Depreciation on plant @ 15% and on Building @ 10%.
Outstanding printing and stationery expense Rs. 5000.
Prepaid advertisement expense Rs. 15000.
Q2. Raj Limited provides the following information for the immediately preceding two years. From the given information prepare Comparative Income Statement of the company for the two- year period:
Q3(a). Dividend is the distribution of profits by a company to its shareholders. Companies generally pay two types of dividends: Interim dividend and Final dividend. You are required to explain the term Dividend and explain the two types of dividends.
Q3(b). In order to take management decisions for a company, it is important to analyze the financial statements of the company in detail with the help of various financial analysis techniques. Explain in one sentence each the 5 techniques of analyzing financial statements.
Business Economics
Q1. XYZ Pvt. Ltd., a mid-sized manufacturing company producing eco-friendly water bottles, has witnessed a surge in demand due to increased environmental awareness. However, the company faces several significant challenges in scaling up production to meet this growing demand. Firstly, the limited availability of skilled labor poses a constraint on expanding production capacity. Secondly, the company depends on imported machinery, with a three-month lead time, which delays the procurement process and hampers timely scaling efforts.
Additionally, seasonal variations in the availability of raw materials further disrupt production schedules and supply chain efficiency. These factors collectively restrict XYZ Pvt. Ltd.'s ability to respond swiftly to the rising demand, despite the reduction in production costs due to government subsidies on raw materials. As a result, the company is assessing its capacity to increase production effectively to capitalize on the growing eco-friendly water bottle market. Analyze the above scenario and discuss the concept on elasticity of supply and discuss the various determinants of elasticity of supply.
Q2. XYZ Tech Solutions is a growing software company specializing in developing mobile applications. The company plans to launch a new app designed to improve customer
engagement for retail businesses. Management believes that the app will attract significant interest, but they are unsure of the future demand, especially since the market for such applications is still evolving. To make informed decisions regarding production, marketing, and resource allocation, XYZ Tech Solutions needs a reliable demand forecast. To address this, XYZ Tech decides to use the Delphi technique. On the above scenario, discuss the various factors affecting demand forecasting and details about Delphi technique method of demand forecasting with respect to above context.
Q3. XYZ Electronics, a leading retailer in consumer electronics, is planning to introduce a price reduction on their latest smartphone model, the SmartTech Pro. The current price of the smartphone is ₹50,000, and the company estimates that if they lower the price to ₹45,000, the quantity demanded will increase from 10,000 units to 15,000 units.
a) Calculate the price elasticity of demand for the SmartTech Pro using the percentage/proportionate change method.
b) Analyze the above scenario and specify If the company observes that competitors are also reducing their prices for similar models, how might this affect the elasticity of demand for the SmartTech Pro?
Information System for Managers
1) An IT Company is working on multiples projects of a client from onsite. One of the Project needs to be delivered within shorter span of time and fixed deadline provided by the client. Discuss what is Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and which SDLC model will be implemented to complete this Project with fixed deadline and shorter span. Explain your answer with relevant justifications and examples.
2) Deluxe Jewellery as a startup has started their Jewellery business in Pune city. With the expansion of its business, they have established their offices in various cities of other parts of the country. As Deluxe Jewellery is startup hence, they want to centralize the management of all the operations from one location with a software which can be used by shops of all the locations.
Discuss how Cloud Technology can help Deluxe Jewellery to achieve their objectives. Also, explain which Cloud services will be applicable for operating the system centrally.
3) An employee at a company receives an email that appears to be from their bank, asking them to update their account details by clicking on a provided link. Later, it is discovered that the link led to a phishing website, and sensitive information was compromised.
a) Discuss what could be the possible threats and vulnerabilities which an organization/employee may face.
b) Discuss what could be the security measures to overcome these threats and vulnerabilities.
Management Theory and Practice
1. Bharat Industries, a traditional textile manufacturer in Surat, is facing declining profits due to rising competition and changing customer preferences. The CEO, Mr. Sharma, recognizes the need for organizational change to adapt to the dynamic market. He aims to introduce new product lines, expand into online retail, and implement a performance-based reward system.
Based on the factors influencing organizational structure, how should Mr. Sharma restructure Bharat Industries to achieve its goals?
2. Deccan Delights, a renowned sweet shop in Hyderabad, is facing a sudden drop in sales due to changing consumer preferences towards healthier snacks. The owner, Ms. Reddy, needs to make quick decisions to revive the business. She is considering introducing sugarfree options, expanding the product range to include savory snacks, and launching online delivery services.
Based on the types of managerial decision-making, what types of decisions does Ms. Reddy need to make to address the challenges faced by Deccan Delights?
3. A fast-growing Indian tech startup, "Innovision," is struggling with leadership challenges. The CEO, Ms. Khushboo Sharma, is a brilliant coder but lacks leadership skills. She adopts an autocratic style, making all decisions without considering employee input. This has led to demotivation, low morale, and high employee turnover.
3 a. What are the potential negative consequences of Ms. Sharma's autocratic leadership style on Innovision?
3 b. How can Ms. Sharma adapt her leadership style to improve employee morale and motivation at Innovision?
Organisational Behaviour
1. Reflecting on your professional experience, describe any two situations where your job satisfaction and organizational commitment were respectively challenged during a work situation. Also discuss how you responded to these challenges and what were the outcomes?
2. Write about an experience where perceptual shortcuts, such as stereotyping, the halo effect or selective perception, influenced your judgment of a colleague or how a colleague judge you. Describe the situation, its impact on workplace dynamics and the lessons learned.
Also discuss how awareness of these perceptual shortcuts can improve organizational behavior?
3. Alpha Corp. takes care of its employees in a number of ways. There are fixed timing, good catering and transportation facilities to its employees. Senior management continuously interacts with junior people even at an informal level. All events are celebrated together. The culture of openness has brought harmony in the organization. Younger employees adapt the culture of seniors quickly. The organization focuses on the overall development of its employees by providing them will all kinds of training and good compensation is offered.
As a result of all these positive aspects of culture, it has been observed that there is a scarcity of competitive drive among employees. Career growth is also not very fast. Being that the organization is highly structured, the facility for feedback and change is minimized. People do not like to task risks. The difference in the quality of research creates resentment among project teams. As stability is a priority even incompetent and unmotivated employees tend to remain in the system. People are still not satisfied with the monetary compensation. An interesting trend observed is that people appreciate the organization and its values but it is the younger set who quit the organization within 2 years of joining. The middle managers leave only when they get senior leadership positions in other place while senior management rarely leaves.
a. How would you classify this organization on cultural parameters? What are the problems being encountered by this organization?
b. If you were the CEO of this organization, how would you bring about a positive culture in the organization?
Marketing Management
Q1. For products like Amazon Alexa, and Google Siri (Voice assisted task completion gadget), develop a simple consumer buyer behaviour stages-based note to be shared with the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of your organization.
Q2. For the product or service of your choice, design a customer-driven marketing strategy that covers four major steps (or components) of the STP marketing model.
Q3. LAUNDROMAT INC., one of the UK’s leading laundry and dry cleaning service support providers, has entered India. It is following a franchising model and expanding rapidly. They offer cloth pick-up and drop service as well as at-home ironing service. Currently, they have 15 outlets across 5 cities. The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) needs to develop a broad market development plan. Certain basic understanding is needed by him, which you can provide by answering the following two questions.
a) First, identify and explain the four characteristics that affect the marketing of services with one example. Later identify the services of Laundromat Inc. as equal to which specific service characteristic and justify your answer.
b) Prepare your brief note for the CMO to suggest what is direct and digital marketing and suggest what Laundromat Inc. needs to do for each.
Business Communication
1. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) is planning a large-scale renovation of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station. To ensure the project's success, the MMC decides to hire an external contractor with expertise in historical restoration and modern infrastructure.
What key factors should the MMC consider when evaluating the bids received in response to their RFP for the CSMT renovation project?
2. Aryan Industries, a textile company in Surat, is launching a new line of sustainable fabrics. They plan to use social media, email marketing, and press releases to promote their products. However, their previous marketing campaigns have been inconsistent and lacked a clear brand voice.
How can Aryan Industries ensure consistency and professionalism in their communication to project a strong and credible company image for their new sustainable fabric line?
3. A small handicraft business in rural Rajasthan, “Desert Designs,” struggled to reach customers beyond their village. They adopted a mobile-first strategy, creating an online store accessible via smartphones and utilizing social media for marketing. This allowed them to connect with customers across India, receive online payments, and significantly expand their business.
Answer the following questions in light of the information provided.
a) How has the mobile revolution contributed to economic growth and empowerment, particularly in the Indian context?
b) Discuss the role of mobile technology in bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusivity in India.
Business Law
Q1. Intellectual Property Rights are an important asset for an organization. In today’s competitive business environment there is a need to protect and enforce Intellectual Property Rights. Please highlight the nature and types of Intellectual Property Rights and give one real
life example on how businesses can achieve competitive advantage through Intellectual Property Rights?
Q2. Environment Protection is a key objective linked to business goals and it impacts organizations, if they violate laws governing environment protection. Authorities like National Green Tribunal have come down heavily on organizations that violate such laws. List down two (2) judgments/orders where the National Green Tribunal has passed orders/directions to ensure protection of environment, and which has adversely impacted businesses.
Q3. Healthcom is an Indian health tech company that has products which deploy cardiology monitoring technology in India. Healthcom’s products are always approved by the DCGI (Drug Controller General of India) and only then they are launched in India.
Healthcom has received a request from a Public Information Officer of the DCGI’s office to disclose all technical details and commercial information of the patented technology that it uses in its products. This request is based on a RTI application which the Public Information Officer has received from a consumer in India.
In light of the above facts, can you advise Healthcom on:
a) Whether Healthcom is required to disclose such information under Right to Information Act, 2005? Can it deny the disclosing of such information especially if it is requested under Right to Information Act, 2005?
b) List of exemptions from disclosure of information under Right to Information Act, 2005 and the relevant legal provisions.
Decision Science
1) Calculate Quartile Deviation from the following:
2) Calculate Median from the following:
3.a) A bag contains 6 white and 4 black balls. Two balls are drawn at random one after another without replacement. Find the probability that both drawn balls are white.
3.b) In an intelligence test administered on 1000 children, the average was 42 and standard deviation was 24. Find the number of children exceeding a score of 50.
Essentials of HRM
Q1). Fusion Food Mart is a family-owned Indian supermarket chain, Anil Kumar, its present Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is the grandson of the organisation’s cofounder. The company never planned too much on the HR Plan they did HR planning as and when required Anil’s daughter, Ravina, is the president of the company, appointed you to develop an HR plan for a Fusion Food Mart having branches in major towns in India: What specific external and Internal factors would be important for you to consider.
Q2). Satya Sai InfoTech is an Information Technology Company in Hyderabad. The fiveyear-old company now wants to expand its branches to Bangalore, Gurgaon and Mumbai so they realize to create a vibrant human resource department for managing people functions. You have been appointed as their GM - HR. Explain to the company management, what will be the scope of your department in this expansion and justify the need of HR department.
Q3). Rohit is working as a Sales Executive from past three years in an FMCG company. He is a very hard working and dedicated employee. His performance has also been good consistently but in the absence of good connection with the immediate boss Ashok he never got his fair share of success. In this situation he searched a job and wants to resign. He communicated the same to Ashok who is his reporting Manager. Ashok knows about his hard work and realized the injustice happened with him. Ashok knows it happened in the lack of proper appraisal system and lack of career planning but now he can’t do anything expect to lose an important talent.
a) Suggest Ashok in developing an appropriate appraisal system. Why the effective Performance appraisal system required?
b) What is career planning and why it is important? In the absence of incentives does career planning help in retention? Mention all the pros and cons of career planning.
Operations Management
1. Discuss the importance of an effective layout design in operations management and compare the various layout types commonly implemented in manufacturing and service industries, outlining their advantages and disadvantages. Then, evaluate the specific challenges and opportunities related to both electric vehicle (EV) assembly plants and traditional automotive assembly lines. Conclude by recommending the most appropriate layout for each, justifying how the chosen layout optimally addresses the distinct requirements and operational challenges of each format.
2. Amazon Fresh is a prominent online grocery delivery platform that has gained popularity for its seamless operations and timely deliveries. A crucial factor contributing to its success is its advanced inventory management system. Discuss the concept of Amazon Fresh and how it differs from traditional brick-and-mortar grocery stores. Highlight various inventory management techniques commonly used in the e-commerce grocery industry and evaluate the key components and strategies implemented by Amazon Fresh to ensure operational efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction.
3. A renowned artisanal coffee shop chain is planning to open a new mid-sized outlet in your locality. Leveraging their expertise in brewing and branding, they are confident about efficiently managing the new coffee shop's operations. The shop’s offerings and the associated requirements are as follows:
Standard single orders (e.g., cappuccinos, lattes): Require 1 barista for 5 minutes per order.
Extended multiple orders (e.g., group orders): Require 2 baristas, each working for 8 minutes per order.
Custom beverages (e.g., personalized drinks): Require 3 baristas, each working for 10 minutes per order.
The demand forecast for the next four weeks is as follows:
Order Type
Standard single orders
Extended multiple orders
Anticipated Demand (Next 4 Weeks)
a. Estimate the aggregate capacity required to fulfill the anticipated demand for the next four weeks. If the coffee shop employs 15 baristas, working 6 days a week for 8 hours per day, calculate the current capacity available. Compare the required capacity with the available capacity to determine if the shop can meet the demand. If not, calculate the additional capacity needed.
b. Propose strategies to address the issue of underutilization of capacity and calculate the number of baristas required to meet 100% capacity utilization.
Strategic Management
1. You are the CMO of Godrej Consumer Products, and sequentially sales are dropping every quarter – and the steepest decline (~10%) has happened in in this quarter. Naturally, the management is worried about this situation. In these circumstances. Analyze the reasons for the dropping revenue. What strategic approaches would you suggest in this situation? Give valid reasons to support your answer.
2. Given the size of the Indian market, the NBA is keen to expand into India and they have hired your Consulting firm to advise them. Describe (at least two) tools you’d use in your analysis and why you’re choosing them. Summarize your Action Plan and a high-level timeline.
3. You are the Head - Marketing Strategy for X-India. Your business is dependent on Paid Accounts and Advertising. However, despite the large number of consumers using your app, Advertising Revenue has been flat for the past 3 quarters. In this situation…
a. Create a strategy to attract advertisers. Provide examples to support your answer.
b. Develop two strategies to communicate with your advertisers.
Digital Marketing
1. GlowX, a newly launched skincare brand, aims to develop an effective digital marketing strategy to increase brand awareness, engage with potential customers, and drive sales. The brand plans to utilize social media advertising, regularly update its blog and social media
pages with valuable content, and encourage customers to share reviews and testimonials online. Using these details, discuss how the POEM Framework (Paid, Owned, Earned Media) can be applied to GlowX’s strategy.
2. A leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, Tech Sphere, specializes in offering cloud-based solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company has recently observed a decline in the quality of inbound leads through traditional marketing efforts like email and webinars. To address this, Tech Sphere wants to focus more on leveraging social media platforms to improve lead generation, establish thought leadership, and build relationships with decision-makers. Discuss how Tech Sphere can effectively use Social Media Marketing to achieve its goals. You should discuss what all social media platforms the company can use and the rationale for the same, considering its B2B marketing (discuss at least 3). Also, discuss in detail the social media marketing strategy for each of the platforms identified.
3. Smart Wear, a leading brand in wearable technology, is planning to launch a new line of fitness trackers. To drive sales and build customer relationships, the company wants to leverage a strategic email marketing campaign focusing on product launches, post-purchase engagement, and customer retention. The team also wants to integrate Search Engine Marketing (SEM) alongside their email strategy to maximize visibility and conversions.
a. Design an effective email marketing strategy to launch their new fitness trackers, ensuring that the content is valuable, engaging, and aligned with customer needs at each stage of the customer journey (product launch, post-purchase engagement, and retention).
b. Develop an SEM strategy that complements their email marketing efforts, focusing on increasing website traffic, targeting the right audience, and optimizing conversions for the new fitness trackers.
Organisational Theory, Structure and Design
1. For a developing economy like India, encouraging the start-up culture is essential. In this scenario, evaluate the different necessary features of organisation – a large-scale company vs a start-up. Add suitable examples.
2. Kinetics mobile is losing market share to its competitors India. Analyse using the 7-S Framework of McKinsey to identify potential changes in the strategy of the firm to secure its market position. Evaluate various internally focussed organisational aspects that needs attention. Give suitable examples.
3. Ananya, the Managing Director of Summer Vibes clothing company wants to introduce a new work culture for enhancing Organisational Effectiveness. In this context, answer the following with examples:
a. Evaluate various organisational parameters for enhancing a clothing company’s effectiveness.
b. Analyze the theory on the Goal Approach along with its pros and cons.
Corporate Finance
1. Mr. Joshi is the Finance Manager at M/s Vriddhi Impex. The Company is looking at lateral growth and diversification into garment making from cloth making. For doing this, there needs to be put up a factory with all the latest machinery for cutting and stitching garments. The cost of acquisition of land, setting up the factory and buying the machinery works out to Rs. 100 lacs. It is estimated that the project will start generating revenue immediately from year 1. The Net revenue (after tax) for the next 5 years is Rs. 20 lacs, 30 lacs, 35 lacs, 45 lacs, 48 lacs.
A new loan is available to Vridhi Impex at 9% p.a. interest rate (net of tax). Mr. Joshi has another proposal which gives him a return of 12% p.a. and hence he does not want to invest below this rate.
Assist Mr. Joshi to evaluate the project proposal using NPV and IRR. (Show all calculations for comparing it with the alternative proposal also). Should he go ahead with the project proposal?
2. Parag is evaluating 3 options for investment of his surplus money of Rs. 15,00,000/- for a period of 5 years.
i. Invest it in a Debenture which gives him a return of 12% compounded quarterly.
ii. Invest in a Corporate Deposit at a rate of 9% compounded bi-annually.
iii. Invest it in a Business Proposal which gives him the following returns.
Considering the risk involved, the discounting factor is considered @ 11%.
As his finance advisor which option would you suggest him. Provide reasons.
3. a) In the following Balance sheet, calculate the Current Ratio and the Acid Test Ratio for both years Mar 2024 and Mar 2023. What do they indicate about the company’s financial position and the movement over the years?
b) Monica has a debenture of Face value Rs. 100/- @ 8.5%. Calculate its current yield if:
i) Market Price is Rs. 98.90
ii) Market Price is Rs. 95.20 iii) Market Price is Rs. 105
What inference can you draw from this about the relation between Market price and yield?
Supply Chain Management
1. You are the Chief Operations Officer of a growing e-commerce company struggling with high operational costs and delivery delays. To address these challenges, your company is considering outsourcing logistics and customer support services. Identify and analyze the factors you would consider before selecting an outsourcing partner. Design a strategy to monitor the performance of the outsourced processes and ensure quality control and also discussed factors to be considered before selecting an outsourcing partner. Propose measures to manage potential risks, such as data security and loss of brand identity, while working with the outsourcing partner.
2. Imagine you are a supply chain manager for a popular consumer electronics brand. The company recently launched a new product, and initial demand spikes have caused significant disruptions in the supply chain. The manufacturing team has overproduced, leading to excess inventory, while the retailers are now reporting declining sales. Identify the factors that might have contributed to the bullwhip effect in this scenario. Propose strategies to stabilize the supply chain and prevent similar disruptions in the future.
3. You are the supply chain manager for a global apparel brand that experiences significant variability in customer demand due to seasonal trends. The company currently follows a push strategy, manufacturing large volumes of products based on forecasted demand. However, unsold inventory during off-seasons and stockouts during peak seasons have led to inefficiencies and lost sales.
a. Analyze the challenges associated with the current push-based approach in this scenario.
b. Propose how a hybrid push-pull strategy could be implemented to balance inventory levels and meet customer demand effectively.
Enterprise Resource Planning
1. Your organization is implementing an ERP system for the first time. However, the finance team is resistant to adopting the new system due to concerns about complexity. Discuss why it is important to provide training to the team members of Finance department. Discuss the benefits of ERP System and explain phased implementation of ERP.
2) AcademiGO is an emerging training company with few modules of HR and Finance for its operations of providing training for on-job training requirements of various companies. The specified functionalities only cater to a particular requirement with limited integration of functionalities. Most of the processes are complex and time consuming. They decided to reorganize its system and processes to improve its efficiency by adding more modules to ERP system with modules for all operations of the AcademiGO. Idea is to make it automated system and integrated, flexible, and scalable.
Discuss which other modules can be added to existing ERP system for AcademiGO with what functionalities and what could be the challenges in ERP implementation.
3) ITThink is an IT Company with the motive of providing solutions to different Organisations by catering to their specific product related requirements. They have decided to implement ERP system in their organization to integrate the various business processes and to enhance the efficiency of the organization.
Considering the above scenario, discuss the following:
a) What could be the major reasons for ITThink to switch to ERP system?
b) Discuss the need of vendor selection for ERP implementation.
Operations and Supply Chain Strategies
1. PQR, a multinational retail company, recently launched new private-label products that have been well-received by customers. While customer demand is growing due to the diverse product mix, the company's operational performance has not kept pace, resulting in inefficiencies in meeting this demand. Analyze the potential supply chain challenges contributing to this performance gap. Propose specific supply chain strategies to improve efficiency, meet growing demand, and enhance overall performance.
2. Last month, you launched a new electronics business. As part of your growth strategy, you plan to expand by opening additional branches both within your city and in other locations. To further boost revenue, you are considering entering international markets. However, the dynamic marketplace presents tough competition from both online and offline competitors.
Analyze and suggest a different level of strategies that you will implement in the firm that can improve overall business profit.
3. A toy company has been operating successfully in the Indian market for several years, with multiple branches across cities. The company is now considering establishing its own manufacturing unit, aligning with the government’s push for domestic manufacturing under the 'Make in India' initiative.
a. Identify and explain the critical competitive dimensions the company must focus on to enhance market share and achieve excellence in its supply chain operations.
b. Given the management's uncertainty regarding the production process, recommend the most suitable production method (e.g., job, batch, mass, or continuous production) to improve efficiency, and justify your choice based on the company's business goals.
Procurement Management
Q.1 ABC Healthcare is a mid-sized pharmaceutical company that specializes in producing over-the-counter (OTC) medications. With steady growth and diversification into new product lines, the demand for various raw materials, packaging supplies, and third-party services has significantly increased. However, the procurement system at ABC Healthcare has not adapted to these changes, resulting in sourcing delays, inconsistent purchasing practices, and potential cost inefficiencies. Identify and describe the various requisition types that ABC Healthcare may encounter in its procurement operations, emphasizing the importance of requisition categorization for effective procurement planning and execution. Additionally, propose a structured process for issuing an RFx (Request for Proposal, Request for Quotation, or Request for Information) to ensure optimal supplier selection and contract negotiation for ABC Healthcare.
Q.2 SolarBright Ltd. is a global manufacturer and distributor of solar energy equipment, sourcing components from international suppliers and delivering products to clients worldwide. Despite its success in the renewable energy market, the company faces significant challenges in managing its transportation and logistics. Issues such as inconsistent shipment traceability, high transportation costs, and discrepancies in documentation have resulted in delayed deliveries and operational inefficiencies. Explain the concept of INCO terms and their importance in global supply chain management by analyzing how selecting the appropriate INCO terms can influence SolarBright Ltd.'s transportation costs and responsibilities. Additionally, evaluate the potential risks associated with inaccurate or incomplete shipping documentation and propose strategies or technologies to improve shipment visibility and traceability.
Q.3 GreenHarvest AgriTech, a rapidly expanding agritech company specializing in sustainable farming solutions, is encountering challenges in sourcing reliable suppliers for eco-friendly materials, streamlining supplier onboarding, and evaluating supplier performance. These difficulties threaten the company’s ability to maintain operational efficiency and meet growing market demands.
a. Discuss the significance of conducting spend analysis for GreenHarvest AgriTech to uncover cost-saving opportunities and explore strategic sourcing options by outlining a stepby-step approach to improving the supplier selection process.
b. Discuss how understanding Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) can aid GreenHarvest AgriTech in making strategic decisions regarding supplier and product selection.
Total Quality Management
Q1. Discuss on the relevance of the statement ''Quality always comes at a cost’ in context of the concept of the Cost of Quality (CoQ), explaining in details the four components of CoQ. Illustrate the concept with references from any industry/ organisational instance of your choice.
Q2. Discuss the relevance of Supplier relationship and explain the various approaches for supplier sourcing and evaluation as applicable to any organisation targeting total quality. Support your answer giving suitable references from the industry.
Q3. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a strategic method of comprehending customer`s choices, translating the choices into product features and design the products. The concept is extensively used in both manufacturing as well as service industries. Assuming any reference of a manufacturing or service industry of your choice, explain the following aspects of QFD.
a. Discuss in brief the process of concept of 'Quality Function Deployment' and highlight its benefits.
b. Explain how the concept of Poka yoke be applied to ensure Quality being deployed into products and services.
Brand Management
Q1. The strategic brand management process has four main steps. Please explain and relate one of the steps namely ‘Identify and establish brand positioning and values’. You may relate this specific step to the brand ‘MAGGI’(from Nestle).
Q2. Gillette Limited, world famous for its razors also has numerous products based on brand extension principles. They have products like Gillette shaving gel, foams, after- shave lotion and more. List and relate how Gillette Limited would have evaluated brand extension opportunities available to them. List at least any three brand extension opportunities identification steps.
Q3. McDonalds is a world-famous fast-food restaurant chain. They also have over 500 numbers of outlets in India. McDonald’s has several outlets opened through a franchisee route. McDonald’s also does innovative sales promotion ideas. By understanding certain aspects of McDonald's story, one can understand brand management better. Answer the
following questions and support MBA learning students to understand branding better by reading your notes.
a) Identify any two brand elements of McDonald’s in India and provide your understanding of the criteria based on which various brand elements are decided by McDonalds. Your answer must related to McDonalds brand elements only.
b) Identify and relate any two innovative sales promotion ideas used by McDonald’s in India and explain what may have been the purpose of doing it.
Consumer Behaviour
Q1. Critically evaluate how buying a home theatre system would be different from buying a shampoo of your choice using the Tri-component model. Use any existing brand of the above-mentioned product categories to explain the same.
Q2. Following a public vote in which more than 37,000 people had their say, “Brainrot” has been declared that the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024. Brainrot is a term is used for lowquality online content that people binge-watch or scroll through for long periods and how this influences their product and brand choices. It is linked to social media trends, viral topics and trending topics. Please analyse how this phenomenon influences consumer buying behaviour.
Q3. Apply the concept of Just Noticeable Difference [JND] to the following:
a. Appointing brand ambassadors - Asian Paints and Kansai Nerolac Paints are planning to appoint a brand ambassador. Do you recommend that both paint companies should have a brand ambassador on the basis of JND. If yes please suggest two names of brand ambassadors – one for Asian Paints and the other for Kansai Nerolac with reasons thereof.
Q3(a): Appointing Brand Ambassadors for Asian Paints and Kansai Nerolac Paints
b. Cadbury’s Perk and Nestle’s Kitkat are 2 competing chocolates. Both want to run a promotion for Perk and Kitkat. Perk has announced a promotion on their 30 numbers x 13.8 gms bar pack size – get 10 bars more at the same price [price of 30 Bars of Perk at Rs. 150, after promotion they are giving 40 Bars at Rs. 150]. Nestle has a pack of 10 Kitkat’s of 13.8 gms each. What promotion would you recommend for Nestle’s Kitkat. Please justify the same based on JND.
Q1. What are your views on Foreign Direct Investments FDI and FII and how do both impact our country?
Q2. Many countries today are promoting “Go Local “to promote Local consumption. What is your view on nations promoting local production and how does it impact globalization?
Q3. Read the following case study carefully and then answer the questions that follow: Your firm manufactures Incense sticks also called Agarbatti, in India and desires to market them globally. Although there is competition, you see that Mauritius has a huge potential and plan to expand your company’s retail operations in Mauritius.
a) Discuss the market entry strategy that you would recommend to launch your company products in Mauritius.
b) How does global pricing policies help in launch of products. In your view which pricing policies do you think would be appropriate while launching of Incense sticks in Mauritius?
Marketing Strategy
Q1. Imagine you are the marketing manager for a new luxury smartphone brand entering the Indian market. The company aims to create a unique position in a highly competitive market. Discuss the strategic mapping and key decisions you would consider while formulating the marketing strategy for this product. Explain how external environmental factors, such as economic conditions and technological advancements, would influence your strategy.
Q2. You are tasked with developing a marketing strategy for a new premium skincare brand in India that targets middle-to-high-income urban women aged 25-45. Describe how you would segment the market for this product and select the target market. Discuss how you would position the brand using the concepts of customer value and competitive advantage.
Q3. M/s XYZ is a startup that has recently launched an innovative, eco-friendly, reusable water bottle in the Indian market. The bottle is crafted from high-quality stainless steel, ensuring durability and safety. Its primary objective is to promote sustainability by reducing single-use plastic waste. The product is competitively priced at INR 500 and is available in a variety of colors (red, blue, green, black) and sizes (500ml, 750ml, 1L).
The company has identified its target market as environmentally conscious urban consumers aged 18-45, residing in metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. Their market research indicates a growing interest in sustainable products but also reveals competition from established brands offering similar reusable bottles priced between INR 400–700.
M/s XYZ has allocated a modest marketing budget and plans to use a mix of digital platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube, and online marketplaces, like Amazon and Flipkart, for its product promotion and distribution. The company is looking for innovative strategies to differentiate its products and create a strong market presence.
a) Using Ansoff’s Product-Market Growth Matrix, develop a comprehensive marketing strategy for M/s XYZ, addressing potential opportunities for market penetration, market development, product development, and diversification.
b) Suggest an appropriate pricing strategy for the product, considering factors like competitors' pricing, consumer willingness to pay, and the brand’s sustainability message. Justify your recommendations with a rationale.
Sales Management
1. A sales manager notices that one of their top-performing sales personnel, Ravi, has been consistently missing targets over the last three months. Upon discussion, Ravi shares that he feels undervalued and mentions that newer team members receive more recognition. As a sales manager, what steps would you take to motivate Ravi and ensure he regains his enthusiasm and performance levels?
2. Prepare a Sales Plan for a brand of electronic goods focusing in rural market.
3. Read the case & answer the questions based on the case:
XYZ Pvt. Ltd., a growing FMCG company, is planning to expand its market presence in Tier2 and Tier-3 cities. The sales manager, Mr. Mehta, has been asked to prepare the sales budget for the upcoming financial year. He reviews historical sales data, market demand, and competitor strategies to set a target of a 20% increase in sales. He allocates funds for promotional campaigns, salesforce incentives, and distribution enhancements. However, during the budget review meeting, the finance team recommends a 10% cut, citing cost constraints. This forces Mr. Mehta to reconsider the allocation of funds without compromising the growth target.
Questions:
a. How should Mr. Mehta prioritize his budget allocation to balance cost efficiency with achieving the sales growth target?
b. What alternative strategies can Mr. Mehta consider to optimize resources and still meet the expansion goals?
Treasury Management in Banking
Q1. Traditionally, only Central Banks or major Commercial Banks like SBI etc. had the strength of providing Treasury products & services. Now even smaller banks duly authorized by RBI & large Corporates are providing Forex, MM and Derivative products to various market participants. Enumerate and describe the purposes for which a Banks/Corporate Treasury exists and allows online business thru CCIL's FX Retail platform.
Q2. Explain with example, how the Clearing Corporation of India Ltd (CCIL) provides the platform for Trading and settlement of various Forex, MM & Derivative Products with the Trading members and RBI.
Q3. "A prudent liquidity/Cash management ensures bank's solvency, profitability and overall stability/growth in an economy"
a. Discuss The impact on liquidity and inflation when CRR increases and reduces respectively.
b. Highlight the differences between Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio & its impact on banks profitability.
Business Ethics, Governance & Risk
Q1. Prepare and submit an Executive Summary of the Code of Conduct of a listed company selected from the BSE database of ‘Top 100 companies by market capitalization’. Ensure that you include all the key parameters covered in the code of conduct policy document. You must mention the name of the company in the introduction. Conclude the summary by explaining in your own words how and why the Code of Conduct is an important ethical guideline/tool for all the stakeholders of the company. DO NOT copy paste.
Q2. Prepare a concise report in your own words showcasing how the listed company you have selected (same as in Q1) is respecting and promoting the wellbeing of all employees including those in its value chain with a special focus on diversity & inclusion related issues and their management/mitigation. Scan the complete Business Responsibility & Sustainability Report 2023-24 to compile and collate information required for your report. Remember to mention the name of the selected company in introduction. DO NOT copy paste.
Q3. You have just completed learning Business: Ethics, Corporate Governance & Risk in a structured format for the first time.
a. What do you think is the fundamental role of ethics in business and why do you think it is important for managers, professionals and leaders to understand business ethics?
b. Share five practical key learnings that you have acquired through the study of this subject that you think will help you better understand your role and thus contribute to your responsibilities more meaningfully, irrespective of the type of your business, department and designation.
Research Methodology
Q1. India's jewellery market is predominantly split into two sectors: organized and unorganized retail. The organized sector is led by major players like Titan (Tanishq), Kalyan Jewellers, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, and PC Jeweller. These brands offer standardized products, assured quality, branded offerings, and a reliable shopping experience. The unorganized sector, on the other hand, includes small, family-owned jewellers, local goldsmiths, and regional jewellery shops that often offer custom-made or traditional jewellery at competitive prices.
Explain the research process to study consumer behaviour for organized versus unorganized jewellery retail in India. What is the key determining factors influencing consumer behaviour, and how would you conduct a comparative analysis between the two market segments?
Q2. Explain the experimental design used in studying consumer behaviour at Shoppers Stop. Discuss the concepts of internal and external validity, hypothesis formation, and the application of different experimental designs. How can simulations and ethical considerations be applied in experimental research for a retail company like Shoppers Stop?
Q3. In the digital age, apparel companies in India face intense competition and changing consumer preferences. With the growing influence of e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, and social media, building and maintaining brand loyalty has become more challenging. As customers increasingly engage with brands through digital channels, apparel companies must adapt by offering personalized experiences, seamless omni-channel strategies, and consistent value. The problem lies in identifying the most effective strategies that apparel companies can use to foster brand loyalty in a digital-first environment.
a. Which research method can be applicable for this research. What are the objectives of the study?
b. Develop a questionnaire for this study.
International Finance
1. When the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conducts a comprehensive analysis of a specific economy, why does the Balance of Payments (BOP) often emerge as a crucial component? How does the paradigm shift when viewed from the perspective of the Current Account, and what role does the Capital Account play in this context? Explain the significance of these accounts in understanding the overall economic health and stability of the country.
2. In the context of international finance, how does the concept of Interest Rate Parity (IRP) influence the exchange rates between two currencies? What are the key mechanisms through which IRP affects the economic interactions and financial stability of two interconnected economies? How does this parity help in maintaining equilibrium in foreign exchange markets? Explain the implications of IRP on the exchange rate dynamics between these economies.
3a. In the realm of international trade, what significance does an Export Earners' Foreign Currency (EEFC) account hold for global traders? How does the existence of an EEFC
account facilitate the retention of foreign exchange earnings without converting them into the domestic currency? What are the key benefits and implications of this account for exporters in managing their foreign exchange reserves? Explain the role of EEFC accounts in enhancing trade efficiency and financial flexibility.
b. In the context of foreign exchange management, how does Translation Risk emerge as a critical component of forex risks? What are the underlying factors that contribute to Translation Risk, and how does it impact financial statements and asset values? How do fluctuations in exchange rates exacerbate this risk for multinational corporations? Explain the significance of Translation Risk in the broader spectrum of forex risk management.
International HR Practices
Q1) XYZ Multinational Corporation is an IT company headquartered in the United States with operations across 15 countries. The company often sends its employees on international assignments for 2-3 years. Recently, several employees who returned to their home country after completing their assignments reported challenges in readjusting to the home office environment. Complaints included a lack of career progression, feeling undervalued, and difficulty in applying the skills acquired abroad. This led to an increase in employee dissatisfaction, turnover, and loss of organizational knowledge.
The HR team is now tasked with designing a Repatriation Programme to address these issues and improve the reintegration experience for returning employees.
Questions:
What are the key challenges XYZ Corporation faces in managing the repatriation process, and how can it design an effective repatriation programme to ensure smooth reintegration, retention of repatriated employees, and alignment with organizational goals, including methods for evaluating its effectiveness?
Q2) XYZ Corporation, a multinational company headquartered in the United States, operates in 15 countries, employing a culturally diverse workforce. The company recently implemented a unified performance management system across all locations. However, regional managers have raised concerns about the system's applicability due to cultural differences in performance expectations, feedback mechanisms, and evaluation criteria.
As part of its performance cycle, XYZ Corporation has established the following phases: goal-setting, performance monitoring, feedback and coaching, and annual appraisals. In its first year of implementation, the following issues were observed:
1. Employees in some regions were hesitant to set ambitious goals due to fear of penalties for underperformance.
2. Feedback sessions were either too formal or lacked clarity in communication, leading to misinterpretations.
3. The appraisal process did not account for local performance metrics, which are significant for evaluating employee contributions.
Question: Based on the case scenario, analyze the challenges XYZ Corporation faces in implementing an international performance management system. Propose a revised performance cycle that addresses these challenges, ensuring cultural inclusivity and alignment with global objectives. Your answer should include:
1. Challenges identified in the case
2. Key modifications to the performance cycle phase
3. Expected benefits of the revised system
Q3 (A) ABC Tech Solutions, a mid-sized IT company, is facing challenges with its newly implemented software tools. Employees are struggling to adapt, which has caused delays in project timelines. The management decides to conduct a series of training programs to address this issue. However, feedback from employees indicates that the training sessions are too theoretical, lacking practical relevance to their day-to-day tasks.
Question:
As a training consultant, analyze the issue faced by ABC Tech Solutions and propose two practical solutions to make the training programs more effective. Justify how these solutions would enhance the learning outcomes.
Q3 (B) GlobalConnect, a multinational corporation, is sending a team of employees from its headquarters in Canada to set up a new office in Japan. The team has limited exposure to Japanese business practices and work culture. To prepare them for the assignment, GlobalConnect is considering a pre-departure training program.
Question:
Suggest two components that should be included in the pre-departure training program to ensure the team’s success in Japan. Explain how these components would help the employees adapt effectively to the new environment.
Digital Marketing
1. GlowX, a newly launched skincare brand, aims to develop an effective digital marketing strategy to increase brand awareness, engage with potential customers, and drive sales. The brand plans to utilize social media advertising, regularly update its blog and social media pages with valuable content, and encourage customers to share reviews and testimonials
online. Using these details, discuss how the POEM Framework (Paid, Owned, Earned Media) can be applied to GlowX’s strategy.
2. A leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, Tech Sphere, specializes in offering cloud-based solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company has recently observed a decline in the quality of inbound leads through traditional marketing efforts like email and webinars. To address this, Tech Sphere wants to focus more on leveraging social media platforms to improve lead generation, establish thought leadership, and build relationships with decision-makers. Discuss how Tech Sphere can effectively use Social Media Marketing to achieve its goals. You should discuss what all social media platforms the company can use and the rationale for the same, considering its B2B marketing (discuss at least 3). Also, discuss in detail the social media marketing strategy for each of the platforms identified.
3. Smart Wear, a leading brand in wearable technology, is planning to launch a new line of fitness trackers. To drive sales and build customer relationships, the company wants to leverage a strategic email marketing campaign focusing on product launches, post-purchase engagement, and customer retention. The team also wants to integrate Search Engine Marketing (SEM) alongside their email strategy to maximize visibility and conversions.
a. Design an effective email marketing strategy to launch their new fitness trackers, ensuring that the content is valuable, engaging, and aligned with customer needs at each stage of the customer journey (product launch, post-purchase engagement, and retention).
b. Develop an SEM strategy that complements their email marketing efforts, focusing on increasing website traffic, targeting the right audience, and optimizing conversions for the new fitness trackers.
Marketing Research
1. You are the Marketing Director of Gharonda Constructions in Delhi NCR. Your company wants to conduct market research to assess customer needs and preferences. Prepare a research plan – Mentioning the Target Group, Priority Markets, and Research Hypotheses in the plan along with the Success Criteria for your research.
2. Define the Target Group for Aishwarya Homes, a Property Developer in Chennai. Analyze the major infrastructure initiatives in Chennai (the Chennai Metro Rail, the ChennaiBengaluru Industrial Corridor, Elevated Corridors, etc.) and their impact on the Chennai Real Estate market. What are the Opportunities for the Company? What are the Risks and how can they mitigate against these?
3. You’re the CMO for an Indian Automotive Major. Your company is planning the Pan- India launch of a new Product Family of Electric Two-Wheelers targeted at the entire family. As a first step, you’ve decided to conduct Market Research to help focus your MarketingPlan.
a. As part of your Market Research, describe your preferred sampling technique(s) and why you’ve chosen it(these).
b. Describe (at least) Five (5) Secondary Sources which you can leverage and as well, the reasons for selecting them.
Services Marketing
1. There are various salons in your city and in the future, you intend to open a salon. The problem is that all of them offer similar kinds of services. In such a case, you'll need to make sure you differentiate your service offerings. Analyse and present the approach or the steps which should help you in creating differentiation for your processes, people and physical evidence.
2. You play the guitar. Your friends have been suggesting, that to start with your music classes. You also intend to offer other music and hobby classes by inviting experts. Considering that you plan to start your guitar classes, explain how would you apply the 7Ps used in Service Marketing in the given scenario which should also help you in an effective strategy formulation.
3. You have started a home cooked meal service. However, reaching out to people is a big challenge considering your limited marketing budget.
a. How will you build a service brand with your limited budgets?
b. How will attract your first set of customers?
World Class Operations
1. There is a common thread which connects Leading Manufacturers in diverse sectors such as Machinery (Caterpillar, Komatsu, JCB), Semiconductors (Intel, Motorola, Nvidia), Appliances (Samsung, Phillips, Whirlpool), etc., - They are all World Class Manufacturers (WCMs).
All WCMs are highly reputed for their unflinching commitment to Quality. These manufacturers have understood that Quality is about identifying “what is important to Customers” and delivering this to their customers. Explain how these (and other) WCMs use frameworks such as QFD and HOQ to help embed Quality into every aspect of the Product Creation – From Concept to Manufacturing.
2. Vijay Vasanthan has just joined as the GM – Maintenance at Melanathuru Tools, a leading Manufacturer of CNC Machines. As he reviews the company’s Equipment Maintenance
history, he is concerned that there is no coherent Maintenance Strategy – i.e., except for some cases (e.g., critical machines) where the company uses Preventive Maintenance. For all other machines & equipment, they’re fixed when they break down. In order to streamline the Maintenance Department, Vijay is keen to adopt a Predictive Maintenance Strategy. In this context, …
a. Describe the Reactive Maintenance & Preventive Maintenance approaches, along with their respective Pros & Cons.
b. Explain the Predictive Maintenance approach and why Vijay would want to adopt it to overcome the problems of Reactive Maintenance & Preventive Maintenance.
3a. Quality Awards are not only about rewarding organizations but also about recognizing the importance of quality in the business. These awards are often used as a tool to raise awareness among both Employees and as well, Customers about the importance of quality. They also help to improve Customer Satisfaction and Employee Morale. Discuss the difference between Regional and International Awards.
3. b. With reference to Quality Awards, what are the Deming Criteria (any 4) for Performance Excellence in assessing the award?
International Logistics & Supply Chain Management
1. A leading Indian brand of packed spices (both in whole form as well as grind form) is already having a vast pan-India distribution network. They are planning its international expansion by way of exports. It has identified the USA as the first foreign market to start with. Explain the factors the manufacturer should consider while formulating its supply chain strategy for exporting to the USA market and suggest an appropriate strategy for the same.
2. “THE COLLECTIBLES” brands follow a direct-to-consumer (D2C) model for sourcing & selling accessories like watches, belts, purses, wallets, etc. for men & women. With competition from similar other D2C companies, “THE COLLECTIBLES” is looking to differentiate itself from the others based on its delivery experience. It is also looking at a superior delivery experience to provide it a source of competitive advantage. Explain, with reasons, the choice between in-house & outsourcing of logistics for “THE COLLECTIBLES” to achieve its twin objectives.
3. An international brand is interested in setting up its first India operations by importing & selling its product range comprising of internationally renowned models of premium sports shoes through both the distributor as well as retail channel.
a. Discuss the various requirements & the procedure to be followed for importing the products in the Indian market.
b. Discuss the requirements of warehousing in India for the distributor channel for the sports shoe brand? Would these be any different for the retail channel? Suggest the suitable type (or types) of warehouse.
Advanced Supply Chain Management
Q1. Frito-Lay has over three dozen brands of snacks and chips, 15 of which sell more than $100 million annually each, and 7 of which sell over $1 billion each. Its brands include Fritos, Lay's, Doritos, Sun Chips, Cheetos, Tostitos, Flat Earth, and Ruffles. Frito-Lay relies on effective AGGREGATE PLANNING to match fluctuating multi- billion-dollar demand to capacity in its 36 North American plants. Planning for the intermediate term (3 to 18 months) is the heart of aggregate planning.
a) Explain the two (2) Generic Aggregate Planning Strategies and the Pros & Cons of each of these strategies.
b) Explain the key steps in Aggregate Capacity Planning.
Q2. Aeolus Wind Energy, an international wind turbine manufacturer is facing ongoing challenges with timely supply of crucial components for its production, causing frequent disruptions. Despite extensive internal efforts to address the issue, production delays and cost escalations keep occurring due to last-minute rescheduling and procurement. The lack of delivery reliability is leading to dissatisfied customers and contractual penalties, significantly impacting the company.
Willem van Hoff, the COO has undertaken a major review and revamp of the company’s Global Supply Chain. Discuss the factors that the COO needs to consider while redesigning the company’s global supply chain network.
Q.3. Clothes Horse Fashions specializes in the manufacture and sale of ready-made clothing, primarily focusing on designer dresses and sportswear. With a global network of sales agents responsible for their respective geographic regions, the company is experiencing explosive growth. However, the company is currently facing intense pressure to continually enhance its supply chain performance in order to maintain its competitive edge.
To address this challenge, Jack Wilcox the COO is now keen to restructure their supply chain to optimize its operations and is trying to decide between implementing VMI or CPRF. While David Rakich, the SVP of Operations is in favor of adopting CPRF, the CIO, Ann Rosenthal, is leaning towards adopting VMI.
a. What is VMI? What arguments can Ann use to make the case for VMI and against CPRF?
b. What s CPRF? What arguments can David use to make the case for CPRF and against VMI.