Practice questions for Business Management and Behavioral Studies

1. Chapter 01 – Management Concepts
Past paper questions 1
Q. Management functions are closely inter-linked and interwoven in character. Discuss
the various functions of management. (10)
Q. Describe what you understand by the term Organisational Behaviour. (04)
Q. What are the key characteristics of Charismatic Leaders? (03)
Q. During the past 2-3 decades, organisational structures of leading companies throughout
the world have undergone far-reaching changes. These changes are attributable to
unprecedented growth in communication and information technology, introduction of
entirely new range of products and services, changes in competitive environment and
increasing globalisation.
State four important changes which distinguish the organisational structures of present–
day companies from the companies operating 2-3 decades ago. (06)
Q. Since its inception in 1980, The Citizens Housing Finance Corporation (CHFC) has
been managed by executives from varied professional backgrounds and experiences.
Most members of the senior management team had put in long years of service in their
previous assignments and were on the verge of retirement when they were hired by
CHFC. Due to the nature of the composition of its management team and the frequent
changes of personnel at the senior management levels, CHFC has not been able to
develop a performance-oriented organizational culture and has, over the period,
adopted a highly bureaucratic style of management. This often causes friction in the
internal working within the organization and gives rise to frequent complaints from
regulators, customers and other stakeholders.
Identify and describe four common weaknesses/shortcomings which, in your opinion,
would be readily apparent in the working of CHFC as it pursues a highly bureaucratic
style of management. (06)
Q. What do managers do? What do successful managers do? What do effective manager
do? Your answer should be based on the so-called “Real Managers Study.” (15)
Q. Shahid works as a Shift In-charge for Sultan Textile Mills Limited. He has long-
standing grievances against the Manager of his Department. One afternoon, he entered
the office of the Factory Manager and gave vent to his emotions and made the following
disclosures:
(i) My problem is that I am responsible for the performance of my section. Yet I have
so little authority to get the best results. I am only as effective as my Manager (Mr
Rashid) allows me to be. Unfortunately, Mr Rashid likes to do everything himself.
(ii) Mr Rashid recruits temporary workers without consulting me and I have to bear
the brunt of unskilled and unwilling workers. I come to know these workers only
when they report to me for work. I do not have access to their personal files nor do
I have any idea of their wage packages. Mr. Rashid tells me this information is
confidential.
(iii)Mr Rashid encourages my subordinates to report to him directly and hears their
complaints without my knowledge.
(iv) As many as 75 workers report to me directly as there is no position of Assistant
Shift Incharge. Obviously, it is very difficult for me to supervise so many workers
and also to attend to my duties as Shift In-charge.
State the organisational principles which are not being adhered to in each of the above
instances. Give brief reasons for your answers. (08)

2. Chapter 01 – Management Concepts
Past paper questions 2
Q. While discussing Styles of Leadership of Managers, Douglas McGregor refers to
Theory X and Theory Y. State the salient features of Styles of Leadership based on
each of these Theories. (06)
Q. Differentiate between the American and Japanese Management approaches.