MBA-IB Ist Semester Management Principles and Values Previous year questions

Question 1.
(2006-2007) 10 X 2

Write True or False against the following ten statements giving reasons in not more than 50 words. a) First line managers are responsible for carrying out the plans and objectives of higher management. b) Top managers in the government may report to some policy making group like board of directors or council, etc. c) Good management is the difference between success and failure of an organization. d) The Classical approaches to management focus on developing universal principles for use in various management situations. e) The modern approaches to management focus on the systems view and contingency thinking, with an awareness of current commitments to quality and high performance. f) As per Maslows theory of human needs a satisfied need is not a motivator of behavior. g) Contingency thinking recognizes that what is good structure for one organization may not work well for the other. h) Behind every formal structure typically does not lie an informal structure. i) The advantage of a matrix type organization structure is that team members develop groupitis. j) Non-programmed decisions are used for structured and well-defined situations of a non-recurring nature.

(2007-2008)

10 X 2

Write True or False against the following 10 statements giving reasons in not more than 50 words a) Human Skills are most important at top management level. b) Management and administration are two different approaches of Managing. c) Modern Management approaches prove that scientific management was not that scientific. d) In the Hawthrone experiments can be found the roots of theory Y manager. e) The contingency approach suggests that management is a compromise with vast number of undesirable consequences. f) Authority gives the right to influence, but not the capacity. g) The concept of bounded rationality suggest that even the best of the plans can fail. h) According to Maslow the emergence of needs always follows the hierarchical order given in his theory. i) In India organizations upward communication do not flow freely. j) Grapevine is largely gossip and managers need to ignore. (2008-2009) Write True or False against the following ten statements giving reasons in about 50 words in each case: marks 10 x 2 a) Management theories are universally acceptable. b) Effective communication tries to match the receiver's meaning with sender's intent. c) Fayol looked at the problems of managing an organization from workers' point of view. d) Matrix organization maximize the problem of coordination.

e) Management processes are the product of culture. f) Delegation succeeds in a competitive climate. g) Lifetime employment is an integral part of Japanese management. h) Favorable deviations in organizational functioning is invariably a good symptom. i) Delegation also means giving employees freedom to make mistakes. j) Control has both notional and symbolic implications. (2009-2010) Write true or false against the following ten statements giving reasons in about 50 words in each case: Marks 10 x 2 a) Henry Fayol was concerned with organizational functions while Taylor was interested in total organization and its management. b) The matrix structure of organization tends to affect morals of the employees adversely. c) Performance of competitors also create problem for decision making. d) Increased decentralization facilitates coordination. e) Routinous tasks require more coordination than non-routinous. f) Delegation also means giving employees freedom to make mistakes. g) Narrow span of management is coat efficient. h) In today's management methods the delegation is desirably not necessary. i) Japanese firms provide quick promotion and specialized career paths to their employees. j) Centralized management system enhances better communication within the system.

(2010-2011)

Marks 2 x 7

Write true or false against the following seven statements by substantiating briefly your options in each case: a) Delegation also means giving employees freedom to make mistakes. b) A well understood objective increases the moral of employees. c) A matrix structure helps employees to develop and grow. d) The most productive art is always based on an understanding of science underlying it. e) The important key to eliminate inconsistencies in communication is to be aware of them. f) Control has both rational and symbolic implications. g) In order to become sensitive to multiculturism, the organizational culture must combat inter-culture barriers.

Question 2
(2006-2007) 20 Marks

What are the similarities in the definitions of management quoted from the authors of management textbooks? Describe in detail. Do the definitions provided by the business executives differ in any way? Synthesize your own definition of management. Or How do individual decisions differ from group decisions? Discuss in detail the positive and negative aspects of group decision making and suggest ways and means for improving the quality of group decision making. (2007-2008) 20 Marks

Why managerial tasks call for decision making under various conditions? Discuss the reasons and then also explain the different kinds of decisions that managers need to take. Or

Discuss classical organization theory highlighting its contributions in development of Modern Management practices. (2008-2009) 20 Marks

Define control. What are the characteristics of an effective control system? How shall you design a good control system for your organization? Or Describe the "systems theory" of management, explaining your concepts with examples of business systems. (2009-2010) 20 Marks

Explain with example from your life experiences about the differences between making decisions under conditions of certainty, risk and uncertainty. Or Discuss the problems involved in designing an effecting control system. (2010-2011) 7x2

Enumerate with rationals and descriptions the Advantages and Limitations of any two of the following: a) Group Decision Making b) Matrix Organization c) Decentralization d) Informal Organizations.

Question 3.
(2006-2007) 10 Marks

a) From the managerial roles provided by Mintz Berg, choose four that you consider the most important for the top managers and explain your selection criteria in detail.

b) Identify the three types of skills needed by an effective manager as conceived by Robert L. Katz and describe in detail how the relative need of them might vary with the level of management. Or a) Why has F.W. Taylor been called the father of scientific management and Henri Fayol the father of modern management theory? b) Compare between divisional and matrix organizational structure. (2007-2008) a) Management is a practice and its test is results, not logic. Discuss. b) Explain Taylors principles of Scientific Management. Or Distinguish between the following pairs. a) Line Vs. Staff Organization. b) Formal Vs. Informal Organization. c) Group Vs. Individual Decision Making. d) Centralization Vs. Decentralization. (2008-2009) a) Discuss briefly different techniques of business forecasting. b) Describe the process of "decision making". Or a) "Administration is a part of management". Comment. b) Describe the features of communication in business organizations. (2009-2010) a) Describe the factors that affect organizational communication. b) What are the key considerations in choosing a span of management? 10 Marks 10 Marks 5X4 10 Marks

Or Under what conditions would a matrix structure be most suitable? What are its advantages and disadvantages (10 + 10) (2010-2011) 7x2

Describe the distinguishing features between any two of the following: a) Scientific Management Theory and Human Relation Theory b) Authority and Power c) Formal and Informal Communication d) Functional and Project Organization.

Question 4.
(2006-2007) Explain the following in detail a) Basic characteristics of managerial work. b) Basic steps in control process. Or a) Basic steps in planning process b) Organizing trends in the modern work place. (2007-2008) a) Discuss the concept of control and its importance. b) Explain the various types of control methods. Or a) What are the main barriers to interpersonal communications and how to overcome them. b) Discuss the concept of work life and its importance for modern industry. 2 x 10 2 x 10

(2008-2009) Differentiate between any two of the following: a) Power and Authority

10 + 10

b) Individual decision making and Group decision making and Group Decision making. c) Functional organization and matrix organization. d) Delegation and Decentralization. (2009-2010) Differentiate between any two of the following: a) Formal and informal organization b) Centralization and decentralization c) Human skill and conceptual skill d) Open system and closed system. (2010-2011) 7x2 2 x 10

a) How, as a manager, you would propose to improve communication in your organization? b) Describe the characteristics of an effective control system. Or a) Describe the factors that affect 'span of management' b) Briefly discuss the Japanese Management Techniques.

Question 5.
(2006-2007) Discuss any two of the following a) Quality of Work Life (QWL). 2 x 10

b) Japanese Management Techniques. c) Importance of Communication. d) Ethical Dilemma in management. (2007-2008) a) Systems approach to management. b) Matrix organization. c) Human Values in Management. d) Organizational barriers to communication. (2008-2009) Write notes on any two of the following: a) Ethical dilemma in management b) Japanese management technique c) Span of management d) Satisfying decision. (2009-2010) Write notes on any two of the following: a) Delegation b) Henri Fayol's principles of management c) Japanese art of management d) Barriers to organizational communication. (2010-2011) Write notes on any two of the following: a) Problems and prospects for business in Global environment. b) Bounded Rationality and Satisfying Decision 7x2 2 x 10 10+10 2 x 10

c) Systems Theory of Management d) Significance of Delegation.