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MB0053-B1724-Answer Key PDF
MB0053-B1724-Answer Key PDF
Section A
ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS (10 Marks each)
[Please answer Any Four essay type questions in a separate page answer sheet especially
provided for the purpose]
Bata Shoe Company, founded in 1894 in the former Czechoslovakia (presently headquartered
in Lausanne, Switzerland), is one of the world's leading footwear retailers and manufacturers,
with operations across five continents managed by three regional meaningful business units
(MBUs). The MBU approach provides quality resources and support in key areas to the
companies operating in similar markets such as product development, sourcing, or marketing
support. Each MBU is entrepreneurial in nature, and can quickly adapt to changes in the
market place and seize potential growth opportunities.
Bata’s three MBUs are Bata Europe, Lausanne, Switzerland; Bata Emerging Markets,
Singapore; and Bata Branded Business, Best, Holland.
Bata's strength lies in its worldwide presence. While local companies are self-governing, each
one benefits from its link to the international organisation for back-office systems, product
innovations, and sourcing.
Research and development – Bata operates six Shoe Innovation Centres (SICs). Research is
conducted in applying new technologies, materials, and designs for shoe comfort features.
Each SIC has a product focus – to supply complete packages of services for the
manufacturing and marketing of innovative shoes.
Shoe making expertise – Apart from being one of the world's leading footwear retailers,
Bata is also an expert in making shoes, with over 110 years of experience in manufacturing.
Currently, they operate 33 production facilities across 22 countries.
While most modern day manufacturers outsource to Asia, Bata manufactures predominantly
in their own manufacturing facilities across the world, guaranteeing quality and expertise.
Approximately half their factory outputs are destined for sale through Bata-owned retail
stores, and the balance is manufactured to the specifications of wholesale customers or under
contract to other footwear brands.
Bata innovations in footwear production techniques are being used by other competitors in
the industry even today.
In 2010, Bata served 1 million customers a day; employed more than 50,000 people; operated
more than 5,000 retail stores; and managed retail presence in more than 70 countries.
Discussion Questions
5. Identify the strategy that Bata uses for entry into new markets. (Hint: Own showrooms)
6. What are the factors that help Bata retain its global leadership position?
Section B
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
[Please answer all the following questions]
2. The well-known ______________ Road and Spice Routes were the epitome of
international business.
a. Silk
b. IT
c. Cultural
d. Tourism
3. The tendency of companies to move beyond national borders gained momentum in 1940s
and was expedited with the establishment of ________________ in 1995.
a. Standards and Trade development facility (STDF)
b. E-business
c. World Trade Organisation
d. Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO)
4. Companies adopt this strategy when each country’s market needs to be treated as self
contained. What strategy is it?
a. Product-line
b. National
c. Global companies
d. Multinational
5. What can be defined as any business that crosses the national borders of a country?
a. Organised
b. Domestic
c. Multicultural
d. International
6. Any company can dilute its business risk by spreading its operations to a number of
different and _____________ countries.
a. Underdeveloped
b. Diverse
c. Homogeneous
d. Developing
7. Which country is rich in labour pool will specialise in rendering of information technology
services?
a. India
b. US
c. Thailand
d. Saudi Arabia
8. Who argued that national wealth and prosperity will increase with more and more inflow
of gold and silver?
a. Adam Smith
c. David Ricardo
d. Raymond Vernon
9. Who pointed out the flaws and inconsistencies in mercantilism theory in the year 1752?
a. Heckscher-Ohlin
b. Thomas Mun
c. David Hume
d. Raymond Vernon
10. Which country has absolute cost advantage in cutting and polishing of diamond?
a. England
b. France
c. Switzerland
d. India
11. Which theory is based on the hypotheses that countries trade with each other as they
differ with respect to the availability of the factors of production i.e. land, labour and capital?
c. Michael Porter
d. Mercantilism theory
12. In which book/theory, Adam Smith attacked the mercantilism and argued that countries
differ in their ability to produce goods and services efficiently due to variety of reasons.
b. ’Wealth of Nations'
c. 'Principles of Political Economy’
13. One of the factors that determines the degree of urbanisation includes _______________.
b. Local currency
14. Which demographic aspect are we talking about when we say, 'Firm can do
generalisations after cross comparing its product with similar products in the markets and
devise corrective actions on time'?
b. Market trending
c. Segment selection
15. As per which law, interest payments on financial dealings are forbidden since it is seen as
improper to reward those with excess funds while penalising those who need to borrow. ?
a. Common Law
b. Islamic Law
c. Code Law
d. Domestic Law
a. Arbitration
b. Litigation
c. Adjudication
d. Negotiation
18. What do you call the power of state over its citizens and land?
a. Nationalisation
b. Litigation
c. Sovereignty
d. Accretion
19. The most important aspect to qualify as a manager for positions of international responsibility
is _________________ skills.
a. Training
b. Communication
c. Controlling
d. Motivation
21. From the following, which is the highest Hofstede dimension for culture in India?
a. Long-Term Orientation
b. Uncertainty Avoidance Index
c. Power Distance Index
d. Masculinity
22. According to Japan's management style:
a. Decisions, once taken at senior levels, are delivered down the chain.
b. A manager’s personal style is considered to be of importance.
c. Information flows from the bottom of the company to the top.
d. Subordinates are not allowed to question the decisions of superiors.
23. In which of the following countries, while communicating, the use of body language is very
minimal and hence it is difficult for an untrained observer?
a. Japan
b. India
c. Brazil
d. USA
24. A country with low ____________ ranking shows that the country has fewer concerns about
ambiguity and has high tolerance for a variety of opinions.
a. Masculinity
b. Individualism
c. Power distance
d. Uncertainty avoidance
25. __________________help the company in accessing new markets, exploring new marketing
channels, exploring cheaper production facilities in low cost destinations, accessing new and
advanced technology.
a. Foreign Investment
b. Foreign Direct Investment
c. Foreign Portfolio Investment
d. Green Field Investment
27. Communist/social model of economic development has questioned the need of foreign
investment for speeding up the _____________ and country’s overall economic development.
Which of them is True?
a. Population growth
b. Economic growth
c. Cultural growth
d. Social Growth
28. An investment by a foreign investor in sick industrial unit which needs complete
restructuring known as _____________.
a. Green field investment
b. Foreign Direct investment
c. Brown field investment
d. Foreign portfolio investment
29. ___________ are negotiable certificates and are issued by a country’s bank against a certain
number of shares held in its custody.
a. Joint ventures
b. Depository receipts
c. Mergers
d. Acquisition
30. Countries, usually do not allow foreign investment mainly because of __________.
a. Competitive Motives
b. Power motives
c. Economic Motives
d. Political Motives
31. _________ is a type of trade bloc which can be considered as the second stage of economic
integration.
a. Custom union
b. Economic union
c. Single market
d. Free trade area
32. Which of the regional trading arrangements is an economic and political union established in
1993?
a. The European Union (EU)
b. European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
c. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
d. Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR)
33. ___________is a trade pact between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
a. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
b. Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR)
c. ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
d. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
34. Which of the following agreement was also known as Bangkok Agreement ?
a. ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) agreement
b. South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement
c. India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)
d. Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)
37. The support system institutions for international business include WTO (World Trade
Organisation), ___________________ and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
b. GATT
c. World Bank
d. To facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade and provide
exchange stability.
c. Ensure that developing countries secure a better share of growth in world trade
d. Undertake research, data collection and policy analysis for debates of government
representatives and experts.
40. On behalf of the __________________ the General Council administers as the Dispute
Settlement Body to handle the dispute settlement procedures.
a. Most Favoured Nation (MFN)
b. Ministerial Conference
d. Governing Body
c. Ensuring that developing countries secure a better share of growth in world trade
42. The _______________________ of 15th April 1994 was formed to strengthen the world
economy that would lead to better investment, trade, income growth and employment
throughout the world.
b. Marrakesh Declaration
c. WTO
43. The ____________________ provides links among the capital markets of individual
countries.
44. The principle of _______________ states that all equally positioned tax payers should
contribute in the cost of operating the government according to the equal rules.
a. Taxation
b. Tax equity
c. Tax neutrality
47. In ______________, the value of the currency is fixed by the nations with respect to some
foreign currency but not with respect to gold.
b. Gold-exchange system
48. In which policy, the manager can increase the amount of liquidity in order to reduce the
risk of business.
a. Working capital policy
b. Liquidity policy
c. Profitability policy
d. Financial policy
49. ____________ is a present requirement of the enterprise that is rising from past
procedures, the closure of which is likely to result in an outflow from the enterprise'
possessions.
a. An asset
b. A liability
c. An equity
d. Revenue
50. Which underlying assumption in IFRS gets stated when we say, 'An entity for the
predictable future'?
a. Accrual basis
b. Going concern
51. Consider the below mentioned statements with respect to joint ventures as a mode of
entering into foreign markets.
1. It is a good means for market entry in those markets where there are no entry barriers like
capital limit requirement.
2. In joint ventures, both the parties are supposed to provide capital and resources in the
agreed proportion.
a. 1-True, 2-True
b. 1-False, 2-False
c. 1-False, 2-True
d. 1-True, 2-False
52 . "Consider the following statements with respect to reasons for global sourcing:
1) If political or economic problems occur in any region, the company will be able to
continue its operations without disruption by fulfilling their needs from other global sourcing
location.
2) Companies want to evade their political and business risks by restricting their business
operations at various parts of the world."
a. 1- True, 2- False
b. 1- False, 2- True
c. 1- True, 2- True
d. 1- False, 2- False
1. Psychographic segmentation considers factors like age, culture, income, education and
gender.
2. The process of selecting or choosing the potential market segment is known as targeting.
a. 1-False, 2-True
b. 1-True, 2-True
c. 1-True, 2-False
d. 1-False, 2-False
54. Consider the below mentioned statements with respect to International advertising.
1. The purpose of international advertising is to reach and communicate to target
audiences in more than one country.
2. International advertising is not a part of business activity, it is merely a
communication process.
1. State True or False:
a. 1-False, 2-True
b. 1-True, 2-False
c. 1-True, 2-True
d. 1-False, 2-False
55. Consider the below mentioned statements with respect to branding for international
markets.
1. Brand value can be defined as the branding efforts that build customer confidence and
loyalty by adding unique advantages to the firm’s product or service.
2. In international branding, brand ideas, values and concepts have to vary to make them
familiar to customers.
2. State True or False:
a. 1-True, 2-False
b. 1-True, 2-True
c. 1-False, 2-True
d. 1-False, 2-False
56. "Consider the following statements with respect to Strategic Management:
1. Strategic management identifies and comprehends the environmental factors to
control the plans accordingly.
2. Most strategic alliances focus on generating greater profits and returns for the
business owners."
3. State True or False:
a. 1- True, 2- False
b. 1- False, 2- True
c. 1- True, 2- True
d. 1- False, 2- False
60. a) __________is the basic system of ethics followed by a business in a free market
scenario. It covers the entire spectrum of business including sales, pricing, and
competitor issues.
b) ___________consider ideology as an important factor along with the moral
aspects in a capitalist scenario.
61. 11. a) The principle of _________ states that there are basic moral principles that are
valid across all cultural and political boundaries.
b) __________is defined as the practice of a uniform system of ethical codes in
different countries that are culturally and socially different.
a. Ethical relativism and Ethical universalism
b. Ethical universalism and Ethical convergence
c. Ethical convergence and Ethical universalism
d. Ethical relativism and Ethical convergence
62. 12. Consider the below mentioned statements with respect to corporate ethical
programmes and social responsibility and ethics.
1. Organisations that adhere to corporate social strategies are better equipped to react to
global challenges and corporate responsibilities.
2. As multinational firms face a wide array of ethical challenges because of increased
competition due to globalisation, a formal corporate ethical programme is important to
any organisation.
State True or False:
a. 1-True, 2-False
b. 1-True, 2-True
c. 1-False, 2-True
d. 1-False, 2-False
63. 13. a) _______refers to a set of values and standards that defines acceptable
behaviour passed on to generations.
b)________refers to the rules of conduct, approved by the legal system of a country
or state that guides human behaviour.
a. Religion and Culture
b. Culture and Law
c. Law and Religion
d. Law and Culture
64. 14. ___________ and _____________ are the major factors that influence
organisational structure.
a. Inflation, Unemployment
b. Environment and Inflation
c. Environment and Technology
d. Inflation and Technology
65. 15. Consider the following statements with respect to the management approaches
affecting organisational structure:
1. In ethnocentric management approaches affecting organisational structure,
decision making is controlled by the head office and most of the managers are
from the parent company.
2. In geocentric management approaches affecting organisational structure,
decisions are largely decentralised and managers in the subsidiaries are mostly
from the host country.
State True or False:
a. 1- True, 2- True
b. 1- False, 2- False
c. 1- False, 2- True
d. 1- True, 2- False
67. 17. Consider the following statements with respect to the three main dimensions of
international human resources management.
1. The countries of operation in an IHRM perspective includes the host country in
which the overseas operation is located, the home country that houses the
headquarters of the company, and other countries that supply labour and finance.
2. The origin of the workforce of an international business can be classified into
three types: parent country nationals, host country nationals, and third country
nationals.
State True or False:
a. 1- True, 2- False
b. 1- False, 2- True
c. 1- True, 2- True
d. 1- False, 2- False
68. 18. 1. ________________ are concerned about the quality/quantity and delivery of the
goods that are not sent if the payment is made in advance.
2. ___________ transaction involves the shipping and delivery of goods in
advance.
a. Exporters, Open account
b. Importers, Documentary collections
c. Buyers, Documentary collections
d. Buyers, Open account
69. 19. Consider the following statements with respect to Strategic Management
Process:
1. Letter of credit is a document that is issued by the bank that guarantees
payment to a beneficiary.
2. Packing List is the document that is given to the seller from the buyer.
State True or False:
a. 1- True, 2- True
b. 1- False, 2- False
c. 1- False, 2- True
d. 1- True, 2- False
70. 20. 1. If the document is submitted under the __________, the insured amount
should be in the currency as mentioned in the credit.
2. The ___________ is signed by the representatives of the carrying vessel and it
contains the details of type, quantity and destination of the goods.
a. Letter of credit, Packing List
b. Bill of lading, Letter of credit
c. Letter of credit, Bill of lading
d. Packing List, Bill of lading
71. 21. Consider the following statements with respect to alliances:
1. Forfaiting is the financing technique that is used for financing the sale of
capital goods.
2. A banker's acceptance, is a promised future payment, or time draft, which is
accepted and guaranteed by a bank and drawn on a deposit at the bank.
State True or False:
a. 1- True, 2- False
b. 1- False, 2- True
c. 1- True, 2- True
d. 1- False, 2- False
74. 24. Consider the following statements with respect to reasons for global sourcing:
1) In times of economic recession, political environment encourages to
outsource as the country's employment remains unaffected.
2) The global sourcing industry is on a growth run as there are sound business
reasons in global sourcing.
State True or False:
a. 1- True, 2- False
b. 1- False, 2- True
c. 1- True, 2- True
d. 1- False, 2- False
75. 25. Consider the following statements with respect to reasons for global
outsourcing:
1) Layoff expenditure in US are far higher than in India, thus, companies outsource
their business operations to countries like India and China.
2) There is improved performance in developing countries as bottom of the
pyramid offers specialisation and dedicated expertise for the work.
State True or False:
a. 1- True, 2- False
b. 1- False, 2- True
c. 1- True, 2- True
d. 1- False, 2- False