Management 2025 Paper II 50 marks Compulsory Critically examine

Q5

(a) "Have various Chambers of Commerce and other Industry Associations played their desired role effectively ?" Critically examine. (10 marks) (b) What is meant by 'Strategic intent' ? Give brief explanation of each of these concepts : (i) Stretch (ii) Leverage (iii) Fit (10 marks) (c) Define Turnaround strategies. Discuss conditions for turnaround strategies. Also discuss types of turnaround actions. (2+4+4 marks) (d) Critically evaluate India's foreign trade since independence and identify constraints in India's Exports Growth. (5+5 marks) (e) Elucidate the conceptual framework of e-business. Identify the significant changes it has brought to business processes. (5+5 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) "क्या विभिन्न चैंबर ऑफ कॉमर्स एवं अन्य उद्योग संघों ने अपनी वांछित भूमिका प्रभावी ढंग से निभाई है ?" आलोचनात्मक परीक्षण कीजिए। (10 अंक) (b) "रणनीतिक उद्देश्य" का क्या तात्पर्य होता है ? उन अवधारणाओं में से प्रत्येक का संक्षिप्त विवरण दीजिए : (i) खींचना (ii) फायदा उठाना (iii) उपयुक्त (10 अंक) (c) स्थिति सुधार (टर्नअराउंड) रणनीति को परिभाषित कीजिए। स्थिति सुधार (टर्नअराउंड) रणनीति की अवस्था की विवेचना कीजिए। स्थिति सुधार कार्य के विभिन्न प्रकारों की भी विवेचना कीजिए। (2+4+4 अंक) (d) भारत की स्वाधीनता के बाद से विदेशी व्यापार का आलोचनात्मक मूल्यांकन कीजिए और भारत के निर्यात वृद्धि में विभिन्न बाधाओं की पहचान कीजिए। (5+5 अंक) (e) ई-व्यवसाय के वैचारिक ढांचे को स्पष्ट कीजिए। इसके द्वारा व्यावसायिक प्रक्रियाओं में महत्वपूर्ण परिवर्तन की पहचान कीजिए। (5+5 अंक)

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Directive word: Critically examine

This question asks you to critically examine. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Critically examine demands balanced analysis with evidence-based judgment across all five parts. Allocate time proportionally: ~20% for (a) Chambers of Commerce, ~20% for (b) Strategic Intent concepts, ~20% for (c) Turnaround strategies, ~20% for (d) India's foreign trade, and ~20% for (e) E-business. Structure each part with definition, analysis, and critical evaluation; use Indian examples throughout.

Key points expected

  • (a) Chambers of Commerce: Evaluate effectiveness of FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM in policy advocacy, MSME support, and dispute resolution; cite limitations like elite capture and weak regional presence
  • (b) Strategic Intent: Define Hamel & Prahalad's concept; explain Stretch (ambitious goals beyond resources), Leverage (resource multiplication), Fit (alignment with environment) with Indian corporate examples
  • (c) Turnaround: Define as performance recovery strategies; conditions (declining profits, market share loss, cash crunch); types (cost reduction, asset reduction, revenue generation, combination)
  • (d) Foreign Trade: Trace evolution from import substitution to liberalization (1991); identify export constraints (infrastructure, transaction costs, NTBs, product concentration)
  • (e) E-business: Framework (B2B, B2C, C2C, G2C); process changes (supply chain digitization, CRM transformation, disintermediation, 24/7 operations)

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Precise definitions across all parts: for (b) accurately distinguishes Stretch, Leverage, Fit; for (c) correctly identifies turnaround types (operating vs. strategic); for (e) clearly differentiates e-business from e-commerce; no conceptual conflationBasic definitions present but some imprecision; may conflate strategic intent with strategic planning, or e-business with e-commerce; turnaround types partially correctMajor conceptual errors; misdefines strategic intent as mission statement, confuses turnaround with diversification, treats e-business as only website presence
Framework citation20%10Cites Hamel & Prahalad (1989) for strategic intent; Hofer's turnaround typology or Bibeault's framework; uses RBI/EXIM Bank data for trade trends; references NITI Aayog reports on e-businessMentions some frameworks without attribution; generic references to 'experts' or 'studies'; limited use of official data for trade analysisNo framework citation; entirely descriptive without theoretical anchoring; makes up frameworks or misattributes concepts
Case / Indian example20%10Rich Indian illustrations: for (a) CII's role in GST Council or FICCI's COVID relief; for (b) Tata's stretch goals or Reliance Jio's leverage; for (c) Air India, BSNL turnaround attempts; for (d) pharmaceutical/pharma exports growth; for (e) UPI, ONDC, Zomato/Dmart modelsSome Indian examples but generic or outdated; may use only MNC examples for strategic intent; limited contemporary trade dataNo Indian examples; uses only Western cases (Apple, Amazon) or hypothetical illustrations; fails to connect to Indian business context
Multi-perspective analysis20%10For (a) balances industry association contributions vs. criticisms (representation gaps, political alignment); for (d) evaluates trade policy phases with critical assessment of export promotion schemes; for (e) analyzes opportunities alongside digital divide and cybersecurity risksSome critical element present but unbalanced; mainly descriptive with superficial critique; one-sided view on chambers' effectiveness or e-business impactPurely descriptive or wholly laudatory/critical; no nuance; ignores counter-arguments; fails to 'critically examine' as demanded
Conclusion & recommendation20%10Synthesizes across parts: suggests reforms for chambers (democratization, tier-2 focus); proposes turnaround pre-conditions assessment; recommends export diversification and digital infrastructure for trade; concludes with integrated view of strategy-technology-policy nexusGeneric conclusions per part without synthesis; standard recommendations without specificity; no forward-looking elementNo conclusion or abrupt ending; mere summary of points; irrelevant recommendations; fails to address the 'critically examine' mandate in final assessment

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