Kerala University 2010 M.B.A ,- Management Theory & Practice - Question Paper

First Semester MBA Degree Examination, January 2010
(2006 Scheme) Full time and Part time)
MBA-101: MANAGEMENT THEORY AND PRACTICE

Time : three hours
Max. Marks: 60

PART A

Write short notes in any five ques.. every ques. carries three marks.

1.Hawthorne studies

2.Scientific management

3.Total quality management

4.Decentralization

5.Charismatic leaders

6.Feed forward control

7.Theory z

8.Diversity


Part B

ans any 3 of the subsequent. All ques. carry equal marks: [3X10=30 Marks]

9.Whether planning is essential for the managerial functions? Why or why not?

10.Explain the factors distorting communication. How to overcome distortions in communication?

11.Why people resist planned change? elaborate the strategies to be employed for overcoming the resistance to change?

12.Is corporate governance a factor relevant and practicable in the Indian context? How or how not?

13.Give a critical analysis on the management functions in 21st century.

Part C

Analyse the case and ans the questions:

Very few companies can claim success and fast growth like that of McDonald's, anywhere in the world. With more than 20000 outlets around the world and over six new outlets opening everyday somewhere in the world, Mc Donald's chain of franchised fast food restaurants can claim a unique place in the pages of history of business.

McDonald's is the brain child of 1 ambitious old man, Ray Kroc, who at the age of 57 years was finally able to realize his lifelong dream of becoming rich. In 1954, he had visited a small fast food restaurant in San Bernardina, California, which had a very simple menu of hamburgers, French fries and soda, served in paper plates and paper cups. The speed of service and quality of food impressed him so much that he started to sell franchises for McDonald's restaurants with strict requirements of consistent high quality of food and friendly personalized service.

McDonald's has become a actually multinational company and has gone global with outlets in most countries including nearly 1300 outlets in Japan alone. The largest and the busiest McDonald's restaurant is in Moscow, Russia with a seating capacity of over 4000. An outlet is being opened in chine and in October 1996, India became a different addition where McDonald's opened its doors for the 1st time. In every country, McDonald's hamburgers contain 100% beef other than in India where beef eating is not culturally acceptable among Hindus. Accordingly, the hamburger is called Maharaja Mac instead of Big Mac.

The quality of food is so consistently high that the company could not obtain potatoes of acceptable quality in the entire country of Russia. Accordingly, potatoes are flown from Idaho in USA to maintain the high quality of French fries.

Even in India, the ingredients of high quality are located wherever these can be obtained. The mutton, for example, comes from Al-Khabeer of Hyderabad, fresh lettuce from Ooty in Tamilnadu, cheese from Dynamix diaries in Maharastra and sesame seed buns from Cremica Industries of Phillaur in Punjab. The potatoes for the French fries are found from Tarai Foods of Uttar Pradesh. This, for McDonald's located in New Delhi.

For any enterprise to succeed, a good management team is highly essential, no matter how high the quality of the product may be. An organization with bad management is bound to fail. With this fact in mind, all managers employed at McDonald's are provided proper management training at Hamburger University in America, operated by McDonald corporation. In that respect, the Indian entrepreneurs, Mr. Vikram Bakshi and Amit Jatia both received full management training at the university along with 10 members of their management team.

With such well trained management team, family oriented concept , high quality food and clean surroundings, it is most unlikely that any of the McDonald's restaurants will ever fail.

Questions:

1.What do you think are the causes of such phenomenal success and fast growth of McDonald's?

2.If you had to define the business philosophy of Ray Kroc, what would it be?

3.Why do you think, it took so long to accept a McDonald's restaurant on Indian soil?

4.Do you think that fast food and quick lunches would become a pattern for Indians who generally take a long lunch break and where any businessmen go home for their lunch? discuss.

Earning:   Approval pending.