Management 2021 Paper II 50 marks Compulsory Solve

Q1

(a) The mean annual income of workers in a company is ₹ 5,000 with a standard deviation of ₹ 1,200. It is suspected that local workers have higher than the average income. A sample of 144 local workers is drawn and their sample mean income is found to be ₹ 5,500. Can it be said that local workers have significantly higher income than the total population ? (Use α = 0·05) 10 marks (b) What Supply Chain Management (SCM) strategies were adopted by leading e-commerce companies such as Amazon and Flipkart during the lockdown period caused by the Corona Pandemic ? 10 marks (c) How can information system bring competitive advantage to business organisations by supporting managerial decision-making ? 10 marks (d) An engineering firm has determined that for a particular part, the cost of purchase is ₹ 350 per order and ₹ 22 per part. Its inventory carrying cost is 15% of the average inventory. The firm currently purchases ₹ 2,20,000 worth of this part every year. (i) Determine the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ). 5 marks (ii) What is the optimum number of days supply per optimum order ? 5 marks (e) What is Fisher's ideal index ? Why is it called ideal ? Describe the steps involved in the computation of Fisher's ideal index number. 3+2+5 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) एक कंपनी के श्रमिकों की औसत वार्षिक आय ₹ 5,000 एवं मानक विचलन ₹ 1,200 है । ऐसा संदेह किया जाता है कि स्थानीय श्रमिकों की आय औसत से ज्यादा है । 144 स्थानीय श्रमिकों का नमूना लिया गया जिनकी औसत आय ₹ 5,500 पाई गई । क्या यह कहा जा सकता है कि स्थानीय श्रमिकों की आय पूरी जनसंख्या से सार्थक रूप से अधिक है ? (α = 0·05 उपयोग कीजिए) 10 अंक (b) कोरोना वैश्विक महामारी के कारण की गई पूर्णबंदी (लॉकडाउन) के दौरान अमेज़ान एवं फ्लिपकार्ट जैसी प्रमुख ई-कॉमर्स कंपनियों के द्वारा कौन-कौन सी आपूर्ति-शृंखला प्रबंधन (एस.सी.एम.) रणनीतियाँ अपनाई गईं ? 10 अंक (c) सूचना प्रणाली व्यवसाय संगठनों को प्रबंधकीय निर्णय लेने में सहायता देकर किस प्रकार प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक लाभ दे सकती है ? 10 अंक (d) एक अभियांत्रिकी प्रतिष्ठान ने निश्चय किया है कि किसी विशेष पुर्जे के लिए क्रय की लागत ₹ 350 प्रति आदेश एवं ₹ 22 प्रति पुर्जा होगी । इसका माल रखने (इन्वेंटरी कैरिंग) की लागत औसत माल का 15% है । प्रतिष्ठान वर्तमान में ₹ 2,20,000 मूल्य के पुर्जे प्रति वर्ष खरीदता है । (i) आर्थिक आदेश मात्रा (ई.ओ.क्यू.) की गणना कीजिए । 5 अंक (ii) प्रत्येक अनुकूलतम आदेश में कितने अनुकूल दिनों की आपूर्ति होती है ? 5 अंक (e) फिशर का आदर्श सूचकांक क्या है ? इसे आदर्श क्यों कहा जाता है ? फिशर के आदर्श सूचकांक की गणना में सम्मिलित चरणों का वर्णन कीजिए । 3+2+5 अंक

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Directive word: Solve

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How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

This multi-part question requires solving numerical problems in (a), (d)(i) and (d)(ii), while describing SCM strategies in (b), explaining IS competitive advantage in (c), and elaborating Fisher's index in (e). Allocate approximately 15-18 minutes for the 10-mark statistical hypothesis test (a), 12-15 minutes each for the descriptive parts (b), (c), and (e), and 8-10 minutes combined for the EOQ calculations (d)(i)-(ii). Begin with clear statements of hypotheses/formulas, show all computational steps, and conclude with managerial interpretations for numerical parts.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Correct formulation of null and alternative hypotheses (H₀: μ = 5000 vs H₁: μ > 5000), calculation of Z-statistic = (5500-5000)/(1200/√144) = 5, comparison with critical value 1.645, and conclusion that local workers have significantly higher income
  • Part (b): SCM strategies including inventory pre-positioning, surge capacity utilization, contactless last-mile delivery, supplier diversification, dynamic demand forecasting, and workforce safety protocols adopted by Amazon and Flipkart during COVID-19
  • Part (c): Information systems supporting decision-making through MIS/DSS/ESS, real-time analytics, predictive modeling, and strategic alignment with Porter's competitive forces or resource-based view for sustainable advantage
  • Part (d)(i): EOQ calculation using formula √(2×D×S/H) where D=10,000 units, S=₹350, H=₹3.30, yielding EOQ ≈ 1,456 units or ₹32,032 value
  • Part (d)(ii): Optimum days supply = (EOQ/D)×365 ≈ 53 days, or using working days adjustment if specified
  • Part (e): Fisher's ideal index as geometric mean of Laspeyres and Paasche indices, satisfies time reversal and factor reversal tests, steps include computing p₀q₀, p₁q₀, p₀q₁, p₁q₁, then applying √(Σp₁q₀/Σp₀q₀ × Σp₁q₁/Σp₀q₁) × 100

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness25%12.5All formulas correctly stated and applied: Z-test with proper standard error using σ/√n, EOQ formula with correct identification of D=10,000 units and H=15% of ₹22=₹3.30, Fisher's index formula with geometric mean; no computational errors in final valuesCorrect formulas but minor calculation errors in one sub-part; or confusion between population and sample standard error in (a); or incorrect carrying cost percentage application in (d)Major conceptual errors such as using t-test instead of Z-test in (a), wrong EOQ formula, treating Fisher's index as arithmetic mean, or fundamental misunderstanding of hypothesis testing logic
Framework citation15%7.5Explicitly names and applies relevant frameworks: Porter's competitive forces or VRIO for IS advantage in (c); time reversal and factor reversal tests for Fisher's index; mentions specific SCM frameworks like lean/agile/resilient supply chains for (b)Implicit use of frameworks without naming them; or mentions generic terms like 'efficiency' and 'cost reduction' without theoretical grounding; cites only basic EOQ model without extensionsNo framework identification; purely descriptive answers without any theoretical structure; fails to mention why Fisher's index satisfies specific tests
Case / Indian example20%10Rich Indian examples in (b): Flipkart's 'Flipkart Quick' and grocery expansion, Amazon's 'I Have Space' program with kirana stores, use of Indian Railways for freight during lockdown, or Reliance JioMart integration; connects (c) to Indian ERP implementations like TCS or Infosys projectsMentions Amazon and Flipkart generically without specific Indian initiatives; or provides only international examples for (b); no Indian context for IS implementation in (c)No examples at all in descriptive parts; or completely irrelevant examples; fails to mention any e-commerce player names in (b)
Multi-perspective analysis25%12.5For (a): considers both statistical significance and practical significance of ₹500 difference; for (b): analyzes supplier, logistics, and customer perspectives; for (c): covers operational, tactical, and strategic decision levels; for (e): compares Laspeyres, Paasche, and Fisher with their limitationsSingle perspective dominant; e.g., only operational focus in (c) without strategic linkage; or only customer view in (b) ignoring supplier challenges; mentions limitations of Fisher's index superficiallyCompletely one-dimensional analysis; no acknowledgment of trade-offs in SCM strategies; no comparison with alternative index numbers in (e); ignores assumptions of hypothesis test in (a)
Conclusion & recommendation15%7.5Clear managerial interpretation for (a): reject H₀, local workers earn significantly more, suggest investigating causes; for (d): interpret EOQ implications for inventory policy; for (e): conclude why Fisher's index is preferred despite computational complexity; synthesizes learnings across parts if possibleStates conclusions without interpretation; or mechanical restatement of results without 'so what'; missing policy recommendations for inventory management in (d)No conclusions in any sub-part; or wrong conclusions (e.g., fail to reject H₀ in (a)); or conclusions contradict calculations; abrupt ending without synthesis

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