2010 EXAM THOUGHTS

[xharax]

the  only thing l'm worried about is that i forgot to define that mangement function is the areas of responsibility= = shit~

[mba]

If it was worded really weirdly they'll probably accept quite a few answers.

I would like to see the question before I comment further but as the functions of management is a key knowledge point in the study design I doubt they will be accepting other answers, except for the functions (that is Operations, HR, R&D etc.) that are listed in the study design.

[Robbey]

I was like WTF is management functions and just left that out and wrote the 2 stratergies...got 2/4 marks for that shiity question. Then for management structure i just did geographic and matrix..probably like 3/6. The rest was pretty easy, what would 50/65 get you

[Slumdawg]

Well management functions are supposedly stuff like Human Resources and Operations. The question also asked for a strategy from each of those functions so therefore it would make more sense if the answer was Human Resources and Operations because POLC does not explicitly have any "strategies" HOWEVER you could use logic and common sense to create your own strategies for each step such as planning, a strategy could be proactively planning, for leading a strategy could be using a motivational theory.

Hmm. Does anybody remember the question exactly? From that it sounds like a lot of things will be accepted then.

[xharax]

I was like WTF is management functions and just left that out and wrote the 2 stratergies...got 2/4 marks for that shiity question. Then for management structure i just did geographic and matrix..probably like 3/6. The rest was pretty easy, what would 50/65 get you

 i think it would be enough for u just to discuss about geographic and matrix because the question said to discuss "2" structure  only..and of course back it up with some explanation

[gold104]

It was like.. Identify two management function, and for each outline a strategy.

(might be wrong)

[puvlil]

They wanted a strategy of each, the problem is no strategy links to the case study. The case study was shit house it was a global financial crisis and therefore a decrease in customers. What can you say? Use training as a human resource strategy because now that our employees are competent and possess the skills to perform their job more efficiently and effectively the economy will stabilise with all customers returning..? It's stupid and wrong  

[Slumdawg]

They wanted a strategy of each, the problem is no strategy links to the case study. The case study was shit house it was a global financial crisis and therefore a decrease in customers. What can you say? Use training as a human resource strategy because now that our employees are competent and possess the skills to perform their job more efficiently and effectively the economy will stabilise with all customers returning..? It's stupid and wrong  

From what I remember about business I would have said Planning, defined it and then discussed how a manager would use strategic or tactical planning to resolve the issue over the course of a few years. But I haven't seen the entire question/case study so that's just based on what I'm hearing. Your answer is perfectly fine. For that question you could describe a whole range of things. Ops/ HR/ and POLC all seem fine, given a good explanation.

[jsher098]

I said consultative and geographical hopefully its right!

consultative is a management style, not a structure so therefore you stuffed up this question.
You had to choose 2 out of 3 (Functional,  Divisional- which includes geographic, product, process and customer) and matrix

[jsher098]

Yeah, autocratic due to the urgency of the matter? :S

Now I 100% agree with this. The ONLY two management styles that are acceptable are autocractic or persuasive. In urgent situations there is no time to consult as this is a time consuming process so therefore consultative, participative won't be accepted.

[swiftheels]

I wa responded to 2 parts of someones questioning referring to the management style question and then the structure
Ie. Consultative for style
Geo for structure (one of my choices)

I was going to do autocratic
But justified consultative would be suitable cause employees will be more likely accept changes that will be made and other such crap

[luken93]

If it does turn out to be POLC I'm gonna rage, especially if it's a part of the study design

In terms of the question, it was something along the lines of:

Identify 2 management functions, and apply a strategy to each in order to help overcome the problems that have occursd as a result of decreasing customers...

[Slumdawg]

If it does turn out to be POLC I'm gonna rage, especially if it's a part of the study design

In terms of the question, it was something along the lines of:

Identify 2 management functions, and apply a strategy to each in order to help overcome the problems that have occursd as a result of decreasing customers...

Nar it will be OPs/HR AND POLC. They'll accept all of them as a "strategy" fits into all of them. It would just be harder to discuss it in terms of POLC, planning would have been alright though.

[jsher098]

THIS IS NOT POLC
Management functions: operations, marketing, human resources, research and development, finance- AND IT IS A DOT POINT ON THE STUDY DESIGN
So just needed to choose 2 out of the 5 and explain a strategy.
I did Marketing- advertise cheaper airfares...
and then I did Operations- quality management approach of quality assurance
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[flametree]

okay just say you did do polc, will the performance indicators if applied correctly to the strategies you described be marked wrong?