Eklavya'14 IIM Raipur

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Disclaimer: The information shared is purely to help the candidates prepare for their
WAT/PI round and IIM Raipur shall not be held responsible for the misuse of any
information provided.
About IIM Raipur

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) has been set up by the Government of India, Ministry
of Human Resource Development in 2010 at Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh is one of the fastest growing states of India with its rich mineral, forest, natural
and local resources.
The Institute believes in preparing ethical leaders who are not only committed to business,
commerce and industry but are also socially conscious towards their contribution in nation
building and bring in name for the country globally. The institute is abuzz with activities
carried by the student clubs which are now expanding their scope of activity and bringing
luminaries from the Corporate.
FINANCE
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1) Difference between merger and acquisition?
A) When one company takes over another and clearly establishes itself as the new owner, the
purchase is called an acquisition. From a legal point of view, the target company ceases to
exist, the buyer "swallows" the business and the buyer's stock continues to be traded.
In the pure sense of the term, a merger happens when two firms, often of similar size,
agree to go forward as a single new company rather than remain separately owned and
operated. This kind of action is more precisely referred to as a "merger of equals." Both
companies' stocks are surrendered and new company stock is issued in its place. For
example, both Daimler-Benz and Chrysler ceased to exist when the two firms merged,
and a new company, DaimlerChrysler, was created.
To know more about mergers and acquisitions visit the following pages
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/acquisition.asp
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/merger.asp
2) Difference between value and growth stocks?
A) Growth investing involves focusing on a stock that is growing with potential. It can be
the stock of a company with a past history of strong growth and can be in a sector which
is growing rapidly or has great potential for growth in the future.
Value investing seeks stocks that the market has under-priced and have a potential for an
increase. Sometimes during a bear market or a volatile market certain stock prices can be
hammered down by market sentiment, whereas in reality the stock should be valued
much more according to the performance of the company. Such undervalued stocks form
the basis of value buying and are considered value stocks. Whenever the stock market
will stabilize these value stocks will find their true value.
To know more about value and growth stocks visit the following pages
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/valuestock.asp
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/growthstock.asp
3) Explain stock split and a reverse stock split?
A) A stock split is an increase in the number of outstanding shares of a stock. The price of
the stock is immediately adjusted so that the total equity remains the same. For instance,
if a $100/share stock splits 2 for 1, there will be twice as many shares but they only be
worth $50 each now. This is usually done to make the stock more affordable to the public.
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A reverse stock split is a decrease in the number of shares. This is usually done to raise
the price per share to meet stock exchange requirements or simply to look more
"healthy."
To know more about stock splits and reverse stock splits visit the following pages
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/01/072501.asp
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/reversesplit.asp
4) What is Balance of Payments?

A)
The balance of payments (BOP) is the method countries use to monitor all international
monetary transactions at a specific period of time. Usually, the BOP is calculated every
quarter and every calendar year. All trades conducted by both the private and public
sectors are accounted for in the BOP in order to determine how much money is going in
and out of a country. If a country has received money, this is known as a credit, and, if a
country has paid or given money, the transaction is counted as a debit. Theoretically, the
BOP should be zero, meaning that assets (credits) and liabilities (debits) should balance.
But in practice this is rarely the case.
The BOP is divided into two main categories: the current account and the capital account.
To know more about Balance of Payments visit the following pages
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/03/060403.asp
5) What is working capital?

A) Working capital is defined as current assets minus current liabilities; it tells the financial
statement user how much cash is tied up in the business through items such as receivables
and inventories and also how much cash is needed to pay off short term obligations in the
next 12 months.
To know more about working capital visit the following page

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/workingcapital.asp
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6) What are the various systems of Accounting? Explain them.
A) There are two systems of Accounting:
1) Cash System of Accounting: This system records only cash receipts and payments.
This system assumes that there are no credit transactions. In this system of accounting,
expenses are considered only when they are paid and incomes are considered when they
are actually received. This system is used by the organizations which are established for
non-profit purpose. But this system is considered to be defective in nature as it does not
show the actual profits earned and the current state of affairs of the organization.
2) Mercantile or Accrual System of Accounting: In this system, expenses and incomes are
considered during that period to which they pertain. This system of accounting is
considered to be ideal but it may result into unrealized profits which might reflect in the
books of the accounts on which the organization have to pay taxes too. All the company
forms of organization are legally required to follow Mercantile or Accrual System of
Accounting.
7) Explain share capital & reserves and surpluses?
A) Share Capital is that portion of a companys equity that has been obtained by issuing
shares to a shareholder. The amount of share capital increases as new shares are sold to
public.
Reserves and Surpluses indicate that portion of the earnings, receipt or other surplus of
the company appropriated by the management for a general or specific purpose other than
provisions for depreciation or for a known liability. Reserves are classified as: Capital
Reserve and Capital Redemption Reserve.
To know more about share capital and reserves and surplus visit the following pages
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sharecapital.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_(accounting)
8) What are the main duties and responsibilities of a finance executive?

A) Recurring Duties:
- Deciding the financial needs
- Raising the funds required
- Allocation of funds
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Fixed assets management
Working capital management
- Allocation of Income
- Control of Funds
- Evaluation of Performance
- Corporate Taxation
-Other duties: to prepare annual accounts, carrying out internal audit, safeguarding
securities, present financial reports to top management. Etc.
Non recurring Duties:

- Preparation of financial plan at the time of company promotion
- Financial adjustments in times of liquidity crisis
- Valuation of the firm at the time of acquisition and merger etc.
9) What are limited liability companies? What are its two types?
A) The limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure combining both the
characteristics of a corporate and of partnership. As a corporate entity it protects its
owners against personal liability and on the other hand for tax purposes it is treated as a
non-corporate business organization. A limited liability company enjoys various benefits
like owners or members of the company have limited liability due to the companys
separate legal existence, system of profit distribution is very flexible. Unlike a corporate
organization it does not have to keep minutes or resolutions and is easier to operate. Tax
advantage is the important benefit which a limited liability company enjoys as all the
profits, losses and expenses are shared by the individual members. Thus the double
taxation of paying corporate tax and individual tax is avoided. With all the above benefits
limited Liability Company has few disadvantages also as the company comes to an end
after the expiry or insolvency of its members.
There are two types of limited liability companies:
Private Limited Company and Public Limited Company
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To know more about Limited liability company visit the following pages
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/llc.asp
10) What are derivatives?
A) Security whose price is dependent upon or derived from one or more underlying assets.
The derivative itself is merely a contract between two or more parties. Its value is
determined by fluctuations in the underlying asset. The most common underlying assets
include stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, interest rates and market indexes. Most
derivatives are characterized by high leverage.
To know more about derivatives visit the following page
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/derivative.asp
11) What are Futures?

A) A financial contract obligating the buyer to purchase an asset (or the seller to sell an
asset), such as a physical commodity or a financial instrument, at a predetermined future
date and price.
To know more about futures visit the following page
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/futures.asp
12) What are Options?

A) A financial derivative that represents a contract sold by one party (option writer) to
another party (option holder). The contract offers the buyer the right, but not the
obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) a security or other financial asset at an agreed-upon
price (the strike price) during a certain period of time or on a specific date (exercise date).
To know more about options visit the following page
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/option.asp
13) What is credit risk?

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A) Credit risk, also called default risk, is the risk associated with a borrower going into
default (not making payments as promised). Investor losses include lost principal and
interest, decreased cash flow, and increased collection costs.
14) What is Sensex?

A) Sensex is a free-float market capitalization-weighted stock market index of 30 wellestablished and financially sound companies listed on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
15) Can you quote share price of a company as on today?

A) Make sure you are aware of latest NSE, BSE indices and share prices of major companies
if you have shown interest in share market. Some of the sites for knowing the share prices
are
http://www.moneycontrol.com/
http://www.nseindia.com/
16) What is difference between stock and shares?

A) For example, "stock" is a general term used to describe the ownership certificates of any
company, in general, and "shares" refers to the ownership certificates of a particular
company. So, if investors say they own stocks, they are generally referring to their overall
ownership in one or more companies.
Technically, if someone says that they own shares - the question then becomes - shares of
what company? Also have basic idea about ADR and GDR.
To know about ADR and GDR visit the following pages
http://www.wikinvest.com/wiki/American_Depositary_Receipt_(ADR)
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gdr.asp
17) What are NPV and IRR?

A) IRR: You can think of IRR as the rate of growth a project is expected to generate. While
the actual rate of return that a given project ends up generating will often differ from its
estimated IRR rate, a project with a substantially higher IRR value than other available
options would still provide a much better chance of strong growth.
NPV: The difference between the present value of cash inflow and the present value of
cash outflow.
18) What are IPO and FPO?

A) The first sale of stock by a private company to the public is known as IPO.A follow-on
offering (often but incorrectly called secondary offering) is an issuance
of stock subsequent to the company's initial public offering.
To know more about FPO visit the following page
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fpo.asp
19) Distinguish between capital and money market?

A) Money market segment of the financial market in which financial instruments with high
liquidity and very short maturities are traded.
Capital market is a market where buyers and sellers engage in trade of financial securities
like bonds, stocks, etc. The buying/selling is undertaken by participants such as
individuals and institutions.
To know more about capital and money markets visit the following pages
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/capital-market
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/moneymarket.asp
20) Expand and explain LIBOR?

A) LIBOR stands for London interbank offer rate. It is the average interest rate estimated by
leading banks in London that they would be charged if borrowing from other banks.
21) What is the core baking product used by ICICI bank?
A) ICICI bank used Finacle and developed by Infosys.
Try to know about the core banking products used by other banks also.
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Links for reference
http://www.investopedia.com/
http://www.moneycontrol.com/
http://www.ft.com/home/uk
Important courses
Accounting in Decision making, Cost accounting, Capital structure, Investment Risk and return,
corporate restructuring, Mergers and Acquisitions, Cash Management, Financial Planning and
Strategy etc.
Careers in Finance
If you specialize in finance, a wide variety of careers like job Corporate Finance, Financial
Planning, Commercial and Retail Planning, Insurance industry, mutual fund, Real Estate,
International Finance and Investment Banking is open to you.
OPERATIONs
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1. What is operations management?

Operations management is an area of management concerned with overseeing, designing,
and controlling the process of production and redesigning business operations in the
production of goods and/or services.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_management
2. What do you know about supply chain?

Supply chain management (SCM) is the management of a network of
interconnected businesses involved in the provision of product and service packages
required by the end customers in a supply chain. Supply chain management spans all
movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods
from point of origin to point of consumption.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain_management
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3. What do you know about six- sigma (6 )?

Six Sigma is a business philosophy that employs a step by step approach to reduce
variation, increasing quality and hence customer satisfaction. Basically Sigma level is
metric used to quantify how a process is performing as compared to specification.
The statistical representation of Six Sigma describes quantitatively how a process is
performing. To achieve Six Sigma, a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects per
million opportunities.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Sigma
4. What is lean manufacturing?

Lean manufacturing, lean enterprise, or lean production, often simply, "Lean," is a
production practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the
creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful, and thus a target for elimination.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_manufacturing
5. What is JIT?
Just in time (JIT) is a production strategy that strives to improve a business return on
investment by reducing in-process inventory and associated carrying costs.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_in_time_(business)
6. What do you know about theory of constraints?

The theory of constraints (TOC) adopts the common idiom "A chain is no stronger than
its weakest link" as a new management paradigm. This means that processes,
organizations, etc., are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage
or break them or at least adversely affect the outcome.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_constraints
http://pinnacle-strategies.com/Theory%20of%20Constraints.htm
7. What is a production process?

Mechanical or chemical steps used to create an object, usually repeated to create multiple
units of the same item. Generally involves the use of raw materials, machinery and
manpower to create a product.
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Further Study:
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/production-process.html#ixzz2CPNbuRSI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_process
8. Do you have any idea about bull whip effect?

The bullwhip effect (or whiplash effect) is an observed phenomenon in forecast-driven
distribution channels. It refers to a trend of larger and larger swings in inventory in
response to changes in demand, as one looks at firms further back in the supply chain for
a product.
Further Study:
http://www.quickmba.com/ops/bullwhip-effect/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullwhip_effect
9. What is an inventory?
The raw materials, work-in-process goods and completely finished goods that are
considered to be the portion of a business's assets that are ready or will be ready for sale.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/inventory.asp#ixzz2CPOEe8RO
10. What is meant by forecasting? Why is it performed?

Forecasting is a process of predicting or estimating the future based on past and present
data. Forecasting provides information about the potential future events and their
consequences for the organisation. It may not reduce the complications and uncertainty of
the future. However, it increases the confidence of the management to make important
decisions.
Further Study:
http://kalyan-city.blogspot.in/2011/08/what-is-forecasting-meaning-features.html
11. What is Kaizen?

Kaizen, Japanese for "improvement", or "change for the better" refers to philosophy or
practices that focus upon continuous improvement of processes in manufacturing,
engineering, and business management.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen
12. What is Kanban?

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Kanban (literally signboard or billboard) is a scheduling system for lean and just-in-time
(JIT) production.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanban
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmMKLY6MVSI
13. Tell us something about Toyota production system.

The Toyota Production System (TPS) is an integrated socio-technical system, developed
by Toyota that comprises its management philosophy and practices. The TPS organizes
manufacturing and logistics for the automobile manufacturer, including interaction with
suppliers and customers.
Further Study
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Production_System
14. What are the quality tools?

There are seven tools of quality which helps us in fixing a problem. The seven tools are
very essential and are implemented based on the problem at hand.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Basic_Tools_of_Quality
15. What is littles law?

The long-term average number of customers in a stable system L is equal to the long-term
average effective arrival rate, , multiplied by the average time a customer spends in the
system, W; or expressed algebraically:
L = W.
Further Study:
http://www.factoryphysics.com/Principle/LittlesLaw.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little's_law
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16. What is SQC?

Statistical process control (SPC) is a method of quality control which uses statistical
methods. SPC is applied in order to monitor and control a process. Monitoring and
controlling the process ensures that it operates at its full potential.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_process_control
17. What is manufacturing process layout?

In manufacturing engineering, process layout is a design for the floor plan of a plant
which aims to improve efficiency by arranging equipment according to its function.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_layout
18. What is a production line?

A production line is a set of sequential operations established in a factory whereby
materials are put through a refining process to produce an end-product that is suitable for
onward consumption; or components are assembled to make a finished article.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_line
19. What is a bottleneck?

A bottleneck is a phenomenon where the performance or capacity of an entire system is
limited by a single or limited number of components or resources. The term bottleneck is
taken from the 'assets are water' metaphor. As water is poured out of a bottle, the rate of
outflow is limited by the width of the conduit of exitthat is, bottleneck. By increasing
the width of the bottleneck one can increase the rate at which the water flows out of the
neck at different frequencies. Such limiting components of a system are sometimes
referred to as bottleneck points.
Further Study:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottleneck
Important Courses
Supply Chain Management, Production & Planning, Information, Systems, Logistics,
Operations Management
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Career Choices
Manufacturing, Operation and Logistics Management, Retail Operations, Procurement,
Purchase
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What is the difference between a customer and a consumer?
Any individual or organization that purchases goods or services is called a customer.
A consumer is anyone who uses the goods or services that have been purchased, or uses
any products or services that have been generated within the economy.
For example if a mother buys a sweater for her son. The lady is the customer and the son
is the consumer. The Consumer Protection Act 1986 in India clearly differentiates
between customers and consumers. A consumer is classed as somebody who consumes a
commodity or service, and the consumer is protected under the Act, whereas those
purchasing anything for commercial reasons (the customer) are not. Examples for
customers are retailers, wholesalers.
What is production concept?
Production concept is one of the oldest concept in business. It holds that consumer prefer
goods that are widely available and expensive.
What is product concept?
The product concept proposes that consumers favour products offering the most quality,
performance, or innovative features. Companies who adopt this concept might fail
because a product which is perceived as good by the company may not be perceived in
the same way by the consumer or that product may not fulfil the needs and wants of the
consumer.
What is marketing concept?
Marketing concept emerged in the mid-1950s as a customer-centred, sense-and-respond
philosophy. The job is not to find the right customers for your product but to find the right
product for your customer. Dell is a perfect example for this concept. It adds value to the
customer by the facility to customise their own laptops.
What are the 4 Ps of marketing or marketing mix?
The 4 Ps (product, place, price, promotion) are an important part of any marketing
strategy of a product. Together they are called the marketing mix. This model was first
proposed by marketer E. Jerome McCarthy in 1960 and is widely used worldwide.
Product - A product/service is a bundle of utilities which satisfies a customer need or
want. Utility can be tangible or intangible. The tangible features are those things that the
customer can see, touch, feel, taste, or smell. The intangible include such things as the
image of the offering, the brand, warranties, and guaranties or after sales service etc.
Before launching a product marketers must carefully study the market to find out the
suitability of the product in the target market. Marketers must also keep in mind the
competitors product features and marketing objectives of the company while deciding on
the product.
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Price The price is the monetary value assigned to the product. It includes direct and
indirect costs like transportation price. The benefits of the product have to be great
enough to warrant the price. The price is very important as it determines the company's
profit and hence, survival. When setting a price, the marketer must be aware of the
perceived value of the product in the eyes of the customer. A marketer should also keep in
mind the positioning of the product and competitors pricing strategy in mind.
Promotion It is a tool for creating interest, persuasion and remembrance of the
product. It may be of the following types advertising, public relations, personal selling
and sales promotion. The objective of promotion can range from creating awareness of
the product to make people like the product. The important objective in todays
promotional activities is to break the clutter formed by competitors messages in the
minds of the customers.
Place - refers to providing the product at a place which is convenient for consumers to
access. Place is synonymous with distribution. A company can chose to sell its products
exclusively or can make it available at all places. While making strategy for this P the
marketer keeps in mind customer convenience and distributor behaviour.
What is marketing?
Marketing is everything an organization does to place their product or service into the
hands of the customers, this includes sales, pricing, public relations, and distribution.
Marketing is an organizations strategy for allocating their resources to achieve their
desired objectives that is profit. It is the process of communicating the value of a product
or service to customers.
What is market?
Market is any structure that allows buyers and sellers to exchange any type of goods,
services and information. The exchange of goods or services for money is a transaction.
Why do companies go for advertisement?
Advertisement is a way for the companies to reach out to people, to communicate about
their product and its value to their intended audience, to differentiate their product from
their competitors, to build brand recognition etc.
Why marketing?
Marketing is used by virtually every organization and the quality of that marketing often
determines a businesss success or failure. It allows one to apply creativity in a variety of
ways and to connect with a lot of people. At its core, marketing is about getting your
message through to people and convincing them to buy your product or service. It
requires constant communication with people which means finding new and innovative
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ways to engage with the audience via using various new modes of communication
channel which are available like social media etc.
Try to sell a product
Step 1
Run through an example exercise the night before your interview. While you have no idea
of knowing what the interviewer will pick for you to "sell," you can practice on several
mundane items such as pens. By doing this exercise when you are not under pressure, you
will be able to recall the selling points at a later time when you may be feeling more
nervous.
Step 2
Be prepared for curve balls. Don't focus all of your energy into one single item. Instead
focus on a variety of different items that might be found in an office situation. This will
help prepare you should the interviewer decide to toss something different into the mix.
In addition, you should also familiarize yourself with the products this company sells in
the event that the interviewer asks you to pitch an existing product to him.
Step 3
Focus on what's in it for them. A truly excellent salesperson knows that finding how an
item benefits a customer is what sells the item. However small the benefit may be, focus
on that and tell the interviewer how that item is going to make his life better in some way.
Step 4
Relate with your interviewer. Another important feature that is needed in a salesperson is
the ability to relate with a customer. Put yourself in their shoes and let them know you've
been in a situation where you needed that item and didn't have it. Build the rapport
between the two of you, even if you feel silly doing it.
Step 5
Include a call to action. The final phase of selling a product during an interview is
creating a call to action. This is a very important selling point that should never be
overlooked. You need to give the interviewer a reason to buy that product right now,
while you are still in the room. Even though this is just an exercise, the whole process
should be conducted like a sale from start to finish.
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How to Sell a Pen?

The goal of this question is to see that you have the ability to be persuasive about
something as simple and random as a pen. Effective sales is not about listing off the
features of a product. When you are selling on a pen, you do not want to pick up the pen
and start listing off:
It writes.
It is pretty.
It has a click feature.
It is has a comfort grip.
Thats amateur sales. Anyone can list off the features of a product. It is not persuasive and
doesnt wow anyone. Its a pen. What you want to do is sell the client (in this case, the
interviewer) on the pen as a solution. Focus on what the clients needs are, and how the
pen meets those needs.
Have you ever needed to remember something for a long period of time? Have you ever
needed to write a check or sign a contact but didnt have the tools on hand to do so?
Allow me to introduce BIC pens. BIC pens are designed specifically help you write down
items you need to remember, while its reliable ink is designed to withstand even the
harshest environmental conditions. BIC is an industry leader in helpful writing devices
that allow you the opportunity to keep track of thousands of items on all types of paper,
all over the world.
Easily portable, BIC pens have come with a yearlong supply of ink, able to write any
words you need to jot down at all hours of the day seven days a week. But thats not all.
Have you ever caught a co-worker sleeping on the job? With a BIC pen, you can use the
pointy tip to stab them into alertness. Our BIC pen tips are guaranteed to never dull
What is the importance of brands?
Branding is helps in building trust among the customers. It gives them an advantage to
charge more their products. Branding is helpful for companies to easily market the
product. Branding helps the customer to spend less time in searching for the goods or
services customer wants. It helps the company in terms of increasing brand loyalty.
Generally, a brand is associated with a logo.
E.g.: McDonalds: McDonalds have created their own brand image in the public. Adding
Mc or Mac as prefixes and suffixes are a part of their brand building strategies like
McNuggets, Big Mac etc.
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Apple: Apples Ex CEO Steve Jobs is an expert in creating an own identity for his
products. The product launches are also a part of enhancing brand image strategies. His
black turtle neck sweater, adding i before every product is a part of strategy.
Nike: when one uses Nike he is more likely to buy another pair of Nike which helps Nike
to increase its revenues.
What is branding?
The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines a brand as a "name, term, sign,
symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of
one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers.
Therefore it makes sense to understand that branding is not about getting your target
market to choose you over the competition, but it is about getting your prospects to see
you as the only one that provides a solution to their problem.
The objectives that a good brand will achieve include:
Delivers the message clearly

Confirms your credibility
Connects your target prospects emotionally
Motivates the buyer
Concretes User Loyalty
Important Courses
Marketing concept, market segmentation, market targeting, market positioning and basics
of marketing mix (product, place, price, and promotion)
Career Choices
Sales team, marketing consultant, brand managers
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ECONOMICS
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1.
Define micro-economics
and macro-economics ?
A.
A.
Microeconomics is
the branch of economics that involves the study of decisions that people and
businesses make regarding the allocation of resources. The main focus is on supply,
demand and their interaction to determine prices and quantity to be produced by the
firm. For example, microeconomics would look at how a specific company could
maximize its production and capacity so it could lower prices and better compete in
its industry. It is a bottom-up approach of analysing the economy.
Macroeconomics is the field of economics that studies the behaviour of the economy
as a whole and not just on specific companies, but entire industries and economies. It
involves study of various factors that determine the economic status of the country
like GDP, CPI, WPI, unemployment, etc. For example, macroeconomics would look
at how an increase/decrease in net exports would affect a nation's capital account or
how GDP would be affected by unemployment rate. It is a top-down approach of
analysing the economy.
2. What is monetary policy? What is fiscal policy?

A. Fiscal policy is the procedure followed by government in contracting and expanding
the economy when it is in boom and recession respectively. It relates to government
spending and revenue collection. For example, when demand is low in the economy,
26
the government can step in and increase its spending to stimulate demand. Or it can
lower taxes to increase disposable income for people as well as corporations.
Monetary policy is undertaken by the Central Bank of the country (like RBI for
India, Fed for USA) to achieve expansion or contraction of the economy. It relates to
the supply of money, which is controlled via factors such as interest rates and other
monetary tools for banks. For example, to control high inflation, policy-makers
(usually an independent central bank) can raise interest rates thereby reducing money
supply.
3. What are the various monetary tools that RBI uses?

A. Quantitative measures: Tools which aim to control the quantity of money supply in
the economy directly.
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) - It is that percentage of a bank's deposits, which the
bank has to compulsorily deposit with RBI. A CRR of six per cent means that out of
every Rs 100, bank has to deposit Rs. 6 with RBI. RBI does not pay any interest on
this money to banks. When RBI wants to reduce liquidity from the system, like in
times of high inflation, it increases the CRR. The present CRR is (as on 21/11/2012)
is 4.25%
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) It is the percentage of bank deposits that the
banks are required to hold in the form of liquid assets (such as government securities,
cash or gold). If SLR is 25%, means 25 out of 100 are invested in prescribed liquid
assets. The main objective of this monetary policy instrument is to ensure solvency of
commercial banks by compelling them to hold low risk assets up to a stipulated
extent. The present SLR is (as on 21/11/2012) is 23.00%
Open Market Operations (OMO) This refers to buying and selling of government
securities by RBI to regulate the short-term money supply. If RBI wants to induce
liquidity or more funds in the system, it will buy government securities and inject
funds into the system, and if it wants to curb the amount of money out there it will sell
these to the banks thereby reducing the amount of cash that banks have.
Qualitative Measures: These tools aim to control the quantity of money supply
indirectly through cost of credit.
Bank Rate - Bank rate is the minimum rate at which the central bank provides loans
to the commercial banks. It is also called the discount rate. Altering the Bank rate also
alters the lending rate. The present bank rate (as on 21/11/2012) is 9.00%
Repo rate and Reverse repo rate - Repo is a transaction in which securities are sold
by RBI and simultaneously repurchased at a fixed price called repo rate. The higher
27
the repo rate, the more costly funds are for banks and hence, higher will be the rate
that banks pass on to customers. If the rate is high, the access to money is expensive
for banks; lesser credit will flow in the system and that helps bring down liquidity and
lowers inflation. The reverse is the reverse repo rate which is used by banks to park
excess money with RBI. At present (as on 21/11/2012) the repo rate is 8.00% and
reverse repo is 7.00%.
4. What are the economies of scale?

A. Economies of scale is a situation in which output can be doubled for less than
doubling the cost. In other words, a doubling of output requires less than a doubling
of cost.
5. What is Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?

A. GDP can be expressed in three ways
It is the market value of final goods and services produced within a country in
a given period of time.
It is the sum of incomes generated within a country in a given time.
It is the sum of expenditure incurred on all final goods and services produced
within a country in a given time.
There are 2 types of GDP
Nominal GDP It is the value of all final goods and services measured in terms
of current prices.
Real GDP
It is the value of all final goods and services measured in terms
of the prices of a year which is assumed to be the base year. In the calculation of
real GDP the prices are constant i.e. of the base year.
6. What is inflation?
A. Inflation is the rate of change in prices, and the price level is the cumulation of past
inflations. If Pt-1 represents the price level last year and Pt represents todays price
level then the inflation rate over the past year can be written as
Rate of Inflation = (Pt. - Pt-1) Pt-1
References:
1. http://www.investopedia.com
2. http://www.diffen.com
28
3. http://www.rbi.org.in
4. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
5. http://www.economist.com/
6.
29
Human
resources
30
Human Resources (HR) Management
A Function of attracting, developing, and retaining enough qualified employees to

perform the activities necessary to accomplish organizational objectives.
Three main objectives:
Providing qualified, well-trained employees for the organization.
Maximizing employee effectiveness in the organization.
Satisfying individual employee needs through monetary compensation,
benefits, opportunities to advance, and job satisfaction.
Strategic Human Resource Management
The linking of the human resource function with the companys strategies to
accomplish that strategy.
31
The Human resources management environment

The human resource management process consists of planning attracting developing and
retaining human resources of any organization.
HR Planning:
Planning for the future personnel needs of the organization.
Job design
To be done prior to the recruitment
Description of the work to be done by the employee is to be prepared.
Specification of the requirements needed for the fulfillment of the job is to be
provided.
Attracting employees:
Recruitment
Developing a pool of job candidates in accordance to the plan drafted.
Providing management with enough prospective candidates from which the
management can choose.
Selection
The process where the organization decides to offer the job and the candidate
decided whether or not to accept the offer.
Steps in selection:
1) Job application.
2) Initial interview
3) Testing
4) Background investigation
32
5) In-depth interview
6) Physical exam
7) Final offer
Developing employees:
Orientation:
A program designed to help employees smoothly fit in the organization.
Training:
A process designed to develop or improve current employee performance.
Development
A process designed to develop skills and attitudes necessary for future work.
Performance appraisal
Process of providing feedback to employees regarding their performance.
Giving ratings to employees based on their
Identifying employees deserving raises or promotions
Identifying employees who need training for performance improvement.
Retaining employees:
Compensation:
A process of identifying adequate and equitable remuneration of personnel.
Labor relations:
Recognizing the validity of unions, negotiating for the collective bargaining
agreement, and being able to handle strikes and other forms of mass action.
Maintenance
Providing career counseling.
Involves minimization of absenteeism and tardiness.
Separation
Process involving reintegrating employees to society.
33
34
35
1. Tell me something about yourself
2. Tell me something about yourself which is not written in the form.
3. Tell us something that you dont have in your life but you want to have it?
About MBA:
1. Why MBA?
2. Why MBA as a fresher industry exposure?
3. Why MBA after Engineering or life sciences or commerce?
4. Which specialisation you are planning to take?
5. What is the difference between MBA and PGDM?
6. Do you think MBA is necessary for success in corporate world?
7. What will you do you will not be able to take admission in any B-School this year?
8. What will you do if you will not be able to get placed in MBA?
About schooling, under/Post Graduation
1. Which was your favourite subject in 12th and why?
2. What are your favourite subjects in UG?
3. Why is your academic record bad?
4. Justify gaps between 12th and Engineering or after Engineering (if any)
Activities & Interests
1. What are your hobbies and interests?
2. What are your Short term and Long term goals?
3. What was the last book you read? Movie you saw? Sporting event you attended?
Strengths & Weakness

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
2. How do you differentiate yourself with other aspirants?
3. Why should we select you?
4. Why should we reject you?
5. Would you describe a few situations in which your work was criticized?
About Work-ex
1. What was your role during the job?
2. Why are you leaving your Job?
3. Which Companies were the competitors of your firm?
4. Who was the main client of your firm?
5. Tell some qualities of a good manager?
6. Why did you switch jobs? What was the reason?
8. How have you handled criticism of your work?
9. Tell me about your least-favourite manager or professor?
10. What do you look for in a job?
36
Achievements & Failures

1. What is your greatest achievement to date? What do you plan to achieve after MBA or
what are your goals?
2. A situation when you failed, how did you handle it? What is your learning from that?
3. Any situation in which you have faced an ethical dilemma, how you handled it?
4. Which incident has affected your life a lot?
Interview based
1. What would you do if I told you that your interview is poor today? (Stress Interview)
2. Sell this pen/soap/other things to me?
Others
1. Do you want to become an Entrepreneur?
2. Which other calls do you have?
3. If you convert all IIM Calls, which one would you join and why?
4. Most important learning/lessons learntCollege level, in your job?
5. Who is your ideal in life and why?
6. What are ethics for you?
7. What is the meaning of your name is it true for your personality?
8.
9.
10.
11.
If you could start your career over again what would you do differently
How would you define success?
How successful do you think youve been so far?
What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a manager or an executive?
12. Do you consider yourself a leader?
37
WAT Topics
38
1. Indian companies are globally competitive

2. Social movements against corruption are ineffective
3. Privatization is not a panacea for underperforming PSUs
4. Tax breaks on savings instruments like NSC should be abolished.
5. You can command loyalty only by instilling sense of fear.
6. Euro crisis is dividing Europe and should be dismantled
7. COMPANIES SHOULD ALWAYS STRIVE TO MAXIMISE PROFITS
8. Public distribution system should be privatized
9. Glory is fleeting, obscurity stays
10.should smoking be banned from movies
11.: Socioeconomic caste census : Putting political on a affirmative footing (something
like that)
13. Advertisements targeted towards children should be banned.
14.2G spectrum scam- Crony Capitalism faces of India.
15. Negative voting is a negative idea
16. Construction of factories on agricultural land is good or bad ?
17. Imitating foreigners is not a good thing for the Indian youth
18. Should MPs & MLAs be subject to a 'No Work-No Pay' scheme if certain minimum
amount of work is not done
19. Import of foreign goods ruins our economy
20. Anna Hazare's crusade against corruption is a futile exercise
39
21. Outsourcing is welcome in India; Wal-Mart is not - Political double standards?
22. Which is more Harmful? Violence or Corruption.
23. Human Cloning should be banned.
24. The starting salaries of the management graduates from IIMs are obscenely
disproportionate to their skill set.
25. is our political system the reason for our backwardness?
26. Government should not subsidize management education.
27. More and more old age homes are coming up today. Why?
28. Corrupt businessman are better than corrupt politicians
29. Coaching centers are affecting classroom teaching
30. Savings and bank deposits deregulations will destabilize banking system in India.
31. Agricultural lands being used for factories is bad or good
33. Corporate ethics is dead in India
34. No economy will succeed without big manufacturing base
35. Use Of force in banks to recover loans
36. An anti corruption watchdog like Lokpal is must for a scam ridden country like India
37. Corruption in govt offices helps u get your things done easy
38. FDI in retail is against the gandhian ideals of swadesi
39. IPL is the reason for the dismal performance in test cricket.
40. India is far from being a knowledge driven economy
41. New measures of economic & social progress are needed for the 21st century global
economy
42. Should there be a GD in campus placements
43. Religion should not be mixed with politics
44. Individual Freedom and Civil Society
45. Capitalism is a flawed system but others are worse.
46. Democracy is hampering the progress of our country
47. Internal security issues of India like naxalism, J&K, Punjab has only a military
solution
48. Allowing mobile phone in class makes students less serious in studies
49. Reservation to be based on economic factors rather than caste or religion
50. India should focus more towards research than on the corporate business
51. TV channels are projecting India in bad light
52. Communal Harmony is a more important objective than literary sessions. Hence
banning controversial writers is necessary for India
53. World would be better off without Nuclear power
54. Effect of American Shutdown on the Indian economy
55. Food security bill, boon or bane?
56. Would the NAMO chant work for India?
57. What could India do to reduce its CAD?
58. Impact of the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar on cricket as a sport in India?
59.Increasing number of women in the top level management of big companies?
Comment
40
60. What should companies do to leverage its opportunities in the emerging rural market?
61.Is the increasing number of scams (Hindalco coal block allocation), affecting the
investments in India ?
62. Advantages and disadvantages of setting up new nuclear power plants in India.
63. Do you think the brand IIM is losing its value because of its increase in count?
64. Effect of the deregulation of the diesel prices, Indian economy vs Indian society.
65. Comment on the dynasty politics in India.

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About IIM Raipur

4) What is Balance of Payments?

5) What is working capital?

To know more about working capital visit the following page

8) What are the main duties and responsibilities of a finance executive?

Non recurring Duties:

11) What are Futures?

12) What are Options?

13) What is credit risk?

14) What is Sensex?

15) Can you quote share price of a company as on today?

16) What is difference between stock and shares?

17) What are NPV and IRR?

18) What are IPO and FPO?

19) Distinguish between capital and money market?

20) Expand and explain LIBOR?

1. What is operations management?

2. What do you know about supply chain?

3. What do you know about six- sigma (6 )?

4. What is lean manufacturing?

6. What do you know about theory of constraints?

7. What is a production process?

8. Do you have any idea about bull whip effect?

10. What is meant by forecasting? Why is it performed?

11. What is Kaizen?

12. What is Kanban?

13. Tell us something about Toyota production system.

14. What are the quality tools?

15. What is littles law?

16. What is SQC?

17. What is manufacturing process layout?

18. What is a production line?

19. What is a bottleneck?

How to Sell a Pen?

It has a click feature.

It is has a comfort grip.

Delivers the message clearly

2. What is monetary policy? What is fiscal policy?

3. What are the various monetary tools that RBI uses?

4. What are the economies of scale?

5. What is Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?

Human Resources (HR) Management

A Function of attracting, developing, and retaining enough qualified employees to

Strategic Human Resource Management

The Human resources management environment

Strengths & Weakness

Achievements & Failures

1. Indian companies are globally competitive

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Eklavya'14 IIM Raipur

Eklavya'14 IIM Raipur