NMIMS Global Access

School for Continuing Education (NGA-SCE)

Course: Management Theory and Practice
Internal Assignment Applicable for June 2021 Examination

Ans1) Management Information system (MIS) are tools employed to support procedures, tasks, intelligence and information
technology. Also, it is a collection of integrated systems, both manual and computerized that provide an organization’s decision
makers with information concerning operational activities. As Tanishq Jewelers want to set up an MIS, they will be enabled with
activity support which will occur through efficient data processing and effective information supply to relevant people within the
specified time. The system plays the duty of communication, data generation, aids in managerial activities and problem
detection. The MIS plays crucial role in the administration, management and operation of a business. Below are the components
and characteristics of management information systems (MIS):

1. Hardware: It certainly includes all kind of physical devices and material used to operate MIS. CPU,
keyword, mouse, desktop, printers etc. are the illustrations of hardware.
2. Software: This consist of system software such as the operational system and application software such as
application software.
3. Network: A group two or more computers that are interconnected for the purpose of sharing information.
For example, Intranet, Internet and extranet.
4. Data: These procure the daily recorded business transactions and information collected from different
operational activities. All collected data is stored in MIS in a way that it can be properly accessed by users.
5. People: These are the users such as the ICT department staff, accountants and human resource managers
who operate the information system to perform daily transactions. Software developers, system analysts
and system operators are information system specialists.

While MIS plays an important role in the organization, while it has generic characteristics.

1. System Method: The information systems should follow a holistic approach and consider its performance
in the light of the constituted objectives.
2. Management oriented: The MIS must follow the approach which suggests the development should starts
from management needs.
3. Need Based: This states that the development should be according to the needs of the managers requires
to delegate to different levels.
4. Future oriented: The MIS should provide the data as per the future projections in order to understand the
growth and development and the factor to enhance and to control in order have a sustainable growth.
5. Central database: It’s a key important factor of an MIS to gather and consolidate the information of the
department and the reports in to the Masterfile that can be shared with the colleagues and the managers
in short it should work as a central database.

Advantages of Management Information system:

1. MIS converts a large amount of data in precise information that is easily interpretable.
2. MIS creates and generate types of business reports which certainly helps the organization to identify the
weakness and strengths that can work upon the future scenarios.
3. MIS promotes the decentralization and delegation of authority by providing the access to information to all
levels of management.
4. This helps in coordination between departments and act as a central database and can be accessed by all
any department anytime.

Limitations of Management Information system:

1. While the integration of departments causes accountability, delegation creates problems.

2. It requires high maintenance cost.
3. This resist to share the interdepartmental information.
4. Also, inability of MIS to provide creative responses in critical situations.
5. Technical glitch/failures due to heavy load of data.

Ans 2) Hofstede says “National Culture cannot be changed, but you should understand and respect it.”

Premier Automobiles setting up their base and expanding their business have to manage large group teams and also
have to collaborate with people in several different countries. Hence before setting up a base in European countries, they
should analyze the culture using Hofstede’s dimensions of culture, which is the vast and a best approach. It is been seen
that how culture diversity can influence human behaviour at work. Culture differences can lead to communication barrier,
Hofstede’s cultural dimension approach will facilitate understanding of these differences and work efficiently with individuals
with different cultures. Hofstede theory of cultural dimension approach will facilitate understanding of these differences and
work efficiently with individually from different cultures. It consists of various components such as:

Power
Distance

Indulgence Individualis
m&
VS collectivene
Restraint ss
Hofstede's
Cultural
Long vs
Dimensions
Masculinity
short term vs Feminity
orientation

Uncertainty
Avoidance

a. Uncertainty Avoidance: this termed as the lack of tolerance towards vagueness and need for the formal rules
and policies would help the Premier Automobile to analyze the culture and an extent to which people can feel
bullied by such situations. In Hofstede's model, Greece tops the UAI scale with 100, while Singapore scores the
lowest with eight.
b. Power Distance: This component will help the premier automobile to know how a particular culture in either
country is willing to accept status and power differences among its members. In a high PDI country, such
as Malaysia (100), team members will not initiate any action, and they like to be guided and directed to complete a
task. If a manager doesn't take charge, they may think that the task isn't important.
c. Individualism vs collectiveness: This flashes over various cultural acceptance across countries as well as the
individualistic cultures people are likely to portray themselves as individuals who pursue to accomplish individual
goals and needs while the collectivistic cultures people emphasize the welfare on the entire group. Central
American countries Panama and Guatemala have very low IDV scores (11 and six, respectively). In these
countries, as an example, a marketing campaign that emphasizes benefits to the community would likely be
understood and well received, as long as the people addressed feel part of the same group.
d. Masculinity vs Feminity: these dimensions work on values that concern the extent on masculine work-related
goals and assertiveness instead of more humanistic goals. Also, it could be used to analyse different culture in the
various countries of Europe. Japan has the highest MAS score of 95, whereas Sweden has the lowest measured
value of five.
e. Long vs short term orientation: While setting up the business Premier Automobile should focus on different
cultures and acceptance of the brand which helps to analyse the culture and also important for short term goal for
an achievement in short term orientation. The U.S. has a short-term orientation. This is reflected in the importance
of short-term gains and quick results (profit and loss statements are quarterly, for example). It is also reflected in
the country's strong sense of nationalism and social standards.
f. Indulgence Vs Restraint: This factor is a new dimension to the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, this extent to
which people to control their desires and impulses. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively
strong control is called Restraint. Eastern European countries, including Russia, have a low IVR score. Hofstede
argues that these countries are characterized by a restrained culture, where there is a tendency towards
pessimism.

Ans 3 (a) COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone being a global endemic impacting businesses and human life, but
some groups have been affected severely in order to adhere the health guidelines to cab the spread of the disease. The 3D
printing companies are among the business enterprise with transitions to remain competitive in the market. While the
progress of the business is very crucial, while companies are resistant to make expected adjustments to ensure
sustainability.

Some of the reasons that nearly developed 3D printing company facing resistance to change include; Due to lack of
knowledge about the transition technology which will affect the firm. Also, the management/senior staffs such as managers
and engineers who are technically involved and continuing the same traditional methods and causes implementation
failure. The uncertainty and reluctance to learn new skills and ideas affects the organization growth and to work upon
initiatives.

Majorly the company is resisting the change due to the fear of fail. Below are the main components that add up the reason
for the resistance.

1. Lack of communication: When intently the lack of involvement and reforms would be the major source of
resistance. For example, if the company wants to switch from recruiting sourcer to social media recruiter, which can
be stressful for those workers.
2. Fear of losing job: Change deliberately concludes to fear of losing employment and interrupt one’s trust and
stability.
3. Inexperience or lack of understanding of new functions and roles: While there are new roles and responsibility the
management or stakeholder shall be given proper refresher and proper training in order to build experience leaders
rather the inexperience of lack of understanding of new roles.

Ans 3 (b) The resistance to change can manage the change, to prevent the same we need to communicate the same
with employees and other stakeholders on how to make and implement the changes.

• There should schedule arranged in order to discuss the amendments and changes by making and to provide
them initially and to take equal input, suggestions and ideas which will be effective to resist the changes.
• When there is are change and new technologies introduced, we need to connect with the people having fear of
losing their jobs to motivate them and grab the opportunities to introduction to new technologies.
• Employees who understand to that they can do good with the changes introduced and they fit into the larger
picture are a part of what makes a company successful.