B3.

1-R3: MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

• January, 2007
• july 2006
• July, 2005
• January, 2005
• July, 2004
• January, 2004
January, 2007
Time: 3 Hours

1.
a) What are the objectives of MIS? Discuss.
b) What are the Jobs of Production and Operations Management? Explain.
c) What are the type of decisions and the areas of their involvement? Discuss.
d) What are the elements of Production Control?
e) Explain the decision support system concept and how it differs from traditional
MIS.
f) What are the applications of Marketing Management?
g) What is Knowledge Management Systems?

(7x4)

2.
a) Define expert system. Discuss knowledge-based expert system.
b) Explain the functions of Financial Management and its applications.

(9+9)
3.
a) Discuss Decision Making System. What are the types and nature of decisions?
Explain.
b) What is Statistical Quality Control? What are the areas of usages of statistical
quality control? Discuss.

(9+9)
4.
a) Define Material Requirements planning(MRP). What are the objectives of MRP?
Discuss.
b) Discuss concepts and perspective of human resource management.
(9+9)

5.
a) Give examples of several ways of expert systems that can be used in business
decision-making situations.
b) Discuss the following:
1) Job Design and Appraisal
2) Job Description
3) SWOT Analysis
(9+9)
6.
a) What is the theory of organizational behaviour? Explain the nature of Organisational
Behaviour.
b) What is Primary Compensation? Explain the requisites of a sound primary
compensation structure? Discuss.

(9+9)

7.
a) Identify and give examples of several ways e-Commerce applications provide
significant business value to a company and its customers.
b) What companies are expecting from their future use of Intranets, extranets and
enterprise information portals.

(10+8)
July 2006

Time: 3 Hours Total Marks: 100

1.
a) Explain the skills, which a manager should possess.
b) ‘Leadership is an interpersonal influence process.’ Explain.
c) ‘Organising consists of two sub-processes—differentiation and integration.
d) What do you understand by SWOT Analysis?
e) Explain the main objectives of Statistical Quality Control.
f) Discuss Employees Stock Option Plan as an incentive scheme for employees.
g) Explain the types of Decisional Support Systems.
(7x4)

2.
a) ‘Managerial planning is a mere ritual in a fast changing environment.’ Comment.
b) ‘Delegation of authority is the key to organization.’ Discuss the statement and state the
guidelines for effective delegation of authority.
c) What are the benefits and limitations of interactive marketing for a business?
(6+8+4)

3.
a) ‘Formal and informal organizations are not two different forms, but are two dimensions of
the same organization.’ Discuss and bring out clearly the differences between the two.
b) Define Communication. What are the essentials for good communication system?
c) How can Internet technologies improve relationships and service for a business?
(7+7+4)

4.
a) Explain the meaning and objectives of Quality Control.
b) What is product life cycle? Discuss the different stages in the lifecycle of a product.
c) Explain Knowledge Management System in brief.
(7+7+4)

5.
a) Compare NPV (Net Present Value) and IRR (Internal Rate of Return) methods of
Investment decisions. Which one of the two, you find to be more rational and why?
b) Why do firms need working capital? What are the main components of working capital
management?
(9+9)

6.
a) Define Management Information System (MIS). What are the pre-requisites of an
effective MIS?
b) Explain the role played by financial information system in making financial decisions.
(10+8)

7.
a) What is ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)? Explain the different types of ERP
systems.
b) Describe the phases of System Development Life cycle.
(10+8)

July, 2005
Note:

1. Answer question 1 and any FOUR questions from 2 to 7.

2. Parts of the same question should be answered together and in the same sequence.

Time: 3 Hours Total Marks:100

1.
1. Explain any four Principal activities of Management Process.
2. What are the involved in a basic control process.
3. "Sound organizational structure is an essential prerequisite of effective
management/" Do you agree with the above? Justify your answer.
4. What are the objectives of Employees' Performance Appraisal?
5. Distinguish between Job Enrichment and Job Enlargement. Illustrate with
examples.
6. Compare and contrast between programmed decisions and non-
programmed decisions. Give two examples of each.
7. Briefly explain role of E-Commerce in marketing?
(7x4)
2.
1. Explain the rational decision making process? Explain the importance of
Decision Support System in the decision making process.
2. Describe the logical relationships between division of work,
departmentalization, hierarchy and co-ordination.
(10+8)
3.
1. How is Maslow's hierarchy of needs related to motivation in
organizations?
2. Explain the major contingency approaches to leadership.
(8+10)
4.
1. Why aggregate planning is necessary in operations management?
 2. What are the pricing strategies a firm can adopt to respond to a price cut
initiated by a competitor?
3. A common misconception is that organizations with to have managers
with technical skills and not with human relations skills. Why this
statement is not correct? (6+6+6)
5.
1. List and explain the factors, which influence the working capital needs of
a firm.
2. What is Human Resource Planning?
3. What are the important steps in Human Resource Planning?
(10+4+4)
6.
1. List and explain the six major types of information systems in
organization. Who are the users of each of these six systems?
2. Explain CRM. What are the five common steps in CRM?
(10+8)
7.
1. Explain e-business with the help of examples. What is B2B transaction?
2. Explain the impact of e-business on supply chain management.

(9+9)
January, 2005
Note:

1. Answer question 1 and any FIVE questions from 2 to 7.

2. Parts of the same question should be answered together and in the same sequence.

Time: 3 Hours Total Marks:100

1.
1. Give very brief answers to the following questions:
1. Explain the concept of matrix organization.
2. What is the "great-man" approach to leadership?
3. Name any two forecasting tools widely used in business
forecasting.
4. State the role of an expert system in business decision-making.
5. Name current challenger for IT management.
2. Define the following:
1. IRR
2. CRM
3. MIS
4. EOO
5. SWOT
3. Distinguish between
1. Production and Productivity
2. Efficiency and Effectiveness
3. Decision Support System and Expert System
4. Strategy and Strategic Policy
5. Delegation and Decentralization

(10+5+10)

2.
1. "Sound organisational structure is an essential prerequisite of effective
management" Comment.
2. "Leadership style should be sustainable and it can not be unless it comes
from within." In the light of the statement, discuss various leadership
styles.
 (5+10)

3.
1. Every manager in an organisation is supposed to take some decisions and
so is the finance manager. Discuss What the main decisions taken by a
finance manager in an organisation and also; the objective followed by
him while taking these decisions.:
2. Why should a firm carry Working Capital though such a capital do not
earn a high rate of return? Also, state the difference between Net Working
Capital and Gross Working Capital.

(10+5)

4.
1. "The controlling function of management is similar to the function of a
thermostat in a refrigerator." Elucidate the statement and bring out the
main steps in the control process.
2. State the role of a good management information system in achieving an
efficient and effective control system in an organisation.

(10+5)

5.
1. What are the similarities and differences between delegation and
empowerment?
2. Explain the role of statistical quality control is ensuring better product
quality.

(10+5)

6.
1. The internetworked enterprise is the best model for the business use of
information technology in the present century.' Do you agree or disagree?
Give reason(s) for your answer.
2. Identify the four basic data needs of - Personnel Manager, Finance
Manager, Production Manager and Marketing Manager for their respective
decision making problems.
3. One, of the concerns of the consumers making online purchases is about
the confidentiality about their credit/debit card information that is
vulnerable to interception by network sniffers. You are required to suggest
any two-security measures, which can take care of this concern of the
consumers.

(5+8+2)

7.
 1. In what ways does using an electronic spreadsheet package provide
today's manager with the necessary capabilities for effective decision-
making?
2. Write short notes on any three of the following:
1. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
2. Role of E-Commerce in Marketing
3. Transaction Processing System
4. Application of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Business
Organisation

(6+[3x3])
July, 2004
Note:

1. Answer question 1 and any FOUR questions from 2 to 6.

2. Parts of the same question should be answered together and in the same sequence.

Time: 3 Hours Total Marks:100

1. Give very brief (2-3 lines) answers to the following questions:

1. Define any four Fayol's Principles.
2. Differentiate between Strategy and Policy.
3. Define span of management.
4. Define job enrichment.
5. Define motivation process
6. Explain Mechanism of Control.
7. Explain any one inventory control method.
8. Explain "Ps" of Marketing.
9. Define Break Even Analysis
10. What is HRIS?
11. Explain flow of information in an organization.
12. Explain Role of IT in Business Performance
13. Define E-commerce.
14. What is Transaction Processing System?

(2x14)

2.
1. Define marketing and differentiate it from selling.
2. What is marketing mix?
3. Define the term price. Explain various methods of pricing.

(4+4+10)

3.
1. Discuss the broad areas and objectives of Financial Management.
2. Discuss the factors, which determine fixed capital and working capital of a
company.
 3. Describe the methods for investment decision by an enterprise.

(4+6+8)

4.
1. Bring out the essentials of planning process.
2. Discuss role of budget as a tool of planning.
3. Explain SCM, ERP and CRM.

(4+5+9)

5.
1. Explaing Herzberg's two factors theory of motivation.
2. Explaing any one model of leadership.
3. Explain role of motivation in leadership.

(6+6+6)

6.
1. Explain role of IT in decision-making process.
2. Differentiate between MIS and DSS.
3. Explain Knowledge Management System.

(6+6+6)
January, 2004
Note:

1. Answer question 1 and any FOUR questions from 2 to 7.

2. Parts of the same question should be answered together and in the same sequence.

Time: 3 Hours Total Marks:100

1. Give brief (one or two sentence) answers to the following questions:

1. Distinguish between efficiency and effectiveness.
2. Why Planning and Control are interdependent?
3. Define any one method of Job analysis.
4. Differentiate between Job enlargement and Job enrichment.
5. What is production planning?
6. What are different 'P's of marketing?
7. Define Break-even analysis.
8. What are the main decisions that are taken by a finance manager in a
company?
9. Show by diagram only flow of information in an organization.
10. Differentiate between software and hardware requirement for an efficient
information system.
11. What is knowledge management system?
12. Define ERP and CRM.
13. Explain any one technique of inventory control.
14. Name current challenges for IT management.

(14x2)

2.
1. 'Managerial planning seeks to achieve a coordinated structure of
operations.' Comment.
2. 'Policies are guideposts for managerial action.' Do you agree with the
statement? Support your answer with reasons.
3. Explain role of procedures and budget for effective planning.

(6+6+6)
3.
1. 'Organisation is an important tool to achieve enterprise objective.' Explain
this statement with help of steps in organization.
2. Define span of control. Explain the factors, which determine span of
control.
3. Explain basic principles of organization.

(6+7+5)

4.
1. What factors should be taken into account for determining the capital
structure of a company?
2. Discuss the following as a tool for investment decisions:
1. Payback Period
2. NPV.
3. IRR.
3. What is the difference between Gross Working Capital and Net Working
Capital? State the sources of financing working capital requirement of a
company.

(6+6+6)

5.
1. Explain the term marketing. Also distinguish between marketing and
selling.
2. 'Marketing research is the milestone of marketing strategy.' Discuss.
3. Distinguish between advertising and sales promotion. On what basis you
suggest the build up of advertising budget.

(5+6+7)

6.
1. Distinguish between routing and scheduling in production planning and
control.
2. Discuss the role of statistical quality control in ensuring better product
quality.
3. What important factors should be taken into account in deciding the
location of
1. a sugar mill?
2. a textile mill?

(7+5+6)

7.
1. Define decision support system and how it is different from expert
system?
 2. What is spreadsheet? How is it useful for a manager in decision making?
Support your answer with suitable examples.
3. Differentiate between data, information and knowledge.

(7+6+5)