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ASSIGNMENTS
PROGRAM:
SEMESTER-I
INSTRUCTIONS
a) Students are required to submit all three assignment sets.
ASSIGNMENT DETAILS MARKS
Assignment A Five Subjective Questions 10
Assignment B Three Subjective Questions + Case Study 10
Assignment C 45 Objective Questions 10
b) Total weightage given to these assignments is 30%. OR 30 Marks
c) All assignments are to be completed as typed in word/PDF.
d) All questions are required to be attempted.
e) All the three assignments are to be completed by due dates (specified from
time to time) and need to be submitted for evaluation by Amity University.
f) The evaluated assignment marks will be made available within six weeks.
Thereafter, these will be destroyed at the end of each semester.
g) The students have to attached a scan signature in the form.
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ASSIGNMENT A
Answer:
The term “Management” conveys different meanings depending upon the context in
which it is used.
According to Harold Koontz, “Management is the art of getting things done
through and with people in formally organized groups”.
Management may also be defined as the “Effective Utilization of Human and
Material Resources to achieve the Enterprise Objectives”
Management is a social process entailing responsibility for the effective and economical
planning and regulation of a given purpose or task. It is a very popular term. All
organizations - business, political, cultural or social are involved in management because it
is the management which helps and directs the various efforts towards a definite purpose.
It is an art of creating an environment in which people can perform and individuals can
co-operate towards attainment of group goals.
The following are the important features or characteristics of management:
1. Management is getting things done: A manager does not do any operating
work himself but gets it done through others. He must motivate the subordinates
for the accomplishment of the task assigned to them.
2. Management is an activity: Management is a process of organized activities. It is
concerned with the efficient use of resources like men, money and materials in the
organization.
3. Management is a group activity: Management cannot exist independent of the
group or organization it manages. It is a cardinal part of any group activity and
inspires workers to put forth their best efforts.
4. Management is a universal activity: Management is a universal phenomenon.
However, management principles are not universally applicable but are modified to
suit the given situation and the type of organization.
5. Management is purposeful: Management is a goal-oriented activity. It is
concerned with the accomplishment of goal through its various functions.
6. Management is an integrating process: Management integrates men, machines
and materials for performing various operations and accomplishing the stated
goals.
7. Management is intangible: Management is abstract and cannot be seen with the
eyes. It is evidenced by the quality of the organization and the results.
8. Management is a profession: Management is a profession because some of its
established principles are being applied in practice.
9. Management is interdisciplinary: This implies that, even though management
has been developed as a separate discipline, it draws knowledge, concepts and
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discipline from other social sciences, and put it into practice for managing the
organizations.
10. Management is a science and an art: Management has developed certain
principles and laws which have wide applications. So it is treated as a science. It is
also an art, because it is concerned with the application of knowledge for the
solution of organizational problems.
11. Management is dynamic: Management is dynamic because it adapts itself to the
social changes and introduces innovation in methodology.
12. Management involves decision-making: Management process involves
decision-making at various levels for getting things done. It involves selecting the
most appropriate alternative.
13. Management applies economic principles: Management is the art of applying
the economic principles that underline the control of men and materials in the
organization.
14. Management is concerned with direction and control: Management is
concerned with the direction and control of the various activities. It deals
particularly with the active direction of the human effort.
Q2.What is planning? Explain briefly the different types of Plans giving suitable
examples.
Answer:
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Nature of Plan Definition Nature Example
Objective Goal or target to be Basis of all plans Increase sales by 10%
achieved
Policy General statement Boundary within Employees are to be
or understanding to which decisions are promoted on the basis
guide thinking to be made of seniority
Strategy Action plan to face Relates the Combative advertising
environmental organization to its to face price cuts by
uncertainties environment competitors
Procedure Manner in which Sequence of steps Purchase procedure
activities are to be
performed
Rule State what should Rigid plan, no scope No smoking in the
and should not be for discretion factory
done in a situation
Programme Combination plan States activities and Installation of a
for goal achievement resources to be computer
undertaken
Schedule Time-table for Specifies priority of Complete installation
activities work and time for of computer within 3
each activity months w.e.f March
2009
Budget Statement of Quantitative and Produce 10,000
expected results and time bound plan of tonnes of sugar next
resources to be used action year
Project Cluster of Scheme for Construction of a
interrelated deployment of flyover
activities-a separate resources
unit
Plans commit individuals, departments, organizations, and the resources of each to
specific actions for the future.
There are four major types of plans that can help managers achieve their
organization's goals: strategic, tactical, operational, and contingency. Operational
plans lead to the achievement of tactical plans, which in turn lead to the attainment of
strategic plans. Managers develop a contingency plan in case their original plans fail.
1. Operational plans: The specific results expected from departments, work groups,
and individuals are the operational goals.
An operational plan is one that a manager uses to accomplish his or her job
responsibilities. Supervisors, team leaders, and facilitators develop operational plans
to support tactical plans.Operational plans can be a single-use plan, an ongoing plan,
a polcy, a procedure, or a rule.
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2. Tactical plans: A tactical plan is concerned with what the lower level units within
each division must do, how they must do it, and who is in charge at each level.
Tactics are the means needed to activate a strategy and make it work.
3. Strategic plans: A strategic plan is an outline of steps designed with the goals of
the entire organization as a whole in mind, rather than with the goals of specific
divisions or departments. Strategic planning begins with an organization's mission.
Strategic plans look ahead over the next two, three, five, or even more years to move
the organization from where it currently is to where it wants to be.
4. Contingency plans: Intelligent and successful management depends upon a
constant pursuit of adaptation, flexibility, and mastery of changing conditions.
Strong management requires a “keeping all options open” approach at all times.
That is where contingency planning comes in.
Contingency planning involves identifying alternative courses of action that can be
implemented if and when the original plan proves inadequate because of changing
circumstances. Unexpected problems and events frequently occur. When they do,
managers may need to change their plans. Anticipating change during the planning
process is best in case things don't go as expected.
Answer:
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• Perpetual existence: A joint stock company continues to exist as long as it fulfils the
requirements of law. It is not affected by the death, lunacy, insolvency or retirement of
any of its investors.
• Limited liability: In a joint stock company, the liability of a member is limited to
the amount he has invested.
• Democratic management: Joint stock companies have democratic
management and control. Normally, the investors elect representatives from among
themselves known as ‘Directors’ to manage the affairs of the company.
Answer:
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Its structure is based on its varied product lines which include women’s footwear,
children’s footwear and men’s footwear. Another example is banks, most of them have
separate departments for commercial loans, installment loans, savings accounts, and
checking accounts.
Answer:
A manager alone cannot perform all the tasks assigned to him. In order to meet the
targets, the manager should delegate authority. Delegation of Authority means division of
authority and powers downwards to the subordinate. It is about entrusting someone else
to do parts of your job. Delegation of authority can be defined as subdivision and sub-
allocation of powers to the subordinates in order to achieve effective results.
Decentralization is a systematic delegation of authority at all levels of management and in
all of the organization. In a decentralization concern, authority is retained by the top
management for taking major decisions and framing policies concerning the whole
concern. Rest of the authority may be delegated to the middle level and lower level of
management.
The degree of decentralization will depend upon the amount of authority delegated to the
lowest level.
The table below shows the difference between delegation and decentralizing:
Basis Delegation Decentralization
Responsibility Responsibility remains of the Responsibility is also delegated to
managers and cannot be subordinates.
delegated
Freedom of Freedom is not given to the Freedom to work can be maintained
Work subordinates as they have to by subordinates as they are free to
work as per the instructions take decision and to implement it.
of their superiors.
Nature It is a routine function It is an important decision of an
enterprise.
Grant of The authority is granted by It is a systematic act which takes place
Authority one individual to another. at all levels and at all functions in a
concern.
Degree Degree of delegation varies Decentralization is total by nature. It
from concern to concern and spreads throughout the organization
department to department. i.e. at all levels and all functions
Process Delegation is a process which It is an outcome which explains
explains superior relationship between top management
subordinates relationship and all other departments.
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Essentiality Delegation is essential of all Decentralization is a decisions
kinds of concerns function by nature.
Withdrawal Delegated authority can be It is considered as a general policy of
taken back. top management and is applicable to
all departments.
Freedom of Very little freedom to the Considerable freedom
Action subordinates
Staffing is the process of filling all positions in the organization with adequate and
qualified personnel. According to Koontz and O’Donnell, “The managerial function of
staffing involves manning the organizational structure through proper and effective
selection, appraisal and development of personnel to fill the roles designed into the
structure”. Staffing consists of manpower planning, recruitment, selection, training,
compensation, integration and maintenance of employees .Lawrence Appley remarked,
“…managers would be more skilled and more competent if they were carefully selected,
specifically trained, continually kept up –to- date in their field of activity, guided in their
development for the assumption of greater responsibility and adequately rewarded.
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ASSIGNMENT B
Q1. Compare Maslow’s Need Hierarchy theory with that of Herzberg’s Two factor
theory.
Answer:
Without motivation, the employees become ordinary workers, and perform average work.
From the very beginning, when human organizations were established, people had tried
to find out the answer of what motivates people in the organization most.
For that reasons, Psychologists claimed that needs have a certain priority. As the more
basic needs are satisfied, an individual seeks to satisfy the higher needs. If his basic needs
are not met, efforts to satisfy the higher needs should be postponed. A.H. Maslow, a
famous social scientist, has given a framework that helps to explain the strength of certain
needs. According to him, there seems to be a hierarchy into which human needs are
arranged. The following table shows Maslow's hierarchy of needs:
Level Type of Need Examples
1 Physiological Thirst, sex, hunger
2 Safety Security, stability, protection
3 Love and Belongingness To escape loneliness, love and be loved, and gain a
sense of belonging
4 Esteem Self-respect, the respect others
5 Self-actualization To fulfill one's potentialities
Another scientist who tried to find an answer for above mentioned question is Frederick
Herzberg. After an intensive analysis of the experiences and, feelings of 200 engineers in
nine different companies, from this research, Herzberg suggested a two-step approach to
understanding employee motivation and satisfaction:
1. Hygiene Factors: Hygiene factors are based on the need to for a business to
avoid unpleasantness at work. If these factors are considered inadequate by
employees, then they can cause dissatisfaction with work. Hygiene factors include:
company policy and administration, technical supervision, interpersonal
relationship with supervisors, interpersonal relationship with peers, interpersonal
relationship with subordinates, salary, job security, personal life, working
conditions and status.
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2. Motivator Factors: Motivator
factors are based on an individual's
need for personal growth. When
they exist, motivator factors actively
create job satisfaction. If they are
effective, then they can motivate an
individual to achieve above-average
performance and effort. Motivator
factors include: achievements,
recognition, advancement, work
itself, possibility of growth, and
responsibility. Most of these factors
are related with job contents.
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Q2.Critically examine Mc.Gregor’s Theory X and Theory y.
Answer:
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McGregor’s theory X relates to the classical approach to management theory, which says
that the “average human being has an inherent dislike of work and will avoid it if he can.”
People need, and indeed prefer to be directed and controlled and managers should use
strict codes of conduct and punishments to keep employee behaviour in line.
Theory Y relates to the human relations approach to management theory, the idea that
management’s task is to create an environment where employees can be innovative and
productive because they are at the very least satisfied in their work.
Subscribers to the Theory X approach believe in the ‘command and control’ principle, the
idea that a top-down approach to management is the organizational structure for a
company. On the other hand we have the Theory Y approach which believes the job of
management is to ‘facilitate and empower’ - workers should be given the best possible
environment to work in, and the best way to get them to do a good job is to give them a
good job to do.
Answer:
Fred Luthans has defined diversity as the presence of members of different ages, genders,
ethnic groups, and/or educational backgrounds in an organization.
In Workforce America! Managing Employee Diversity as a Vital Resource, diversity is
defined as “otherness or those human qualities that are different from our own and
outside the groups to which we belong, yet present in other individuals and groups.”.
The Chancellor's Committee on Diversity defines Diversity as: "The variety of
experiences and perspective which arise from differences in race, culture, religion, mental
or physical abilities, heritage, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and other
characteristics."
Dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to: age, ethnicity, ancestry, gender,
physical abilities/qualities, race, sexual orientation, educational background, geographic
location, income, marital status, military experience, religious beliefs, parental status, and
work experience.
It's important to understand how these dimensions affect performance, motivation,
success, and interactions with others. Better management of diversity reduces costs,
improves staffing, improves marketing, promotes creativity, facilitates problem solving
and increases flexibility. Management of diversity requires managing cultural diversity,
individual diversity and workforce diversity. Since the composition of the workforce has
been changing over the past few years, managing diversity has become a challenge to
organizations.
The reasons for diversity are as follows:
1. Changing demographical structure of the workforce: The modern workforce
includes women, minorities, older employees and highly educated people. The
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increase in skills and education levels combined with the legal provision of equal
opportunity for all have led to an increase of diversity in workforce.
2. Government legislation: Legislation has made it binding on organizations to
provide equal opportunity for all employees, and this brought diversity in modern
organizations.
3. Enhances competitiveness of firms: the firms that adopt an affirmative
approach to recruiting people from diverse backgrounds have a talented and
capable workforce, and gain a reputation as fair employers are more likely to
attract employees.
4. Increasing globalization of firms: Managers and technical personnel who go to
a foreign country to put an organizational system in place will have to change their
leadership styles, communication patterns and other practices to suit the culture of
the foreign country. Those organizations which value diversity are in a better
position to work with people from different cultures, customs, and social norms
when they go global.
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CASE STUDY
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ASSIGNMENT C
a) Administration.
b) Management. (√ √)
c) Organization.
d) Staffing.
Q-3- The analysis and measurement of actual operations against the established standards
developed during the planning process is called__________.
a) √)
Controlling. (√
b) Monitoring.
c) Leading.
d) Organizing.
Q-4- Which of the following theories ignored the concepts of leadership, motivation,
power, and informal relations?
a) Pre-Classical.
b) √)
Classical. (√
c) Behavioral.
d) Modern.
Q-5- __________ Managers deals with the actual operation of an organization’s units.
a) First-level.
b) Top-level.
c) √)
Middle-level. (√
d) Link-level.
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a) Conceptual.
b) Design.
c) Human. (√ √)
d) Technical.
Q-7- Under which system does a worker’s wage increases in proportion to the output
produced?
a) Time-and-motion study.
b) √)
Piece-rate incentive system. (√
c) Micromotion study.
d) Gantt chart.
a) Decentralization.
b) Stabilization.
c) Centralization.
d) Organization.
Q-9- The two major managerial practices that are emerged from Taylor’s approach to
management are the piece-rate incentive system and __________________
Q-10- Weber coined the term ________ to identify large organizations tat operated on a
rational basis .
a) Autocracy
b) Dictatorship
c) √)
Bureaucracy (√
d) Diplomacy
(a) √)
Functions (√
(b) Products
(c) Territory
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Q-12 -………………..consists of a set of activities aimed at attracting and selecting
individuals for positions in a way that will facilitate the achievement of organizational
goals
(a)Recruitment
(b) Selection
√)
(c) Staffing (√
(a) Recruitment
√)
(b) Staffing (√
(c) Selection
Q-14 ………...involves choosing the candidates who best meet the qualifications and
have the greatest aptitude for the job.
(a) Staffing
(b) Recruitment
(c) √)
Selection (√
Q-16- There are many types of organizational forms. Which of the following is not a type
of organization form?
a) Function
b) √)
Geographical (√
c) Matrix
d) Subsidiary
a) Programs.
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b) √)
Policies. (√
c) Budgets
d) Projects.
Q-18- Which one of the following is the first step in the planning process?
a) √)
Establishing objectives. (√
b) Analyzing opportunities.
c) Determining planning premises.
d) Identifying alternatives.
Q-20- When developing a contingency plan, manager should not try to_____________.
a) Rigidity.
b) Flexibility. (√√)
c) Inelasticity.
d) Invariability.
Q-22- The management function, that involves setting goals and deciding how best to
achieve them is known as___________.
a) Planning. (√√)
b) Organizing
c) Leading.
d) Controlling.
Q-23- Generally strategic plan` is an important aspect of the jobs of ________ managers.
a) Operation-level.
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b) Middle- Level.
c) Top-level. (√ √)
d) At all levels
a) Ideas
b) Human mind (√√)
c) Time horizon
d) Process
√)
a) the significance of intellectual capital/asset. (√
b) individual accountability.
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c) changes in business strategy.
d) contemporary accounting reporting standards.
Q-29- The 'people portfolio' of an organization can describe its people (i.e. knowledge
owners) based on their level of expertise and potential for growth in the organization-
specific Knowledge Management skill/expert areas. Four types or states of 'knowledge
owners' can be identified, what are these?
√)
a) 'key players', 'rising stars', 'core competent' and 'redundancy' (√
b) 'key players'. 'rising stars', 'core competent' and 'deadwood'
c) 'core assets', 'rising stars', 'core competent' and 'deadwood'
d) 'core assets', 'rising stars', 'core competent' and 'redundancy'
Q-31-Which of the following is not the means by which an organization can use to
measure or value knowledge assets?
Q-33- In general, there are two distinctive approaches which can be adopted to
implement a knowledge management system. The first is the creation of a separate and
distinctive knowledge management unit within the organization. What is the second?
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a) Building a knowledge management strategy as an integral part of the
business strategy √
b) Developing an inter-organizational partnership with all suppliers
c) Formulating a knowledge management plan that involves a major organizational
restructuring
d) Developing an integrative IT strategy to improve communications between key
knowledge workers
a) Top
b) Middle
c) Lower (√√)
d) Directors.
a) Centralized √.
b) Decentralised.
c) Equally distributed.
d) None of the above.
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Q-39- Controlling is the __________ function of the management.
a) First
b) √)
Last (√
c) Both (a) and (b)
d) Neither (a) nor (b).
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