SMU MBA ASSIGNMENTS

There is a mutual benefit for corporate and major information systems project teams and many of the programs as a result of the information exchange generated by the Project Management Reviews. Corporate and major information systems are reviewed from their inception to retirement, i.e., throughout the Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) phases of Identification, Selection, Control, and Evaluate. Several of the current and future corporate and major information systems initiatives have been identified in the Departmental Information Architecture Program guidance series and in the Corporate Systems Information Architecture (CSIA) document.

Answer:-

1. Economic feasibility of a project

The purpose of an economic feasibility study (EFS) is to demonstrate the net benefit of a proposed project for accepting or disbursing electronic funds/benefits, taking into consideration the benefits and costs to the agency, other state agencies, and the general public as a whole.

Answer:-  The various phases in project management life cycle are –

1. Analysis and evaluation
2. Marketing
3. Design
4. Inspecting, testing and delivery

Answer:-  Explain the four dimensions of quality

Quality is inherent in the product or service that is rendered to the customer. Since we are attempting to measure the same, we will look into those aspects of quality, called dimensions of quality.

1. Quality of design – A product is designed keeping in view the customers’ requirement. For designing a product, the manufacturer or service provider should be aware of the specifications of different features required to incorporate in the product. Some of the features to be known for designing a product include – material, dimensions, and characteristics. The quality of the product is introduced by the design of these features. Inspection of the manufacturing processes is of utmost importance in ensuring quality of performance.
2. Conformance to design – Conformance to design is the degree to which the manufactured product or delivered service meets the parameters that have been incorporated in the design. It verifies that the variability in the process is within acceptable limits so as not to compromise the functionalities that the designer wanted.
3. Utilisation conditions – Utilisation conditions refer to the necessity of the customer being informed or trained so that, the purpose for which the product was made is realised by the customer in total, thus enhancing the customer’s satisfaction. Instructions, manuals, help-lines, and on-site training by the manufacturers’ personnel improve the perception of quality.
4. After sales service – There are so many reasons why products do not function to the expected levels. It may be improper use, unexpected or additional demands, improper assembly or even manufacturing defects.

There is a need to rectify these and make products or services perform up to the expected standard. The firm should put in place a system by which these possibilities are anticipated and attended to give customer satisfaction. This is an important, but often neglected dimension of quality.

The following steps should be considered for setting the data in a logical order.

1. Check whether the participants in the process that is, people, teams, and electronic applications are sufficient or, any changes and additions need to be made.
2. Ensure that all the data expected is included or not. Generally, we start with an initial set of data which we have. When we check them with the requirements of the process for the desired outcomes, we find gaps.

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Answer:- Description of the four parts of the post implementation review of a project

1. Final product review: The product obtained after every stage must meet the requirements of that stage. If it completely meets the stated objectives, then focus on the issues of maintenance of the processes and product performance. If the final product does not completely meet the objectives then identify the variations in the product and analyse the variation. Study the factors responsible for the change and evaluate each one separately.

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Answer:-

1. 5 Ss system of waste elimination

The 5Ss are as follows:

• Sort/segregate – Keep what is needed and remove everything else from the work area; when in doubt, throw it out. Identify non-value items and remove them. Getting rid of these items makes space available and usually improves the work flow.
• Simplify/straighten – Arrange and use analysis tools to improve the work flow and reduce wasted motion. Consider long-run and short-run ergonomic issues. Label and display for easy use only what is needed in the immediate work area.

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Answer:-  There are 2 factors i.e) General & Special factor

These General factors favour Gujarat as automobile manufacturing hub are follows as;

• Communication facilities – Communication facility is also an important factor which influences the location of a plant. Regions with good communication facilities namely postal and tele-communication links should be given priority for the selection of sites.

Infrastructure – Infrastructure plays (more…)

Solutions:

1. List the general factors that favour Gujarat as a destination for automobile manufacturing

Answer:- The general factors that favour Gujarat as a destination for automobile manufacturing are;

Availability of land – Availability of land plays an important role in determining the plant location. On several occasions, our plans, calculations and forecasts suggest a particular area as the best to start an organisation. However, availability (more…)

Answer:-

Outsourcing strategies for capital productivity

When capacity requirements are determined, it is easy to figure out whether some goods or services can be outsourced. Outsourcing can reduce the capital and manpower requirements. Also, the available capacities can be used to augment the core competencies thus reducing the cost of the product or service to the customer. Further, outsourcing also helps in improved product design and even enables better networking and collaborations. However, lack of expertise, quality considerations, nature of demand, and cost factors may restrict outsourcing. (more…)

a)Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is the level of commitment and involvement an employee has towards their organisation and its values. An engaged employee is aware of business circumstances and works with his/her organisation to improve the performance within the job for the benefit of the organisation and to make an effective organisation.

The main idea of employee engagement is to offer a positive environment to employees so that they are free to add and desire to contribute more of their energy, efforts and thought processes in more ways than one, and significantly and favourably impact the goals of the organisation. It’s about having employees feel fully connected to their company and keen about their job. It is empowering employees to imagine and to start change from their viewpoint. Employee engagement activates increased job satisfaction and employee retention. It maximises workforce productivity. Employee engagement is essential for meeting corporate sales and effective objectives. (more…)

Answer:-

Causes of Grievance–

(a) Economic: Wage fixation, over time bonus, wage revision etc. Employees may feel that they are paid less when compared to others.

(b) Work environment: Poor physical conditions of workplace, tight production norms, defective tools and equipment, poor quality of materials, unfair rules, lack of recognitions etc.

(c) Supervision: Relates to the attitude of the supervisor towards the employee such as perceived notion of bias, favoritism, nepotism, caste affiliations, regional feelings etc.

Answer:-  The principal ingredients of a sound disciplinary system in organisations are:

1. Location of responsibility: The responsibility of creating awareness regarding discipline is entrusted with every individual in the organisation. In case of employee indiscipline, the line manager issues only verbal and written warnings. In serious cases, which warrant discharge or suspension, the Industrial Relations Officer and other independent legal consultants need to be consulted.

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Answer:- Explain the concept of HRIS

HRIS is a key management tool which collects, maintains, analyses and reports information on people and jobs. It is a system because it integrates all the relevant data, which otherwise might have been lying in a fragmented and scattered way at various points in the larger system, converts this data into meaningful conclusions or information and makes it accessible to the persons who need it for their decisions. (more…)

Answer:- Definition of Management Development

Management development is related to the development and growth of the employees in an organisation through a systematic process. This development is future-oriented and prepares managers for a career of valuable contribution to the organisation. It is concerned with the learning and development of the employees. It helps in the development of the intellectual, managerial and people management skills of managers. It trains managers to understand and analyse different situations, and to arrive at and implement the correct solutions. (more…)

Answer: – the impact of Globalization on HR

The tendency of firms is to extend their sales and/or manufacturing to new markets abroad, and for business everywhere. The one element that is unique about every nation or company is its workforce.

A workforce that is knowledgeable and skilled at doing complex things keeps a company competitive and attracts foreign investment. Well-trained workers attract global corporations, which invest and provide employment opportunities to the workers, which in turn generate additional training and experience.

Answer:-Definition of Managerial Economics

“Managerial economics is the integration of economic theory with business practice for the purpose of facilitating decision making and forward planning by the management”1. Mc Nair and Meriam say, “Managerial economics is the use of economic modes of thought to analyse business situation”

Scope of Managerial Economics

The scope helps in understanding the subject, area of

Answer: – Practical application of price elasticity 

1. The concepts of elasticity and optimization

Students seem to have great difficulty with understanding the concept of elasticity. In part this perhaps reflects a reliance on the visual concept, for example they have less trouble when get to partial elasticity’s (which of course are very difficult to visualize), but also because of lazy terminology by teachers and lecturers . Too often in their initial introduction to economics  students are shown linear demand function that have different slopes and are told that they are examples of elastic or inelastic demand. Hence they look at the slope of the linear demand function and use it to interpret elasticity. (more…)

Answer:- Define Inflation

Inflation is statistically measured in terms of percentage increase in the price index, as a rate (percent) per unit of time- usually a year or a month. The trend of price indices reveals the course of inflation in the economy. Usually, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) numbers are used to measure inflation. Alternatively, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the cost of living index can be adopted to measure the rate of inflation. In order to measure the percentage rate of inflation, the following formula can be used:

Percentage rate of inflation, P[t] = Change in Pr ice[t] / Pr ice [t 1] x 100

Change in price [t] = P [t] – P [t-1]. Here, P = price level [t], [t-1] = periods of calendar time in which the observations are made. (more…)

Answer:- Hypothetical Cost Schedule

Answer: – Define Monopoly

Monopoly means existence of a single seller in the market. Monopoly is that market form in which a single producer controls the whole supply of a single commodity which has no close substitutes. Monopoly may be defined, as a condition of production in which a single firm has the power to fix the price of the commodity or the output of the commodity. It is a situation there exists a single control over the market producing a commodity having no substitutes with no possibilities for anyone to enter the industry to compete. (more…)

Answer:-

Production function

The entire theory of production centres revolves around the concept of production function. A “production function” expresses the technological or engineering relationship between physical quantity of inputs employed and physical quantity of outputs obtained by a firm. It specifies a flow of output resulting from a flow of inputs during a specified period of time. It may be in the form of a table, a graph or an equation specifying maximum output rate from a given amount of inputs used. As it relates inputs to outputs, it is also called “input-output relation.” The production is purely physical in nature and is determined by the quantum of technology, availability of equipments, labour, raw materials, etc. employed by a firm. (more…)

Answer:- Assumptions of marginal costing (all 7 points)

1. Segregation of cost into fixed and variable

The whole principle of marginal costing is based on the idea that some costs vary with production while some costs don’t. Therefore, it is assumed that a clear bifurcation between fixed and variable costs is possible. Even if some costs do not entirely qualify as fixed or as variable, it is still possible to separate such mixed cost with respect to the amount, which remains fixed and the amount which varies with production.

2. Volume is the only factor which influences the cost

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Answer:- Meaning of cash flow analysis

Cash flow analysis is an important tool of financial analysis. It is the process of understanding the change in position with respect to cash in the current year and the reasons responsible for such a change. Incidentally, the analysis also helps us to understand whether the investing and financing decision taken by the company during the year are appropriate are not. (more…)

Solution:- Infosys Technologies Ltd.

Trend Analysis

Comment: The Revenue and Operating Profit (PBIDT) have almost doubled in four years. The PAT from ordinary activities has increased by 77.26% in the same period.

Solutions:-

Dr.                              Ledger accounts Furniture and fittings a/c                                    Cr.                                                                 

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Solution:-

 Solution:-

Answer:- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is useful in such situations as comparing the mileage achieved by five different brands of gasoline, testing which of four different training methods produce the fastest learning record, or comparing the first-year earnings of the graduates of half a dozen different business schools. In each of these cases, we would compare the means of more than two samples. Hence, in most of the fields, such as agriculture, medical, finance, banking, insurance, education, etc., the concept of ANOVA is used.

In statistical terms, the difference between two statistical data is known as variance. When two data are compared for any practical purpose, their difference is studied through the techniques of ANOVA. With the analysis of variance technique, we can test the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.

Null hypothesis, ‘H0’: All sample means are equal. Alternate Hypothesis, ‘H1’: All sample means are not equal or at least one of the samples means differ.

Assumptions for study of ANOVA

The underlying assumptions for the study of ANOVA are:

1. Each of the samples is a simple random sample
2. Population from which the samples are selected are normally distributed
3. Each of the samples is independent of the other samples
4. Each of the population has the same variation and identical means
5. The effect of various components are additive.
6. b) Three samples below have been obtained from normal populations with equal variances. Test the hypothesis at 5% level that the population means are equal.

[The table value of F at 5% level of significance for V1 = 2 and V2 = 12 is 3.88]

 Solution: – let Ho: there is no significant different in the means of three samples

T=Sum of all observations = 150

Correction Factor = T2/N = 150*2/15=1500

SST(Total sum of the Squares ) = sum of Squares of all observations – T2/N

=(8*2+7*2+12*2+10*2+…..+14*2) – 1500=1600-1500=100

Sum of the Square of error between the columns (samples):

Sum of the square of error between the columns (Samples);

SSE=SST-SSC=100-40=60

Variance between samples:

Variance within the samples:

The degree of freedom = (k-1, n-k) = (2.12)

[K is the number of columns and n is the total number of observations]

ANOVA Table

Answer:- a) Meaning, applications and conditions

The Chi-square test is one of the most commonly used non-parametric tests in statistical  work.  The  Greek  Letter  c2   is  used  to  denote  this  test.  c2   describe the magnitude  of  discrepancy  between  the  observed  and  the expected frequencies.

Applications   (more…)

Answer:- a) Hypothesis testing procedure

There are five steps involved in testing on hypothesis while are as follows:

1. Formulate a Hypothesis: The first step is to set up two hypothesis instead of one in such a way that if one hypothesis is true, the other is false. Alternatively; if one hypothesis is false or rejected then the other is true or accepted.
2. Set up a suitable significance level: After formulating the hypothesis, the next steps is to test its validity at a certain level of significance. The confidence with which a null hypothesis is rejected or accepted depends on the significance level used for the purpose.
3. Select test criterion: The next steps in hypothesis testing in the selection of an appropriate statistical technique as a test criterion. There are many techniques from which one is to be chosen. For example, when the hypothesis partners to a large of more than 30, the Z test implying normal distribution is used for population mean. If the sample is small (n<30) the t test will be more appropriate. The test criteria that are frequently used in hypothesis testing are Z, t, f and x2.

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Answer:- a) Explanation of the approaches to define probability

 There are four approaches to define Probability. They are as follows:

1) Classical / mathematical / priori approach

2) Statistical / relative frequency / empirical / posteriori approach

3) Subjective approach

4) Axiomatic approach

1) Classical / mathematical / priori approach (more…)

Answer;-Meaning of statistics

According to Horace Secrist, Statistics may be defined as “an aggregate of facts affected to a marked extent by multiplicity of causes, numerically expressed, enumerated or estimated according to a reasonable standard of accuracy, collected in a systematic manner for a predetermined purpose and placed in relation to each other”1. This definition is both comprehensive and exhaustive (more…)

Answer: Meaning of SQ3R :

SQ3R technique of reading was developed by Robinson in his book “Effective Study” (1970). SQ3R stands for the initial letters of the five steps ;

1. Survey – Survey refers to a quick glance through the title page, preface and chapter headings of a text. By surveying, you will be able to gauge the main ideas of the text. Besides, the author’s name, date, place of publication and title page can give you an idea of the general subject area. The table of contents, preface or foreword in a book would give you an idea of the themes and how they are organised. A survey of the index or bibliography tells you immediately whether the book contains what you need.

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Answer:- Aspects to be kept in mind during job interview

Once you have gone through the preparation stage, you are ready to face the actual interview. This is the most important stage of the job application process, during which attention should be paid to the following aspects:

• Opening formalities – Since it is important to create a good first impression, the way you greet and introduce yourself is important. Using the name of the interviewer correctly, giving a firm handshake, waiting till you are asked to be seated and sitting with an erect posture are common courtesies that should be observed to project a good image.

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Answer:  The most common type of persuasive letter is a sales letter addressed to customers, persuading them to buy your company’s product. A sales letter is similar to an advertisement and uses the same “AIDA” (Attention, Interest, Desire and Action) format. This means taking the consumers through different mental stages in a particular sequence – first getting their attention, creating interest by highlighting unique features of the product, inducing desire by convincing them that the product is better than others and then motivating them to try the product. Sales letters are used to sell industrial products such as machinery, consumer durable products and other high-value items. (more…)