
residents and tourists. If properly conserved and carefully developed, waterfronts give an urban area a unique
character. However, in the case of San Diego, and some other cities, the economic pressure to develop prime
waterfront sites can lead to cutting off public access to the waterfront, thereby preempting waterfront areas from
public use and blocking views of the water from inland downtown buildings. In San Diego, the new convention canter
already stretches along a considerable length of the waterfront and plans are to expand it further along this area. New
high-rise hotels near the convention center are blocking waterfront access and views of the bay, and more hotels have
been proposed for this area. Expansion is planned for the popular Seaport Village, however this complex is low rise
and does not greatly impinge on views. It is designed to provide pedestrian access along the waterfront. Other
projects are being considered for development on the waterfront. Thus, there is the dilemma of the waterfront area,
the most significant natural feature of the downtown environment, not being effectively integrated into development
patterns because of economic development pressures. At the same time, many persons recognize the need to
preserve public access, use of the waterfront, and views of the bay. The problem relates particularly to the need for
careful land-use planning with utmost consideration given to social and economic implications.
Discussion Questions
1. Why is it considered so desirable to develop public and private amenity features on the waterfront
and preserve public access to the waterfront and water views in urban area? From the residents’
standpoint? From the standpoint of developing successful tourism?
2. What approach can San Diego take in properly developing its downtown waterfront area both to
achieve economic development objectives and to preserve access to and along the waterfront and
views of the adjacent bay?
3. If the choice of development of a particular waterfront site lies between developing the site for a
high-rise hotel, for which there is proven market demand, or a waterfront public park for use by
both residents and tourists, which do you think is the best use of the site? What approaches could
be applied to achieve both objectives?
Case II
To Flag or Not to Flag—and If So, Which Flag?
Joy and Bob Brown retired from the military in 1995. They bought a motel near a picturesque New England
town. The Cozy Motel is clearly visible and easily accessible from the turnpike. It has seventy-five rooms that are in
good shape, having just been refurbished, and the curbside appeal of fresh paint and attractive landscaping adds to
the motel‘s presentation.
The motel‘s year-round occupancy is 58 percent, which is about 10 percentage points below the national
average. The average daily rate is $38. The Cozy Motel‘s guests are a mix of business travelers, who are mostly from
companies at the nearby business park; a few retires traveling for pleasure; an occasional bus tour; and some sports
teams.
The Browns have asked several major franchise corporations to submit their best offers. The best one
indicates that the cost of a franchise application fee is $20,000, and that there is a 2 percent revenue marketing fee
and a reservation fee of $4 per room booked by the Central Reservation System (CRS).
Discussion Questions
1. What would you do in the Brown’s situation? Should they sign a franchise agreement or not? Make
assumptions, if needed.
2. What terms and conditions of a franchise agreement would be acceptable to you, or to the
Browns?
3. What additional information would you, or the Browns, need to know?
Case III
Checking Out a Guest
A guest walked up to the front desk agent in an upscale hotel, ready to check out. As she would normally do when
checking out a guest, the agent asked the guest what his room number was. The guest was in a hurry and showed his
anxiety by responding, ―I stay in a hundred hotel rooms and you expect me to remember my room number?‖
The agent then asked for the guest‘s name, to which he responded, ―My name is Mr. Johnstein.‖ After
thanking him, the agent began to look for the guest‘s last name, but the name was not listed in the computer.
Because the man had a heavy accent and the agent assumed that she had misunderstood him, she politely asked the
guest to spell his last name. He answered, ―What? Are you an idiot? The person who checked me in last night had no
problem checking me in.‖ Again, the agent looked on the computer to find the guest.
The guest, becoming even more frustrated, said, ―I have a plane to catch and it is ridiculous that it has to take
this long to check me out. I also need to fax these papers off, but I need to have them photocopied first.‖ The agent
responded, ―There is a business center at the end of the counter that will fax and photocopy what you for it. Haven‘t
you ever heard of customer service? Isn‘t this a five-star hotel? With your bad attitude, you should be working in a
three-star hotel. I can‘t believe they let you work here at the front desk. Haven‘t you found my name yet?‖
The agent, who was beginning to get upset, asked the guest again to spell out his full name. The guest only
replied, ―Here are my papers I want faxed if you are capable of faxing them.‖ The agent reached to take the papers,
and the guest shouted, ―Don‘t grab them from my hand! You have a bad attitude, and if I had more time, I would talk
to someone about getting you removed from your position to a hotel where they don‘t require such a level of
customer service.‖ The agent was very upset, but kept herself calm in order to prevent the guest from getting angrier.
The agent continued to provide service to the guest, sending the faxes and making the photocopies he had
requested. Upon her return, the agent again asked the guest to repeat his last name, since he had failed to spell it
out. The guest replied by spelling out his name, ―J-o-h-n-s-t-o-n-e.‖ The agent was finally able to find his name on
the computer and checked him out, while he continued to verbally attack her. The agent finished by telling the guest
to have a nice flight.
Discussion Questions
5. Is it appropriate to have the manager finish the check-out? Or, should the front desk agent just
take the heat?
6. Would you have handled the situation in the same manner?
7. What would you have done differently?
Case IV
Overbooked: The Housekeeping Perspective
It is on secret that in all hotels, the director of housekeeping must be able to react quickly and efficiently to
any unexpected circumstances that arise. Stephen Rodondi, executive housekeeper at the Regency in La Jolla,
California, usually starts his workday at 8.00 A.M. with a department meeting. These morning meetings help him, and
the employees, to visualize their goals for the day. On this particularly busy day, Rodondi arrives at work and is told
that three housekeepers have called in sick. This is a serious challenge for the hotel because it is overbooked and has
all of its 400 rooms to service.
Discussion Questions
1. What should Stephen do to maintain standards and ensure that all the guest rooms are serviced?
Case V
Overbooked: The Front Office Perspective
Overbooking is an accepted hotel and airline practice. Many question the practice from various standpoints
including ethical and moral. Industry executives argue that there is nothing more perishable than a vacant room. If it
is not used, there is no chance to regain lost revenue. Hotels need to protect themselves because potential guests
frequently make reservations at more than one hotel or are delayed and, therefore, do not show up.
The percentage of ―no-shows‖ varies by hotel and location, but is often around 5 percent. In a 400-room
hotel, that is twenty rooms, or an average loss of approximately $2,600 per night. Considering these figures, it is not
surprising that hotels try to protect themselves by overbooking.
Hotels look carefully at bookings: Who they are for, what rates they are paying, when they were made,
whether they are for regular guests or from a major account (a corporation who uses the hotel frequently), etc.
Jill Reynolds, the front office manager at the Regency La Jolla, had known for some time that the 400-room
hotel would be overbooked for this one night in October. She prepared to talk with the front desk associates as they
came on duty at 7:30 in the morning, knowing it would be a challenge to sell out without ―walking‖ guests. Seldom
does a hotel sell out before having to walk a few guests.
The hotel‘s policy and procedure on walking guests enables the front desk associates to call nearby hotels of a
similar category to find out if they have rooms available to sell. If it is necessary to walk a guest, the associate
explains to the guest that, regrettably, no rooms are available due to fewer departures thane expected. The associate
must explain that suitable accommodations have been reserved at a nearby hotel and that the hotel will be pay for
the room and transportation to and from the hotel. Normally guests are understanding, especially when they realize
that they are receiving a free room and free transportation.
On this particular day, the house count indicated that the hotel was over booked by thirty rooms. Three or
four nearby, comparable hotels had rooms available to sell in the morning. Besides walking guests, Jill considered
other options, in particular ―splitting‖ the fifteen suites with connecting parlors. If the guests in the suites do not need
the parlor, it is then possible to gain a few more ―room‖ to sell separately, however roll-away beds must be placed in
the rooms. Fortunately, eight parlors were available to sell.
Discussion Question
1. If you were in the same situation, what would you do?
Public Administration
1. Discuss history and development of PR in India.
2. What is the importance of public opinion to PR.? How can public opinion be influenced by a PR
practioner?
3. Write short notes on:
(a) mass media
(b) house journals
(c) press conference
(d) news letter
(e) exhibitions.
4. Discuss PR programmes and campaigns.
5. Explain the latest trends in Pr.
6. PR is the art of making a company liked and respected by the employees and customers‘‘ -
Discuss.
7. How would you prepare the House Journal for a Joint Stock Company?
8. Discuss the structure and functions of a PR Department in Government.
9. Discuss the functions of pr counseling and mass media.
10. State the ethics of public relations.
SHIPPING MGMT
1. Explain in detail Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in Shipping Management?
2. Explain in detail Issues affecting maintenance and materials management in shipping?
3. What do you mean by Shipping Pools? Also mention other sources of uncertainty in volatility of
earnings?
4. Explain in your words the use of ―Information Technology‖ in the field of Shipping.
5. What do you mean by EDI? Explain with its advantages and disadvantages?
6. Explain in your words various parties involved in the Shipping Industry.
7. Write detailed note on ―Maritime Law‖
8. Explain in detail Management of Container Terminals?
9. Explain in your words the issues on which Shipowner should commit himself to the nation
10. Explain hedging with freight futures?
CASE I
You are just one week ‗young‘ in your job as a treasury executive in a leading laptop trader/supplier in India. Earlier
your company was sourcing assembled laptops from China, but with the incentives provided in the Budget of 2006 by
the Finance Minister of India, your company is planning to enter assembly/manufacturing market in India.
Now, your company is planning to source components and sub assemblies from Taiwanese firms. This will
involve a lot of foreign exchange trading and contracts.
Since you are from a leading business school in India, your CFO has asked you to make a presentation to the
top management on various possibilities relating to forex market in India.
Question: What is all that you would like to tell the top management so as to establish your credibility?
CASE II
While you are making presentation to the top management a middle aged person enters the boardroom. All the board
members exchange smiles with this person.
At the end of your presentation, this new entrant speaks up, ―Well, that was a very interesting presentation. It
appears that you know a lot about forex markets in India.‖ This person continues, ―While, I was on flight today, I
came across an interesting bit of information. There was a story in the newspaper mentioning that one can make a
‗killing‘ in forex market, if one is smart enough. I feel that you should tell us about this ‗killing‘ business as well.‖ And
goes on to add with a smile and tinge of sarcasm, ―I guess this will make our treasury a ‗profit center‘‖. All the board
members nod in unison. The chairman takes out the day‘s paper and hands it over to you to examine the possibility of
making a ‗killing‘ in the market.
Sweat breaks on your eyebrows. You do not remember having seen newspaper quotes during your course
work, since you devoted the majority of your time during MBA days to cultural activities and student exchange
programmes. This is going to be your first real challenge in the industry. You ask for some time to examine the
numbers. The chairman and CFO give you patronizing looks and ask you to come back after a working lunch and tell
the board about your findings. As you come back to your desk, you feel sudden loss of appetite.
After a while, the same person walks up to your desk and says, ―I can understand your predicament. I know
you are fresh from your MBA, and just one week young with our company. I hope these numbers help you to present
your case‖, while handing over a piece of paper to you. You do not like the patronizing tone. You thank this person for
encouragement (!). You find following details staring at you.
USD/CHF : 1.5963/1.5973. This is a quote available from a bank in Zurich. At the same time, a bank in New York is
offering the following spot quote: CHF/USD : 0.6265/0.6270
Further, a New York bank is currently offering these spot quotes:
USD/JPY : 112.25/112.55 and USD/AUD : 1.6659/1.6672
At the same time, a bank in Sydney is quoting :
AUD/JPY : 68.80/68.97
Additionally, the following pair of spot and forward quotes are also available:
GBP/USD spot : 1.6531/1.6600 and
GBP/USD 1-month forward : 1.6566/1.6577
Hope this helps!
Question: What will you do next? How will you present your analysis?
CASE III
You are back to your office after a long holiday in Caribbean Islands with your family members. This was a gift for
your outstanding performance last year. Your predictions about exchange rate and interest rates were bang on target.
This forecast helped your company to save over a hundred million dollars. Your CEO wants you to replicate this
performance this fiscal. You have promised your daughter and your spouse that you will be taking them to Amazon
forests for white water rafting next year.
Business Situation
Your company is the largest cloth manufacturer in the world in your segment. You are planning forays into the
branded garments segment. Since you want to keep transportation costs at their minimum, you are planning to set up
manufacturing bases in all the major markets. Think Global –Act Local‘ is your mantra, as well.
Plant and Machinery
It is expected that your three plants will be set up in Mexico, Brazil, and Australia. These plants will have about the
same capacity and are likely to cost about USD ten million each. The construction period could be anywhere from two
to five years, depending on the support received from local government officials. This investment could easily make
your company the second largest manufacturer of cloth in that segment.
Ownership
Your company has a choice of either setting up a 100% subsidiary or a joint venture with one of the local companies.
Local Issues
There are local political parties who can make life difficult in Brazil. However, in Mexico and Australia you are likely to
sail smoothly.
Cashflow
There are no credible estimates for cashflow because the local markets are an uncharted territory for you. All you
know is: you goods will be priced in local currency.
Capital
On this front, you have multiple choices: (i) raising domestic equity in rupee terms, (ii) mix of debt and equity in
rupee terms, (iii) USD denominated bond issue, (iv) raising local currency debt.
Question: Should your company make this investment? If yes, then which will be the best route to (a) maximiza-tion
of profits, (b) minimizing risk, (c) finding the optional mix of profits and risk.
What all information to you need to arrive at these answers? How will you structure your analysis?
CASE IV
―Ready for take off‖, voice of the Captain crackles over announcement system and brings you back to present. You
are returning after attending the glittering function where ‗DFO of the Year‘ award was presented. While coming out of
the function, you overheard someone saying, ―That‘s no big deal! If this person is really great then why not try and
get the ‗Financial Engineer of Year‘ award!!‖ The comment was definitely aimed at you, the winner of this year‘s
award.
Your company is one of the leading software companies in India, having a turnover of over USD 500 million in
the last financial year. Now, for reasons best know to them, the board members are keen that the company should
diversify into commodity trading. As you savour the gourmet meal, the aircraft starts shaking suddenly and an
announcement is made, ―We have hit an air-pocket. We expect more turbulence ahead. Please occupy immediately
the nearest vacant seat available and fasten seat-belts for your safety.‖ There is near commotion in the cabin, and the
next moment you find a middle-aged gentleman seated.‖ There is near commotion in the cabin, and the next to you
whose face is familiar; you exchange greetings with each other.
You start talking and as the discussion builds up you find that the other person was also there during the
presentation ceremony and he was, in fact, ‗Financial Engineer of the Year‘ last year. He shows keen interest in your
company and appears to know a lot about your company‘s future plans. He offers to exchange you purchase of coffee
worth USD 10 million options floating in return for sugar futures fixed, over next six months. You struggle to see the
reason and remain non committal.
On your return to office you find that your company needs to enter into interest rate swap for its forthcoming
commodity trading project. But this activity will be starting in about nine months from now and it will involve series of
swaps, required to be settled every month for about JPY 100 million fixed against AUS dollar floating. This is coming
from your overseas software business in these countries, where your company has taken a perpetual loan from the
local banks due to the Government‘s policy to demonstrate that you have long term business interests in those
countries.
You are keen to manage the risk of your foreign currency receivables portfolio, typically in EUR, with variable
timing by having a cross currency swap with a hardware vendor from China. You have not yet decided about the
currency which will be profitable against EUR.
While, you are in this process, your phone rings and the winner of ‗Financial Engineer of the Year‘ award is on
line asking you to join him for a dinner meeting next Friday. You sense that it could be good opportunity for you to
learn a few things from him.
You have about ten days time on your hand, and you are keen to get ‗Financial Engineer of the Year‖ award
next year.
Question: How will you proceed to structure this situation? What all information will be needed? What is your
perception of the risks involved in the proposed structure?
CASE V
You are the chief financial officer of a leading dental hospital located in India. Your hospital has been having a roaring
practice. You have a large group of dedicated doctors and a wide range of patients traveling from all over the region.
Your hospital is known for its professional perfection and value-for-money services.
Of late the hospital has started offering services to relatively well off customers under ‗cosmetic dentistry‘.
The opening of this market segment has helped the hospital to reduce per patient charges for patients of ‗essential
dentistry‘. The hospital is also planning to start ‗mobile dental clinics‘ to cover rural areas, in line with its motto ‗Oral
Hygiene for All‘.
While the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare is supporting the second initiative, the Ministry of
Tourism and Hospitality is supporting the previous initiative along the lines of ‗Smile India‘ campaign. This has helped
India in becoming a preferred destination for the emerging market for ‗health tourism‘. A majority of customers of
cosmetic treatment are from Europe and the US of A. Recent interest of some of the corporate clients from Australia
and some pop-divas has given your hospital practically free media coverage.
Expectedly, this success is not an unmitigated blessing. Competition in the region is coming from a Chinese
dental hospital. They are offering ‗tooth‘ transplant with the help of a Korean firm. This firm has asked a claim that
they have the technology to organically grow a tooth with the help of root-canal cells taken from a patient. This is a
time consuming and costly process and requires a longer stay in China and frequent visits to Korea, but patients do
not seem to mind—since they are assured of an ‗organically‘ grown tooth.
There is another competitor coming up in Belgium. They have a different technology. It is neither ‗organic‘ nor
as good as Indian, but highly cost effective since they fix an artificial tooth in a metallic socket, which can be removed
and refitted without much effort.
However, in last few months, the dedicated lot of dentists with your hospital are also reading the media
reports and there is growing feeling among them that the hospital is increasingly straying away from its path of ‗oral
hygiene for all‘. Some of the younger dentists have, on more than one occasion voiced their demand for higher
compensation. Recently, a group of experienced dentists have taken up visiting positions with the Belgian hospital for
a few weeks in a year. Now, the dentists have taken up visiting positions with the Belgian hospital for a few weeks in
a year. Now, the dentists want a pay hike and that wages to be paid in USD, not in INR as was the practice so far.
Your CEO has asked you to see her with the possible scenario analysis in a month from now.
You have gone through all your cost sheets. You know that the costliest element is the special grade dental
cement, which is to be imported in packs of 1000gm each costing over INR 1,000,000. Each tooth requires about 2gm
of this secial grade cement. Adding other facilities and services, it costs INR 3000 per tooth for each ‗cosmetic‘
treatment. Your charges are in the range of USD 200 which is very competitive in the international market. However,
the Chinese-Korean combine is offering ‗organic‘ tooth at USD 600 per tooth, all inclusive. The Belgian experiment is
at about USD 30 per tooth, but has a shorter useful life.
When you look at your cash inflow you find that your earnings are in all possible currencies of the world but
your costs are tied with USD and INR. The cover story of The Economist indicates possibility of USD appreciating
against INR and other major currencies on account of successful resolution of the Iraq situation and peaceful
resolution of the Iraq crisis, leading to the softening of world oil market prices. Though you are not a dentist by
profession, you have a tooth in every possible profession! You have suggested to the chief dentist to explore the
possibility of using heavy metal/precious metal with ceramic composite. You heard about this kind of material in your
previous job while dealing with the Japanese Satellite Agency. The chief dentist was not very happy but promised to
explore the possibility. You want to get into this material because there are commodity futures available on
heavy/precious metals, while there is no way to cover ‗special grade cement‘.
With this information on hand, you want to approach the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare and the
Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality with a request to absorb price variation due to strengthening dollar. You have also
approached RBI to grant permission to trade in futures in all the currencies in the world, but there are problems.
Question: How will you guide your CEO in this situation?
CASE VI
Here are the ‗excerpts‘ from a closed room discussion heads of purchase, marketing, production and the treasurer of
Advanced Tectonic Devices. [The dialogues given below might appear to be unduly contrived to an expert. This was
necessary for attaining clarity for our purpose and maintaining the printability of the statements; impolite usages are
deliberately expunged.]
Head Marketing: See, after a long drawn effort, spread over six months, my boys and girls have managed to get this
big #$%^*@ order totaling equivalent of USD 1.5 million. I had to @#$%^*& the happiness of all my staff to get this
deal going. Despite an international competitive bidding we have got this order for the supply of high precision devices
to the European Space Agency for the launch of a Japanese communication satellite. This supply agreement is likely to
be signed in anytime over next two weeks. The exact rupee equivalent of this order will be known when the price is
frozen, on the date of signing of contract.
Head Production: Thanks to all your efforts and advance planning, we are in a position to meet all deadlines,
without an iota of problem. My only concern is about the raw material supply linkage. Give me material today and I
will deliver the component without any problem in a matter of ten days. Add a cushion of two more days, if some
rework in required due to material flaw. [Ends this sentence with a deprecating chuckle, obviously directed towards
the head of purchase.]
Head Purchase: (He turns to Head Treasury) You production persons, when will you learn to behave. See, just
before coming to this meeting I called the raw material supplier with our dates and quantity. He told me that material
for entire order can‘t be purchased in one lot due to international trade restrictions. This grade of alloy steel is on the
international watch list due to possible use in nuclear weapons. Therefore, only a part of total material requirement
can be bought at a time. As soon as one lot is consumed in production, we will need to issue a certificate to this
effect, and then only the next lot of high alloy steel can be purchased. He turns to head treasury, See, the payment is
to be made every fortnight for raw material (high alloy steel billets) over next six months, in equal installments of
USD 100,000 each. Without fail! Any trouble on that front will jeopardize the entire supply sequence.
Head Marketing: As per the terms of contract, the buyer will be able to pay 50% of the contracted amount once the
payload in fitted on the launch rocket in EUR (that is equivalent of USD 750,000) and the remaining 50% (that is
equivalent of USD 750,000) immediately after launch of the satellite in JPY.
Head Treasury: [Definitely not amused] What is this @#$%& contract you have drawn. At least you *&%^$#
should consult me before getting into any such commitments. Our chief economist is not comfortable with the world
economy outlook. In her opinion, Japan appears to be heading towards yet another cycle of recession. EUR is likely to
strengthen against JPY and USD over next six months. As far as INR is concerned, not much variation is expected
over next months. And you expect me to do a profitable deal under the circumstances!! [Leaves the meeting room
abruptly, door slams behind him, and some muffled shouts are heard]
Well, as you would have guessed it by now, you are the treasurer who feels slighted due to the process
adopted by marketing, purchase, and production heads.
Question: What are the choices available with you to meet these cashflow requirements? Analyze each possibility in
detail and argue for and against each of them.
CASE VII
The first part of payment was received as planned. All are happy. The second part is due. The rocket is successfully
launched but there is a problem. Since the time the communication satellite has been deployed, there has been a
continuous decline in the bandwidth and transponder hire charges. Your counter party wants to renegotiate the terms
of payment.
Question: What will you do? How you will protect your interest in this situation?
Questions:
1. A young financial analyst in Canadian firm has been assigned the task of evaluating a direct investment
project in Mexico. She has worked out the operating cash flows of the project for the next 7 years For finding
the NPV of the project she proposes the following four alternatives:
(a) Discount the nominal MEP (Mexican Peso) cash flows using the Mexican nominal interest rate used for
similar projects and translate into CAD using the current MEP/CAD spot rate.
(b) Discount the real i.e. inflation adjusted MEP cash flows using the Mexican real interest rate and translate
at the current spot rate.
(c) Forecast the MEP/CAD exchange rate for the next 7 years using PPP; translate nominal MEP cashflows
into nominal CAD cash flows; discount using nominal CAD interest rate used for similar projects.
(d) Adjust the nominal CAD cash flows for Canadian inflation and discount using real Canadian interest rate.
Her boss says that if relative PPP and covered interest parity hold, the above alternatives would yield identical
answers. Is he right? If not, can you correct him? Justify your answers with appropriate and sufficiently
detailed arguments.
2. Consider a firm with a healthy cash flow but very low profits—because, for example, of high depreciation
allowances. Your boss argues that such a firm should probably borrow in a strong (low-interest) currency,
because the high-tax shield from weak-currency loans is more likely to be lost than the low tax shield from
strong-currency loans. Is this analysis accurate?
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