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Archived Discussion => Commerce Subject Exams => VCE Exam Discussion 2016 => Exam Discussion => Victoria => Business Management Exam Discussion => Topic started by: has400 on October 31, 2016, 05:51:52 pm

Title: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: has400 on October 31, 2016, 05:51:52 pm
I personally thought it was a normal exam, no surprises or anything!! What do you guys think?

Only one question which had me confused was the wording on the key elements question. I interpreted it as asking for what 2 characteristics are distinguishable between a service and manufacturing org. Not sure if that was correct

Mod: Moved to exam discussions forums and renamed. :)

NOTE: A big thank you to Jason.s for uploading a copy of the exam. A copy of the 2016 Business Management exam can be found in this thread.
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Joseph41 on October 31, 2016, 06:00:42 pm
Hi all,

I hope the exam went well! What was the ten-marker this year? Did Kotter make an appearance?

P.S. has400, thanks for making this thread. I've moved it to the exam discussion sub-forums and have made it the official BusMan discussion thread. :) Congratulations on finishing!
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: noahbald on October 31, 2016, 06:06:41 pm
Yeah seemed pretty normal for the most part, I understood everything and finished it. Some of those questions were worded kinda weirdly tho.

Edit: Also the question differentiate the elements of a manufacturing and service organisation. What did you guys answer? I did the elements and then explain the different characteristics they would produce for each type
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Studyaad on October 31, 2016, 06:07:03 pm
Thought this years was a lot harder than the others tbh, the centralised and decentralised question, when it said 'two features' how did you interpret that?
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: qwertyu1234567 on October 31, 2016, 06:08:27 pm
I feel it was a pretty standard exam. Of course when you're in there you feel like its harder than in the past but really I think a lot of it was quite similar
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: qwertyu1234567 on October 31, 2016, 06:09:45 pm
I will say I was pushed for time though, but that's probably just me
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: douken on October 31, 2016, 06:27:28 pm
I did horrid on q2( half) , last question is about half right, kotters needed more explaining, structure (half) and decentralized and centralized. Itll be interesting but im looking for that 70% to equal an A+ haha
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: cosmic cow on October 31, 2016, 06:33:24 pm
What the flip, how did people think that was standard. using maslow to improve corporate culture was a slap in the face. Exam was very intimidating during the first read through, but got gradually more manageable as questions were attempted.

Surely the state would have not done very well?
also anyone care to share their answers to the controlling question? :o
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: qwertyu1234567 on October 31, 2016, 06:36:46 pm
What the flip, how did people think that was standard. using maslow to improve corporate culture was a slap in the face. Exam was very intimidating during the first read through, but got gradually more manageable as questions were attempted.

Surely the state would have not done very well?
also anyone care to share their answers to the controlling question? :o

Don't worry, I doubt the state would have performed well. As for Maslow and corporate culture I discussed using social events (social needs) and recognition and rewards programs (esteem needs) to improve corporate culture.
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: SexGodDosia on October 31, 2016, 06:40:33 pm
Don't worry, I doubt the state would have performed well. As for Maslow and corporate culture I discussed using social events (social needs) and recognition and rewards programs (esteem needs) to improve corporate culture.

Same,

For controlling

i did how the evaluation of performance and taking corrective action during Quality control would allow you to identify what was wrong and then implement TQM in taking corrective action

for materials i said if you identified you had an item of stock left over in Inventory you would be able to take corrective action in implementing the JIT method

Not sure if right but sounded good hahah

*of course much more elaborated in exam

In terms of the exam i found it rewarded study and the words used would of thrown many people off but by breaking it down i found you were able to effectively answer the question
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: 100.00 on October 31, 2016, 06:47:59 pm
Some clarification would be superb!!! This question is the only one standing in the way of my 50.

The difference in key elements of a service and manufacturing organisation.

I essentially discussed that products are tangible/intangible and that production/consumption times are different.

Apparently you had to go into the "inputs,process,outputs" area, which makes sense because it was the key elements. However, would they  accept these 2 examples? The production/consumption one I understand, but for my tangibility example, surely they will give me the 2 marks even if  said "products are tangible e.t.c..." and not "outputs".

Really appreciate any feedback,
Thanks!
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: upandgo on October 31, 2016, 06:55:38 pm
I will say I was pushed for time though, but that's probably just me

thought i was the only one!! mind went blank at the centralised & decentralised comparison for employee relations and timing went bad from there  ::)
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: zktwo on October 31, 2016, 07:59:33 pm
Did anyone have trouble finishing? I felt really rushed considering how long it was, and i didn't end up finishing the 10 marker... are my chances of getting a good SS gone???
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: 100.00 on October 31, 2016, 08:14:05 pm
Did anyone have trouble finishing? I felt really rushed considering how long it was, and i didn't end up finishing the 10 marker... are my chances of getting a good SS gone???

What is a "good study score"?
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: zktwo on October 31, 2016, 08:19:50 pm
Like maybe a 35 to 40?
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: KDB on October 31, 2016, 08:41:58 pm
Like maybe a 35 to 40?

Felt it was a pretty easy exam! Only one case study which was good ahah
I've got a copy of the exam if anybody wants :)
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Rog0012 on October 31, 2016, 08:42:20 pm
Has the Business Exam been posted yet?
Also, how did everyone approach the 10 marker? especially the "Discuss" component?
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Rog0012 on October 31, 2016, 08:43:43 pm
Felt it was a pretty easy exam! Only one case study which was good ahah
I've got a copy of the exam if anybody wants :)
Can I have a Copy please!
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: erboy17 on October 31, 2016, 08:56:05 pm
Felt it was a pretty easy exam! Only one case study which was good ahah
I've got a copy of the exam if anybody wants :)


Can I have a copy too please..
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Tak0001 on October 31, 2016, 08:59:26 pm
personally i thought the easy questions were below the expected standard however the hard questions required a bit of thinking. i thought there were too many justification question which suited me, however there was only one discuss question from what i recall (10 marker) which was surprising. i feel like there were more questions this year which required less marks because they wanted to test all key areas as it was the last year for this study design
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: has400 on October 31, 2016, 09:06:36 pm
Felt it was a pretty easy exam! Only one case study which was good ahah
I've got a copy of the exam if anybody wants :)

Please do post it here matey :)!
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: KDB on October 31, 2016, 09:07:43 pm
Please do post it here matey :)!


If i can figure out how to compress it to less than 1mb ...
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: has400 on October 31, 2016, 09:12:11 pm

If i can figure out how to compress it to less than 1mb ...

Upload to google drive or dropbox and link us
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: 100.00 on October 31, 2016, 09:24:11 pm
Like maybe a 35 to 40?

No your chances are still perfectly fine lol!
A 40 last year was a 48/65 or something. That's 17 marks dropped. Be that as it may, a 40 does scale down to like a 37.
However, even getting 0/10 in the 10 marker, and losing a mark here and there, you may still get like 50/65, which would be like a 42.

I'm sure you did fine.
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: mandermin on October 31, 2016, 09:55:36 pm
does anyone know the cutoff for a 50 for the exam? is it true that you have to get close to full marks to get it?
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Breen6 on October 31, 2016, 10:01:11 pm
The 10 marker I feel asked for too much, I mean 2 marks for relationship then 2 marks x 4 discussing operations and hr so how many marks is the ethical stuff worth on it? Felt like it was asking for at least 12 marks worth!
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: 100.00 on October 31, 2016, 10:12:19 pm
The 10 marker I feel asked for too much, I mean 2 marks for relationship then 2 marks x 4 discussing operations and hr so how many marks is the ethical stuff worth on it? Felt like it was asking for at least 12 marks worth!

I completely agree with you. I wrote 4 pages. There is no way everything was going to fit on the 1 and a half allocated pages. I think they essentially expected you to go over, but didn't want to place 3 blank pages to overwhelm students.

The way I did it,
The first bit of HR and operations made the first paragraph.

Then 1 strategy to maximise operations. Brief sentence on how it maximises operations.  An advantage and disadvantage in great detail. Then briefly in 3 lines link to how it can be conducted ethically and socially responsibly. (i.e, robotics can be used with solar energy technology)

-Repeat for second strategy

For HR, essentially repeat, but instead of the first brief sentence on how it maximises operations, link to how it maximises effective HR management. i.e. induction means greater staff attendance via having to be there for the induction process --> Greater knowledge of whereabouts for of staff for employers (effective management). Then proceed to your adv/disadv and the link to how induction can be ESR in the end (above and beyond via hollistic presentation to really introduce employees to the organisation)

-repeat for second strategy.

Like I said, me, a very good business student (just stating for the sake of the argument -not to be condescending prick), had to write 4 pages. Essentially I do not think they will mark the question very harshly. Allthough, they may decide to because it was generally the only "out there" question on the exam. We will have to see I guess.
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: NiluPerera on October 31, 2016, 10:14:49 pm
Can you send me the exam copy as well :)
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: KDB on October 31, 2016, 10:15:30 pm
Copy of the 2016 Business Management Exam + Discussion  :)
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: 100.00 on October 31, 2016, 10:21:10 pm
Also, you should take note that business exam 10 markers do not have an allocated marking range. They are marked globally. Essentially meaning, you will only get a 10 if you had addressed everything in the question.

For example, Even if you explain everything but didn't link it to Ethics and social responsibility, you may receive somewhere between a 7-8 (depending on the quality of the rest of your response).

This essentially allows them to put in like 15 marks worth of questions and make it only 10 marks. Evil, but that's how it works.
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Joseph41 on October 31, 2016, 10:22:27 pm
Copy of the 2016 Business Management Exam + Discussion  :)

Thanks for that, Jason! Awesome. I'll enjoy reading through the exam, in a weird sort of way.

If you don't mind, though, I'm going to lock that thread, just to keep the exam discussion in one place. :) I'll link to that thread in the opening post of this one. Thanks again!
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: zktwo on October 31, 2016, 10:34:57 pm
No your chances are still perfectly fine lol!
A 40 last year was a 48/65 or something. That's 17 marks dropped. Be that as it may, a 40 does scale down to like a 37.
However, even getting 0/10 in the 10 marker, and losing a mark here and there, you may still get like 50/65, which would be like a 42.

I'm sure you did fine.

Omgg thank you so much for putting my mind at ease, I have been freaking out all night ! thank you
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Beamer on November 01, 2016, 12:40:57 am
I also thought I was rather pressed for time, likely as a result of some questions (especially the last, as explained here) asking for too much considering their mark allocations. As for the specific answers, I don't even want to start comparing mine to other people's because I know it's an exercise that's bound to cause undue anxiety.

Don't stress about it, as it's already been explained you can drop a lot of marks and still produce a leading result.
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Joannaipsaros on November 01, 2016, 09:00:19 am
Felt it was a pretty easy exam! Only one case study which was good ahah
I've got a copy of the exam if anybody wants :)

Can i have a copy please? :)
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: bvc12345678910 on November 01, 2016, 10:44:11 am
Hi guys

Question 1b in the exam asked us to provide an example studied this year, but if forgot to provide one

How many marks do you think I would lose?

Thanks
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: KDB on November 01, 2016, 11:11:03 am
Hi guys

Question 1b in the exam asked us to provide an example studied this year, but if forgot to provide one

How many marks do you think I would lose?

Thanks


1 or 2 marks maybe. depends on how marks are allocated though. did you not provide an example for both elements? or just one element?
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: larns123 on November 01, 2016, 11:15:24 am
Is there expected solutions for the bus man exam??
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: bvc12345678910 on November 01, 2016, 11:43:59 am

1 or 2 marks maybe. depends on how marks are allocated though. did you not provide an example for both elements? or just one element?

I didn't provide an example for either elements. All i said was that the first element the outputs were tangible in manufacturing and intangible for service. And for the second element I just said that the inputs in a manufacturing were capital equipment, machinery etc and for service i said labour and informational resources
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: 100.00 on November 01, 2016, 01:10:21 pm
Thought this years was a lot harder than the others tbh, the centralised and decentralised question, when it said 'two features' how did you interpret that?
"Two features" - compare 2 features.

For example, both have unions present (similarities), but they vary in involvement (i.e more in centralised e.t.c)

For example, both have awards present (similarities), but they vary in the "final say" in conditions as you can offer more via enterprise bargaining in decentralised.
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Studyaad on November 01, 2016, 04:28:40 pm
Some clarification would be superb!!! This question is the only one standing in the way of my 50.

The difference in key elements of a service and manufacturing organisation.

I essentially discussed that products are tangible/intangible and that production/consumption times are different.

Apparently you had to go into the "inputs,process,outputs" area, which makes sense because it was the key elements. However, would they  accept these 2 examples? The production/consumption one I understand, but for my tangibility example, surely they will give me the 2 marks even if  said "products are tangible e.t.c..." and not "outputs".

Really appreciate any feedback,
Thanks!
Surely you'd get the marks for stating the tangible/intangible outputs! For the time in transformations answer, it sounds like it's right, but then again the examiner may not like it, but surely would still be a solid 3/4 marks, probably wouldn't affect you getting a 50 if you smashed the rest of the exam
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: Lauren Washington on November 01, 2016, 04:36:45 pm
The exam was some what straight forward? My sacs during the year have been quite difficult so I think this could have been the reason why I found it easy? Is anyone else like that?
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: 100.00 on November 01, 2016, 04:54:45 pm
The exam was some what straight forward? My sacs during the year have been quite difficult so I think this could have been the reason why I found it easy? Is anyone else like that?
Completely agree with you, however I feel this exam was also on the more "easy" side, with there only being one case study for like 4 marks worth of questions lol. The case study's are what most students in business management have trouble with, however it did sort of compensate for the slightly more difficult 10 marker and theory questions.

My teacher wrote the exam. She wasn't really allowed to discuss it after, however stated that generally, it will be more competitive in the 48+ range, and possiblly a higher A+ - If that does you justice :D

Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: 100.00 on November 01, 2016, 04:58:49 pm
Surely you'd get the marks for stating the tangible/intangible outputs! For the time in transformations answer, it sounds like it's right, but then again the examiner may not like it, but surely would still be a solid 3/4 marks, probably wouldn't affect you getting a 50 if you smashed the rest of the exam

Thanks! I think it would be silly not to award the tangible example.

With my consumption/production one, I essentially said that for manufacturing organisations products are produced in a factory and sent to retailers. (e.g. Apple Iphones produced in a factory and sent globally to stores). Would this "producing in a factory" and "sending" to retailers classify as a "process" ?? I didn't actually say the word process which is why I'm a bit skeptical. Just discussed the opposite for the service organisation (Qantas produces an airline flight but its' consumed at the same time whilst the plain is flying". - Is that also a process lol? Surely it could slide xDD

Thanks!!
Title: Re: VCE Business Management Exam Discussion
Post by: TheCommando on November 03, 2016, 02:52:41 pm
The exam was good, mothing different or challenging. Went as how i'd thought it would be.
Weirdly enough though, i fiirst finished all the question a bit less than 30min earlier, and thought that the exam ended at 5 so i thought i actually had 15min left instead of 30. So i went back and checked my answer to find that i skipped in the 10mark about how  the operations and HR relate to objectives, so spent 10min on it and thought i had 5min left. Only than i looked at the sport and relized i had 20min left so i wrote 3/4 of page on that......
Than after the exams i relized that where it said state 2 HR practises and 2 operations optimisation strategies not OR. I'm confident about evreything else except that small think. But oh well it's done