OAK UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: BBA 211

JAN20 FT/PT PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATION 2 HOURS

TOTAL MARKS: 100

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. There are four (5) questions in this paper. Question one is compulsory. Choose any three
from the remaining questions..
2. Marks indicated are a guide on the depth of your answers.

QUESTION ONE

ARTICLE: Coronavirus: first-and-second-waves-of-coronavirus

When the coronavirus pandemic began early in 2020, experts wondered if there would be waves
of cases, a pattern seen in other virus pandemics. The overall pattern so far has been one of
increasing cases of COVID-19, with a surge in the summer and a larger one in the fall. This, as
forecasted, exacerbated a lot of macroeconomic fundamentals dwindling down to the social
patterns and lifestyles of households and operational activities of firms. We have since seen most
organizations adopt new production techniques in order to meet the business cycles and also try
identify and adopt efficient practices by creating a plan, gathering and analyzing the information
which then permits informed implementation. Some locations that saw a high number of
coronavirus infections early on, followed by a decline, are having a “second wave” of increased
cases.

As at 11:30 GMT on 22nd July, 2021, Zambia recorded 186,279 Coronavirus Cases, 3,113 deaths
and 173,320 recovered (source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/zambia/ ).

As communities began to reopen bars, restaurants and stores during the spring and summer of
2020, people were understandably eager to be able to go out and resume some of their regular

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activities. But the number of people infected with the coronavirus was still high in many areas,
and transmission of the virus was easily rekindled once people increased their activities and
contact with each other. Medical experts urged reopening communities to continue diligent
COVID-19 precautions, including physical distancing, hand-washing and mask-wearing, and
monitoring for symptoms. Unfortunately, the combination of reopening and lapses in these
infection prevention efforts has caused the number of coronavirus infections to rise again in most
parts, with India being the worst hit.

Human behavior is the major factor. The pandemic has so far gripped many worldwide with fear.
From an organizational point of view, while most firms/companies formulate deliberate policy
adjustments to assuage the overall impact, not all of them are received with a warm hug owing to
the seemingly pre-conceived hard-hitting economic knuckles. This is particularly from the
employee view-point. In some cities, towns and communities, public places are closed or
practicing limitations (such as how many people are allowed inside at one time); others are
operating normally. Some government and community leaders encourage or even mandate mask
wearing and physical distancing in public areas. Others say it is a matter of personal choice.
However, the relationship between those precautions and cases of COVID-19 is clear: In areas
where fewer people are wearing masks and more are gathering indoors to eat, drink, observe
religious practices, celebrate and socialize, even with family, cases are on the rise. Also, places
where people live or work closely together (multigenerational households, long term care
facilities, prisons and some types of businesses) have also tended to see more spread of the
coronavirus. Coronavirus outbreaks at nursing homes and “superspreader” events — gatherings
of people where one infected person or more transmits the virus to many others — continue to
occur.

a) From the two broad categories of the business environment state and briefly explain
which category the COVID pandemic belongs. (2 marks)
b) “we understand the prevailing situation we are in madam but we feel the measures you
are putting in place are rather dire considering the economic downturns”, responded the
group representative of „Ganja World Ltd‟ when the company CEO Mr. Fwaka Hajamba
was giving a briefing on some policy adjustments due to the pandemic. As highlighted in
the paragraph above, certain policy adjustments do not receive a warm welcome. List and

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 briefly explain four reasons why employees of „Ganja World Ltd‟ might not easily
welcome some policy adjustments no matter how justifiable. (8 marks)
c) Briefly explain how any four (4) elements in the immediate environment of „Ganja World
Ltd‟ would impact the business. (12 marks)
d) Despite being hit equally by the COVID pandemic, Mr. Fwaka Hajamba, the CEO of
„Ganja World Ltd‟ notices that some businesses in the industry seem not to feel that
much impact. Understanding that he is not a monopoly but operating in a perfectly
competitive market, he then assigns a task to one of his trustee employee to seek out and
study the best practices in order to produce a superior performance.
i. What is this process called? (1 mark)
ii. Explain the four step process of the procedure stated in (i) above. (12 marks)
e) With an example, briefly explain how corporate profits are taxed twice. (5 marks)

SECTION B: ANSWER ANY 3 (60 MARKS)

QUESTION TWO: 20 MARKS

Using toy drinks as an example, discuss the 5 stages in the new product cycle. (20 marks)

QUESTION THREE: 20 MARKS

a) Explain how corporate profits are taxed twice. (2 marks)

b) Advanced information technology has eased a lot of things regards general organizational
operations. Societies world over seem to adopt new ways of doing things making things
fast, easy and efficient. Justify whether or not organizing still has its relevance in an
organization with the infused technology. (4 marks)
c) Login Njovu doesn‟t hide his prowess in cake baking and anticipates establishing a
business for himself but requires some start up capital. He talks to his two friends about
it, Schhoolbalance Phiri and Navileka Sakala, who immediately show interest and agree
to invest in the business. However, they are skeptical about being involved in any part of
the business. Login comes to your company‟s supervisor for advice on how best to
organize his business and your supervisor assigns the task to you.

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 i. What business form would appeal to the needs of Mr Login and why? (6 marks)
ii. State two disadvantages of this business form. (2 marks)
d) Compare and contrast industry and trade. (6 marks)

QUESTION FOUR: 20 MARKS

Organizational efficiency is all about figuring out how you can be more effective by using fewer
resources, as well as less time and less money to achieve the same goal. Organizational
efficiency is time-based, effort-based and measurable. It all begins with understanding the
environment and utilizing what can best work for your organization and this is a task undertaken
by management. Managers use various planning tools and techniques to help their organization
be more efficient and effective. Using Oak University as an example and expounding on the
various elements under each technique, discuss how environmental scanning and forecasting can
help them achieve operational efficiency.

QUESTION FIVE: 20 MARKS

Choose any local company of your choice and examine its internal environmental elements and
their influence in the face of the COVID pandemic

THE END

(All the best)