Sikkim Manipal Online mba

Answer  :   VALS Theory & Concept

VALS: A science of using the demographics and psychology profiles to understand the consumers in a better and in a proper way. VALS was developed by Arnold Mitchell and his colleagues at Stanford Research Institute which is a world’s largest research institute in California City. It was developed in the year 1978 and there have been the use of Abraham Maslow’s philosophy as well the David Riesman — one of the Harvard sociologists. They have divided the buyer in different groups on the basis of the traits of personality which are values and the lifestyles. They have done the research on the basis of questionnaires in 4 demographic and 35 attitudinal questions. The VALS have been updated with more than new and innovative data’s and surveys of more than 85000 surveys per year. Thus VALS is known as:  (more…)

Answer  :  This has been defined as the study and evaluation of the relative profitability or costs of different marketing operations in terms of customers marketing units, commodities, territories or services.
As you read earlier in the lesson physical distribution cost in the third largest component in the total cost of business operations. Hence there is good scope for cost reduction in this area as it has not received the attention due to it till recent years.
One feature of distribution costs distinguishing them from other functional costs is that they have to be looked upon as a unit. Indiscriminate cost reduction in any one of the individual cost elements, such as inventory maintenance, warehousing, transportation or clerical services, can have a disastrous effect on the efficiency of the system as a whole e.g., if we cut inventories it will save capital investment and the costs of supplying capital and it may save some expenses in storage, taxes and insurance. On the other hand a cut in inventory levels may seriously affect reliability of the delivery service to customers. As Mr. John F Magee puts it, it saves money but destroys competitive position.

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Answer  :  Different types of Sales Organization

1) Organizing the Sales Force

:An effective sales force is a powerful asset for any company. Doctors & physicians in United States have consistently ranked Pfizer’s sales force as one of the best in the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, when Parke-Davis launched its blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug, Lipitor, it entered into an alliance in which Pfizer’s sales force helped selling the drug to physicians throughout the United States. A company’s management process is fundamentally affected by the firm’s overall business strategy and its strategy for accessing its target markets. The relationship between business strategies, a firm’s marketing strategy, and a firm’s strategic sales force program is discussed in this unit. Sales force organization is primarily a function of properly sizing the sales organization to assure that customers and prospects receive appropriate coverage, company products get proper representation, and the sales force is stretched but not overworked. The appropriate planning of the sales force will also depend on the size of the opportunity a firm faces and its expected sales level. (more…)

Answer :  The Business development Lifecycle is a methodology adopted for planning, designing, implementing and maintaining the BI system. Various steps involved in this approach are depicted below.

Each of the phases in the above life cycle is described below.

Project Planning

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Answer :  Business intelligence tools. The various tools of this suite are:

-Data Integration Tools:

These tools extract, transform and load the data from the source databases to the target database. There are two categories; Data Integrator and Rapid Marts. Data Integrator is an ETL tool with a GUI. Rapid Marts is a packagedETL with pre-built data models for reporting and query analysis that makes initial prototype development easy and fast for ERP applications. The important components of Data Integrator include; (more…)

Answer : Fast Ethernet Technology Fast Ethernet, or 100BaseT, is conventional Ethernet but faster, operating at 100 Mbpsinstead of 10 Mbps. Fast Ethernet is based on the proven CSMA/CD Media Access Control (MAC) protocol and can use existing10BaseT cabling (See Appendix for pinot diagram and table). Data can move from 10Mbps to 100 Mbps without protocol translation or changes to application and networkingsoftware.Data- Link Layer Fast Ethernet maintains CSMA/CD, the Ethernet transmission protocol.  (more…)

Answer : The various key design issues are present in several layers in computer networks. The important design issues are:

1. Addressing: Mechanism for identifying senders and receivers, on the network need some form of addressing. There are multiple processes running on one machine. Some means is needed for a process on one machine to specify with whom it wants to communicate. (more…)

Answer : A database model is a theory or specification describing how a database is structured and used. Several such models like Hierarchical model, Network model, Relational model etc., have been suggested. (more…)

Answer :  Differentiate between Traditional File System & Modern Database System: (more…)

Answer : Myth is defined as “widely held but false notation” by the oxford dictionary, so assign other fields software arena also has some myths to demystify. Pressman insists “Software myths- beliefs about software and the process used to build it- can be traced to earliest days of computing. Myths have number of attributes that have made them insidious.” So software myths prevail but though they do are not clearly visible they have the potential to harm all the parties involved in the software development process mainly the developer team. Tom Demark expresses “In the absence of meaningful standards, a new industry like software comes to depend instead on folklore.” The given statement points out that the software industry caught pace just some decades back so it has not matured to formidable level and there are no strict standards in software development. There does not exist one best method of software development that ultimately equates to the ubiquitous software myths. Primarily, there are three types of software myths, all the three are stated below: 1.Management Myth2.CustomerMyth3.Practitioner/Developer Myth before defining the above three myths one by one lets scrutinize why these myths occur on the first place. The picture below tries to clarify the complexity of the problem of software development requirement analysis mainly between the developer team and the clients (more…)

Answer :  The quality movement started in the 1940s with a major contribution on quality aspects from W. Edwards Deming. One of the major benefits of quality has been the saving in the overall cost of production. A system of continuous improvement helps in achieving good quality. Kaizen, refers to a system of continuous process improvement. The purpose of kaizen is to develop a process that is visible,

repeatable, and measurable. After Kaizen it is afterimage hinshitsu, which refers to examination of intangibles that affect the process and works to optimize their impact. Both kaizen and afterimage hinshitsu focuses on processes. The next stage is kansei which leads to improvement in the product itself and, potentially, to the process that created it. The final stage is miryokuteki hinshitsu which broadens the management concern beyond the immediate product. (more…)

Answer :  What Is Risk Management?

The Board of Regents has approved a policy giving responsibility for the preservation of assets, both human and physical, to the Office of Risk Management. This is accomplished by identifying, evaluating, and controlling loss exposures faced by the University. Risk Management’s goal is to minimize the adverse effects of unpredictable events. For example, it is not known if a fire will ever occur in your office, but if it does, the adverse effect of that fire will be reduced if proper risk management tools have been utilized. (more…)

Answer : Chance of loss

Loss is the injury or damage borne by the insured in consequence of the happening of one or more of the accidents or misfortunes against which the insurer, in consideration of the premium, has undertaken to assure the insured. Chance of loss is defined as the probability that an event that causes a loss will occur. The chance of loss is a result of two factors, namely peril and hazard. Hazards are further classified into the following four types: (more…)

Answer : Mutual Fund Schemes or Products

Broad range of Mutual Fund Schemes exists to cater to the needs such as financial position, risk tolerance and return expectations and so on. The schemes are as follows: (more…)

Answer : Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices Relating to the Securities

The SEBI (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices relating to the Securities Market) Regulations, 2003 authorises SEBI to investigate into cases of market fraudulent and unfair trade practices. The regulations prohibit market manipulation, misleading statements to increase sale or purchase of securities, unfair trade practices relating to securities.  (more…)

Answer :  An insider is a person who is connected with a company and who is expected to have access to unpublished sensitive information with respect to securities of the company. A person who has access to unpublished information which deals in securities and is involved in violations of the provisions will be guilty of insider trading. Insiders have access to confidential information of a company due to the position occupied by them in the company. They are in a position to manipulate the share prices to their own advantage and make huge profits. These actions cause major fluctuations in the prices of the securities. Considering the fact that the actions of insiders cause devastating effects on the functioning of stock exchange, SEBI has issued regulations to control such practices. Another problem that the stock market faces is unofficial trading in shares before listing of new companies. The company is not guilty of insider trading if the acquisition of shares was as per SEBI Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeover Regulations. If SEBI suspects that any person has violated the regulations of prohibition of insider trading, it can initiate an inquiry. For the prevention of insider trading, SEBI has introduced a policy on disclosure and internal procedure. According to this policy: (more…)

Answer : Treasury exposure allows treasury management to various risks in the organisation. Following are the few treasury exposures in an organisation:

Financial exposure: The treasury management in the organisation are disclosed to the powerful analytics that enable to measure the global treasury operations and control financial market risks. It analyses the price and risk profile of financial dealings on a pre-dealing basis. The exposure in foreign exchange market is intense; hence hedging towards these risks by integrating business exposures and treasury transactions helps an organisation to manage financial risk and stay profitable.  (more…)

Answer :  Treasury Organisation

The treasury organisation deals with analysing, planning, and implementing treasury functions. It deals with issues of profit centre, cost centre etc. The organisations managing interfaces with treasury functions include intragroupcommunications, taxation, recharging, measurement and cultural aspects. (more…)

Answer :  The objective of capital structure management is to mix the permanent sources of funds in manner that will maximise the company’s common stock price. This will also minimise the firm’s composite cost of capital. This proper mix of fund sources is referred to as the optimal capital structure. Thus, for each firm, there is a combination of debt, equity and other forms(preferred stock) which maximises the value of the firm while simultaneously minimising the cost of capital. The financial manager is continuously trying to achieve an optimal proportion of debt and equity that will achieve this objective. (more…)

Answer : The balance of payments(or BOP) of a country is a record of international transactions between residents of one country and the rest of the world over a specified period, usually a year. Thus, India’s balance of payments accounts record transactions between Indian residents and the rest of the world. International transactions include exchanges of goods, services or assets. The term “residents” means businesses, individuals and government agencies and includes citizens temporarily living abroad but excludes local subsidiaries of foreign corporations. The balance of payments is a sources-and-uses-of-funds statement. Transactions such as exports of goods and services that earn foreign exchange are recorded as credit, plus, or cash inflows (sources). Transactions such as imports of goods and services that expend foreign exchange are recorded as debit, minus, or cash outflows (uses).The Balance of Payments for a country is the sum of the Current Account, the Capital Account and the change in Official Reserves. (more…)

Answer :

Internal Audit The Governing Body of each agency is responsible for establishing the internal audit function and the head of internal audit is primarily accountable to the Governing Body. The head of internal audit will report to the Audit Committee on their function, and to the chief executive (or to an officer nominated by the chief executive) for administrative purposes such as for authorisation of expenditure and approval of travel and leave.

Guideline (more…)

Answer :  Wealth Tax

Wealth tax is a direct tax, which is charged on the net wealth of the assessed. It is a tax on the benefits derived from ownership of property. The tax is to be paid year after year on the same property on its market value, whether or not such property yields any income. Wealth tax, in India, is levied under Wealth-tax Act, 1957. The Income tax department under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance administers the Wealth Tax Act, 1957 as well as the Wealth Tax Rules framed there under.

Under the Act, the tax is charged in respect of the wealth held during the assessment year by the following persons :- (more…)

a. Tax holidays

Answer  : A tax holiday is a temporary reduction or elimination of a tax. Programs may be referred to as tax abatements, tax subsidies, tax holidays, or tax reduction programs. Governments usually create tax holidays as incentives for business investment. Tax holidays have been granted by governments at national, sub-national, and local levels, and have included income, property, sales, VAT, and other taxes. Some tax holidays are extra statutory concessions, where governing bodies grant reduction in tax not necessarily authorized within the law. In developing countries, governments sometimes reduce or eliminate corporate taxes for the purpose of attracting Foreign Direct Investment or stimulating growth in selected industries.

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Answer  :  The defense against the acquisition by taking over the shares listed on any stock exchanges. It explains the concept and various forms of takeover device prevailing in the corporate world and the technique of corporate raid as well. You will also understand about the various defensive mechanisms that can be adopted to face the takeover raid, which in turn focuses on corporate strategies to avoid takeover raid and the legal measures against takeovers in India. (more…)

Answer  : Merger success is possible; however, being part of the 17% that succeeds, rather than the 83% that does not deliver, requires more than insight. Merger success is based on acceleration, concentration and creating a critical mass for operational change (adaptation). (more…)

Answer  : DURATION OF BONDS

Bond Duration is a measure of bond price volatility, which captures both price and reinvestment risk and which is used to indicate how a bond will react in different interest rate environments. The duration of a bond represents the length of time that elapses before the average rupee of present value from the bond is received. Thus duration of a bond is the weighted average maturity of cash flow stream, where the weights are proportional to the present value of cash flows. Formally, it is defined as:

Duration = D = {PV (C1) x 1 + PV (C2) x 2+ —– PV (Can) x n} / Current Price of the bond

Where PV (Chi) is the present values of cash flow at time I. (more…)

Answer  : The degree to which stock prices reflect all available, relevant information.

Market efficiency has varying degrees: strong, semi-strong, and weak. Stock prices in a perfectly efficient market reflect all available information. These differing levels, however, suggest that the responsiveness of stock prices to relevant information may vary.

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Answer :   A Bill of Lading or BOL or B/L is a legal document used by the shipper of a particular good and a carrier (i.e. the transport provider). This document is issued by the carrier and completed by the shipper. It details the type, quantity and destination of the goods being carried. The bill of lading also serves as a receipt of shipment when the good is delivered to the predetermined destination. This document must accompany the shipped goods, no matter the form of transportation, and must be signed by an authorized representative from the carrier, shipper and receiver. (more…)

Answer : The term “globalization” has acquired considerable emotive force. Some view it as process that is beneficial — a key to future world economic development — and also inevitable and irreversible. Others regard it with hostility, even fear, believing that it increases inequality within and between nations, threatens employment and living standards and thwarts social progress. This brief offers an overview of some aspects of globalization and aims to identify ways in which countries can tap the gains of this process, while remaining realistic about its potential and its risks. Globalization offers extensive opportunities for truly worldwide development but it is not progressing evenly. Some countries are becoming integrated into the global economy more quickly than others. Countries that have been able to integrate are seeing faster growth and reduced poverty. (more…)

Answer :  Strategy implementation is the translation of chosen strategy into organizational action so as to achieve strategic goals and objectives. Strategy implementation is also defined as the manner in which an organization should develop, utilize, and amalgamate organizational structure, control systems, and culture to follow strategies that lead to competitive advantage and a better performance. Organizational structure allocates special value developing tasks and roles to the employees and states how these tasks and roles can be correlated so as maximize efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction-the pillars of competitive advantage. But, organizational structure is not sufficient in itself to motivate the employees. (more…)

Answer :  Strategy

Strategy is the method by which an organisation systematically achieves its future objectives. A business cannot progress for a long term without a reliable strategy. In this unit, you will learn meaning of business strategies, its conceptual evolution, scope and its importance, distinction between goals and objectives, analysing strategic intent through vision and mission statements and finding out the significance of core competencies of business and critical success factors (more…)

Answer :   Observation techniques

Direct observation produces more reliable information than interviews on actual behaviour. The researcher can see which medicines are being sold, prescribed or used, or are available in medicine cabinets; what information on their use the seller or doctor provides; whether drugs are purchased on prescription, etc. The most common observational techniques to study drug use are: (more…)

Answer  :  OBJECTIVE:

A poor location or a poorly negotiated lease can cripple a wonderful business. Every business has its own location criteria. In this session you will define your criteria, learn how to select the right location, create a site model, and recognize the important aspects of a lease agreement.

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Answer  :   1. Purpose

a. This publication sets forth planning policies and procedures to govern the joint activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders and prescribes doctrine and selected joint tactics, techniques, and procedures for joint operations and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing their appropriate plans. (more…)

Answer :    Property, Plant, and Equipment is a separate category on a classified balance sheet. It typically follows Long-term Investments and is oftentimes referred to as “PP&E.” Items appropriately included in this section are the physical assets deployed in the productive operation of the business, like land, buildings, and equipment. Note that idle facilities and land held for speculation are more appropriately listed in some other category on the balance sheet, like Long-term Investments. Within the PP&E section, items are customarily listed according to expected life. Land comes first, followed by buildings, then equipment. For some businesses, the amount of Property, Plant, and Equipment can be substantial. This is the case for firms that have large investments in manufacturing operations or significant real estate holdings. Other service or intellectual-based businesses may actually have very little to show within this balance sheet category. (more…)

Answer  :   In some ways the very term ‘operation strategy’ sounds like a contradiction in terms. Operations is, after all, about the day-to-day creation and delivery of products and services. So how can it be strategic? In fact, the issue is one of distinguishing between two words which are similar but have different meanings. These are operations and operational. Operations refers to those parts of the business which are concerned with producing products and services. (more…)

Answer  :  A System is a group of interrelated items in which no item studied in isolation will act in the same way as it would in the system. A system is divided into a series of parts or subsystems, and any system is a part of a larger system. The system’s boundary defines what is inside the system and what is outside. A system’s environment is everything outside the system boundary that may have an impact on the behaviour of the system. A system’s inputs are the physical objects of information that enter it from the environment and its outputs are the same which leave it for the environment. (more…)

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Answer : No doubt about it, emerging technology has a drastic impact on society and business. Whether people realize it or not, the way we conduct business and live our lives would be much different if it weren’t for the continually changing technology. (more…)

Answer : ORWARD AND BACKWARDS SCHEDULING

 MIE Solutions offers a made to order job shop ERP system designed for the manufacturer of goods and products.  Most accounting systems are designed for the basic AR, AP and GL side of financials where a manufacturing software product deals with the actual production of the goods and services.   MIE Trak is a full featured ERP system for the made to order and engineer to order manufacturer. (more…)