ASSIGNMENT- 01

MBA 201 (BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT)

SUBMITTED BY

NAME- Karam
Singh Yadav

COURSE-
MBA (2 nd
SEM)

UNIVERSITY-
INTEGRAL UNIVERSITY

➢ How Natural Resources are important for business?

➢ Businesses do not operate in isolation of the natural environment - they rely on natural
resources and services. Your business may rely on nature for:
➢ raw materials like cotton, water, and crops
➢ the quality and availability of your inputs and products - nature provides water
purification, filtering of pollution from the air and seas, nutrients formation, and
pollination
➢ waste assimilation - nature breaks down waste products and dilutes emissions
➢ risk protection including flood protection and mitigating the impacts of climate change
➢ Plants, animals, micro-organisms and their non-living environment work together as
functional units to provide natural resources and services. These systems are often
called ecosystems and include wetlands, cultivated land, coastal areas, parks and
rainforests.
➢ The resources and services that nature provides are not unlimited. For example, there is
a finite amount of pollution that ecosystems can assimilate and an upper limit in their
capacity to purify water at any given time. Putting pressure on nature above what it can
sustain leads to degradation and undermines its ability to deliver those services.
➢ Some of the natural resources and services which contribute to successful business
operations do not appear on balance sheets because they do not have a monetary
value. As a result, they are often undervalued and planning decisions might overlook the
business risks that reduced supply of those services could create. This includes
disruption to supply chains, higher operating costs and changes in customer
preferences.
➢ By adopting practices which protect and enhance ecosystems, directly or through your
supply chain, you could also minimise such risks and benefit from lending policies that
favour businesses which combine growth with environmental leadership. A track record
of positive environmental action can also enhance the image of your business and make
it more competitive.

➢ What is corporate intelligence?

➢ “People should have seen this coming” was the widespread reaction to the recent
dramatic downfall of Luckin Coffee. China’s US-listed Starbucks challenger dropped 90
percent of its RMB 85 billion valuation in April and was raided by regulators as part of an
investigation into its accounting practices. But who should or could have anticipated it?

➢ Representatives of an often-overlooked professional service, corporate intelligence,

would contend that a company from their industry should have been consulted,
particularly when state-led regulation and enforcement is complicated by a cross-border
listing. Signals were not hard to spot, and many may have been picked up early on as
part of an enhanced due-diligence investigation. Alarm bells would have been prompted
by the substantial difference in Western and Chinese media coverage of the company,
as well as the track record of some of the company principals, and the familiar trick of
explaining away unrealistic profit margins by claiming a unique ability to do something
that no competitor is able to do.

➢ Corporate intelligence is an invaluable aid to sound business decision making. It provides

vital information on current and future business partners and other matters when
organisations want to reduce risk, enter new markets, solve corporate problems,
undertake investigations and enhance business opportunities.Companies often seek
corporate intelligence prior to entering into investments, joint ventures and
acquisitions.

➢ It can be crucial in doing business in emerging offshore markets where reliable

information on individuals and organisations can be scarce. It complements and
augments the financial and legal due diligence undertaken by mainstream advisers.
➢ Define the role of the RBI in enforcing FEMA.

❖ Foreign Exchange Management Act (“FEMA”) envisages that Reserve Bank of India
(“RBI”) will have a key role in management of foreign exchange. The main functions of
RBI under FEMA are as follows:
➢ The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) was enacted by the Parliament of India
in 1999 with the RBI as the regulatory power. Through FEMA, the RBI facilitates external
trade and payments to and from India. Its purpose is to make sure that the money sent
online to India doesn't come from and for illegal activities.
➢ Controlling dealings in foreign exchange by giving general or special permission for
dealing in foreign exchange, excluding those cases where specific provisions have been
made in Act, Rules or Regulations – Section 3.
➢ RBI cannot impose any restrictions on current account transactions. These can be
imposed only by Central Government in consultation with RBI – Section 5. However, in
certain cases, prior approval of RBI is required for current account transactions as
provided in Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000.
➢ Specifying conditions for payment in respect of capital account transaction – Section
6(2).
➢ Regulate/prohibit/restrict the following, by issuing Regulations:
➢ Transfer or issue of foreign security to resident and Indian security to non-resident;
➢ Borrowing and lending in foreign exchange or to a foreign person;
➢ Export/import of currency or currency notes;
➢ Transfer of immovable property outside India;
➢ Giving guarantee or surety where foreign exchange transaction is involved – Section
6(3)
➢ Specify (by regulation) period and manner in which foreign exchange due from export
of goods and services should be received – Section 8.
➢ To grant exemption from realisation and repatriation in cases specified under Section 9.
➢ Granting authorisation to ‘Authorised Person’ to deal in foreign exchange, to give
directions to them and to inspect the authorised person – Sections 10, 11 & 12.
➢ How Information Technology has made the changes in business.
➢ Technologies have made elements of business such as manufacturing, communication,
purchasing, sales and advertising easier and more effective for businesses. Changes in
technology have included: Email – electronic mail enables written messages to be sent
instantly to others, and files can be shared as attachments.

1. The Way We Communicate + Share Information-

➢ Communication and the sharing of information are critical for every business. Today's
environment offers more ways than ever, and the technology available makes it faster,
easier, and more efficient. With applications like Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, social
media platforms, chatbots, and more being leveraged daily, there are pros and cons for
all of us. Sales enablement provides the ability to track buyer-seller conversations and
receive analytics based on user behaviors. Deeper intelligence makes it easy to obtain
customer information and use it to enhance the customer experience.

➢ Communication is effective when technology digs into customer information to help us

create personalized messaging. Automated communications using a variety of channels
help businesses boost marketing productivity and reach customers, as well. But we need
to be mindful that, taken too far, we could lose the ability to build customer
relationships—and lose the human touch in our brands.

2. Mobile-First Business Environments-

➢ Mobile-First is here to stay. Smart devices or tablets with the right software allow for
remote management of every aspect of your business. Everything from your sales
enablement, content marketing, and customer relations through back-end processes
like shipping and invoicing are all at the click of a button. But mobile isn't just for you—
it's also for your consumers. With the rise of Generation Y (Millennials), more people are
using mobile devices to buy, sell, shop, find local businesses, and share their retail
experiences with friends, acquaintances, prospects, and Instagram strangers every day.

➢ This new paradigm has rewritten the book on marketing to prospects. Technology has
also increased the ease with which we can all stay in touch. Whether it's having your
coworkers and employees available via text/video chat at a moment's notice or being
able to send targeted promotional email blasts to prequalified customers when they're
shopping at nearby businesses, the rise of mobile technology has blended almost
 seamlessly with communication software to create a hyper-real web of real-time
information.

3. Enablement of Remote Working-

➢ Although remote work has grown steadily over the past 15 years, Covid-19 forced
companies not already promoting a remote work environment to make the transition
more quickly than expected. And it's likely a good thing that is here to stay:
➢
➢ Companies of all types—private, public, nonprofit, or startup—continue to recognize the
bottom-line benefits of integrating remote work into their business strategies," said Sara
Sutton, founder and CEO of FlexJobs. "With improvements to technology and increasing
demands from employees in a tight labor market, we fully expect to see the momentum
around this important workplace continue to grow," Sutton concluded.

➢ Companies had to pivot quickly to ensure their teams had access to the right technology
and infrastructure to support remote log-ins, the bandwidth to handle video
conferencing, and project management tools so that teams could continue to work on
projects and update status together. Instead of managing by hours spent in the office,
leads had to shift to measuring employee output. There've been a lot of benefits to this
new normal. Not only is it easier to attract and retain talent, but it's also increased
productivity. One interesting two-year Stanford study showed an incredible productivity
boost among remote workers equivalent to a full day's work each week! And there's
more; it's saved high costs in real estate, cut back on carbon emissions, and makes
companies more agile and scalable.

4. Use of AI-

➢ AI is reshaping the world in business and consumer markets and is a mainstream of daily
living. This application of technology has changed business processes in nearly every
industry and has become an imperative strategy for those wanting to maintain a
competitive edge. There are many things AI can do, from machine learning (massive
amounts of data are processed quickly and put into digestible context for people) to
security, CRM, and even the financial and real estate sectors. In the sales enablement
space, AI is used to track buyers and predict their intent to purchase by looking at their
search patterns, what they view and open, and more. Some worry that AI could
eventually force joblessness, but the general thinking is there will be a need for job
creation and new roles emerging to facilitate the transition to this new environment. For
example, as AI replaces long-standing workflows, people's need to integrate them will
 be a necessity. AI is coming along at lightning speed, and although the effect is unknown
at this point, it will likely have a significant impact on the economy.
5. Decreasing Cost/Increasing Functionality-

➢ Two things have come together to create a "buyer's market" when it comes to software
solutions for your business. First, the hardware and software necessary to develop these
software solutions have become increasingly easy to use and afford. Secondly, the
number of tech-savvy and entrepreneurial minds who can exploit such crumbling
barriers has multiplied exponentially. A back-end inventory system that once took a
multi-million-dollar company a year to create in the not-too-distant past takes a couple
of weeks for a few recent college graduates to put together. These solutions are offered
at affordable rates and are often simple enough to use that businesses don't need to
hire dedicated employees or sign long-term service contracts to make use of them.

6. Buyer Enablement-

➢ With buyers spending the first 60+% of their buying journey on their own with a
magnitude of content and stakeholders and decision-makers multiplied in different
business groups, buying in today's world has become complicated. The newer approach
of buyer enablement, if done correctly, allows the buyer to be a champion of the
product inside the organization. This requires the seller to partner alongside the buyer
to help them determine the ultimate business problem that needs solving and to offer
up the most relevant information at precisely the right time. If sellers keep their buyers'
needs as their top priority throughout the buying journey and position themselves as a
trusted advisor, they are nailing buyer enablement.

7. Increased Collaboration-

➢ The inability to chat in the break room, walk down the hall to a co-worker's office, or
even gather together in a meeting room in front of a whiteboard has drastically
increased the need for collaboration. A McKinsey Global Institutes Report found that
over 60% of work time is spent collaborating, gathering information, or responding to
emails. With this in mind, there is no shortage of collaboration tools that companies
have glommed on to like Google Drive/Docs, Slack, Microsoft SharePoint, and OneDrive,
Monday.com, and many, many more. These simplify how we can work together for
team discussions, file sharing, project collaboration, tasks, and storage. Alignment of
people and goals is the primary responsibility for these tools, and they are here to help
provide real-time insight into projects and help us become more efficient.
8. Cloud Computing + Digital Transformation-

➢ The rate of change is accelerating faster than ever before. Digital Transformation "drives
foundational change in how an organization operates, optimizes internal resources, and
delivers value to customers. Cloud technologies provide the foundation for becoming
more agile, collaborative and customer-focused". Cloud computing allows businesses to
move some of their operations to third-party servers accessible via Internet
connectivity. This allows for variable data packages and rapid (on-demand) expansion
and mobility without the fear of downtime, crashes, or permanently lost data.
Companies adopting the cloud can innovate quickly, scale efficiently and even bring new
market capabilities more quickly. This has allowed small to medium-sized businesses
access to resources that would have been cost-prohibitive for them in the past and
evened the playing field when competing against corporations with far more funding.

➢ Explain the economic role of government in business environment.

➢ President Coolidge once said the chief business of the American people is business.
Indeed, the private sector is the country's chief economic force, but it needs
government regulation. The U.S. government's role in business is as old as the country
itself; the Constitution gives the government the power to regulate some commerce.
Though the government’s role has increased over time, the business community still
enjoys considerable freedom. The government exercises its authority several ways.

❖ Permission to Form and Operate-

Most businesses need to register with a state government to operate. Corporations
need a charter, and other forms of businesses, such as limited liability companies or
partnerships, need other forms of registration.The function of this registration is usually
to define the financial liability the owners of the company have.

It limits their risk to the amount they have invested in that particular organization.
Registration also allows the government to monitor companies to execute its other
functions in the business world.

❖ Creating and Enforcing Contracts-

Businesses contract with other businesses. These contracts may be complex, such as
mergers, or they may be as simple as a warranty on supplies purchased. The
government enforces these contracts. Companies bring one another to court just as
individuals do.
 An oral agreement can constitute a contract, but usually only a written agreement is
provable. If one party fails or refuses to meet its obligation under a contract, a company
will turn to the legal system for enforcement.

❖ Consumer Protection and Safety

The government’s role in business includes protecting the consumer or customer. When
a vendor fails to honor the guarantee, the purchaser has recourse in the law. Likewise,
when a product causes harm to an individual, the courts may hold the vendor or
manufacturer responsible. Labeling is another requirement the government imposes on
marketers.

Many foods, for example, must display nutritional content on the packaging. The U.S.
has been making advances in consumer rights for decades. However, the consumer
movement still needs considerable development to protect the public.

❖ Employee Rights and Protections

Many state and federal agencies work to protect the rights of employees. The
Occupational Health and Safety Administration, for example, is an agency under the
Department of Labor. Its mission is to ensure a safe and healthful work environment.
The Equal Opportunity Commission protects employees from discrimination.

❖ Environmental Regulations and Protection

When a marketing transaction impacts a third party – others besides the marketer and
purchaser – the effect is called an “externality.” The third party is often the
environment. Thus, it is the government's role to regulate industry and thereby protect
the public from environmental externalities.

Whether the government is effective in this role is a matter of much discussion. The Gulf
oil spill of 2010 has been cited as evidence of lax oversight.

❖ Revenue and Taxation

Governments at all levels tax businesses, and the resulting revenue is an important part
of government budgets. Some revenue is taxed at the corporate level, then taxed as
personal income when distributed as dividends. This is in no way inappropriate, since it
balances the tax burden between the company and individual and allows the
government to tax more equitably.
❖ Investor Rights and Protection
Government mandates that companies make financial information public, thereby
protecting the rights of investors and facilitating further investment. This is generally
done through filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Whether federal
regulation has been adequate is a matter of much debate.
 ASSIGNMENT- 02
MBA 202 (RESEARCH METHODOLOGY)
➢ How do you define a research problem? Give three examples to illustrate your answer.
❖ The identification of the research problem is the first step in the research process. It is
similar to the identification of the destination before a journey. It works as the
foundation for the whole research process. In the field of social sciences, a research
problem is presented in the form of a question. It helps in narrowing down the issue to
something reasonable for conducting a study. Defining a research problem serves three
main purposes-

➢ It presents the importance of the research topic.

➢ It helps the researcher place the problem in a specific context to properly define the
parameters of the investigation.
➢ It provides a framework that can help in presenting the results in the future.

➢ In absolute terms, a research problem can be defined as the statement regarding the
area of concern, or a condition that needs to be improved, an unresolved question that
exists in the literature, a difficulty that needs to be eliminated or any point that needs
some meaningful investigation.

➢ To conclude ideal research, one needs to find logical answers to research problems.
However, research problems are of three types: descriptive (pertains to issues that need
studying), relational (research questions which focus on the relationship between two or
more factors), and causal research (problems that look at cause and effect).

❖ Descriptive research problems-

➢ Descriptive research problems focus on questions like ‘what is ?’, with its main aim to
describe the situation, state or the existence of certain specific phenomena. They seek
to depict what already exists in a group or population. For such studies, surveys and
opinion polls are best suitable because they require systematic observation of social
issues.
➢
For example, ‘what are the main factors affecting consumers’ purchase decisions?’
These problems use two different ways to collect data- cross-sectional studies and
longitudinal studies. Cross-sectional studies provide a snapshot of data at a certain
moment in time. On the other hand, longitudinal studies involve a fixed and stable
sample that is measured repeatedly over time. However, in both cases, methods that
can be used to collect data include mail, online or offline surveys, and interviews. When
a researcher is dealing with a descriptive research problem, there can be no
manipulation in the variables and hypotheses as they are usually no directional.

❖ Causal research problems-

➢ Causal research problems focus on identifying the extent and nature of cause and effect
relationships. Such research problems help in assessing the impact of some changes on
existing norms and processes. They thus identify patterns of relationships between
different elements.

➢ For example, ‘how does online education affect students’ learning abilities?’ In such
cases, experiments are the most popular way of collecting primary data. Here, the
hypothesis is usually directional, i.e. explaining how one factor affects the behaviour of
another one. Such studies give the researcher the freedom to manipulate the variables
as desired. Data for causal research can be collected in two ways: laboratory
experiments and field experiments.

➢ Laboratory experiments are generally conducted in the artificial environment which

allows the researcher to carefully manipulate the variables. On the other hand, field
experiments are much more realistic. It is sometimes not possible to control the
variables. This makes it difficult for the researcher to predict with confidence what
produced a given outcome.

➢ Explain in detail techniques involved in defining a research problem.

➢ Problem definition demands the task of setting up boundaries within which an
investigator should study the problem with a pre-determined goal in mind. The best way
to define the problem is unquestionably a tough job. Having said that, it is a task that
needs to be handled smartly in order to prevent the perplexity experienced in a research
procedure.
➢

Statement of the problem in a general way: The research problem needs to deal with
either a particular practical operational issue or some scientific discovery. It may also be
related to satisfaction or widening of a certain intellectual curiosity. No matter what the
subject of research, the problem definition should in general be at a logical level. For
this reason, the investigator should involve himself thoroughly in the topic relating to
which he wants to pose a problem. In the case of social research, it is considered a good
idea to do some field observation and as such the investigator may take on some type of
preliminary survey or what is known as pilot survey. The problem mentioned in a broad
general way could have numerous ambiguities that need to be fixed by cool thinking and
rethinking about the issue. While doing so the feasibility of a specific alternative must be
considered and the same should be kept in view while stating the problem.

➢ Understand the nature of the problem: The next step in defining the problem is that the
investigator should be aware of the cause and character of the problem in clear terms
via discussions and study of the environment within which problem is to be solved.

➢ Literature Survey: All accessible literature in connection with the issue at hand must
necessarily be surveyed and examined before a definition of the research problem is
provided. It helps a professional to take a look at current dimensions in that specific area
and results in enhancement of knowledge. The researcher will have to dedicate
adequate time in examining of research previously carried out on relevant problems. It
is performed to discover what data and other materials, if any, are readily available for
operational purposes. Being aware of what data can be obtained often acts to narrow
the problem itself in addition to the technique that may be employed.

➢ What is questionnaire? What are different types of questionnaire?

➢ A questionnaire is a research instrument that consists of a set of questions or other
types of prompts that aims to collect information from a respondent. A research
questionnaire is typically a mix of close-ended questions and open-ended questions.
➢
Open-ended, long-form questions offer the respondent the ability to elaborate on their
thoughts. Research questionnaires were developed in 1838 by the Statistical Society of
London.

➢ The data collected from a data collection questionnaire can be both qualitative as well
as quantitative in nature. A questionnaire may or may not be delivered in the form of a
survey, but a survey always consists of a questionnaire.

❖ Questions in Open Ended Format-

➢ Questions that allow the target audience to voice their feelings and notions freely are
called open-format questions or open-ended questions. These questions are not based
on pre-determined responses, giving respondents an opportunity to express what they
feel is right, and often provide real, perceptional, and at times, startling proposals.
Open-ended questions placed at the end of a questionnaire tend to draw accurate
feedback and suggestions from respondents as well.

❖ Questions in Closed Ended Format-

➢ Questions which have multiple options as answers and allow respondents to select a
single option from amongst them are called closed-format or closed-ended questions.
This type of questionnaire is especially useful when conducting preliminary analysis. As a
fixed answer set is provided, these are ideal for calculation of statistical information and
percentages of various types. Closed-ended questions help to arrive at opinions about a
product or service, and sometimes, about a company, in a more efficient manner.

➢ Briefly describe the different steps involved in a research process.

➢ The research process consists of a series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry
out research and the desired sequencing of these steps. The research process consists of
a number of closely related activities but such activities overlap continuously rather than
following a strictly prescribed sequence. One should remember that the various steps
involved in a research process are not mutually exclusive, nor they are separate and
distinct. They do not necessarily follow each other in any specific order and the
researcher has to be constantly anticipating at each step in the research process the
requirements of the subsequent steps. However, the following order concerning various
steps involved in the research process:
❖ Formulating the Research Problem: There are two types of research problems, viz.,
those which relate to states of nature and those which relate to relationships between
variables. The best way of understanding the problem is to discuss it with one’s own
colleagues or with those having some expertise in the matter. In an academic institution,
the researcher can seek help from a guide who is usually an experienced man and has
several research problems in mind. Often, the guide puts forth the problem in general
terms and it is up to the researcher to narrow it down and phrase the problem in
operational terms. In private business units or in governmental organizations’, the
problem is usually earmarked by the administrative agencies with whom the researcher
can discuss as to how the problem originally came about and what considerations are
involved in its possible solutions.

❖ Extensive Literature Survey: Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it

should be written down. It is compulsory for a research worker to write a thesis for a
Ph.D. degree to write a synopsis of the topic and submit it to the necessary Committee
or the Research Board for approval. At this stage, the researcher should undertake an
extensive literature survey connected with the problem. For this purpose, the
abstracting and indexing journals and published or unpublished bibliographies are the
first place to go. Academic journals, conference proceedings, government reports,
books, etc., must be tapped depending on the nature of the problem. In this process, it
should be remembered that one source will lead to another. A good library will be a
great help to the researcher at this stage.

➢ Write short note on methods of business forecasting.

➢ We all at one point or another have imagined how our life would have been if we knew
what we know today. Imagine the catastrophe that could have been avoided if, for
example, banking firms knew of the 2008 Global Recession or the profit that could have
been made if investors knew of the potential of cryptocurrency. All of this leads to the
need to develop strategies to forecast the future.
➢ One must know that in Data Science, the terms “prediction” and “forecasting” differ
significantly. Prediction refers to the prediction of a value by analyzing the relationship
 between a set of input variables and a target variable. On the other hand, forecasting is
a whole different phenomenon that refers to foreseeing how some value or event would
turn out to be over a period of time. Here, the past data is analyzed at the backdrop of
time as the role of time is also taken into account to come up with the forecasted value.
➢ While all businesses do some form of forecasting or other, the level of their techniques
can differ substantially. While a simple analysis can be done of the past data to
understand the pattern and forecast the future of the business or economic events,
other sophisticated statistical models can be put to use to know of the future. With the
advancement of Machine Learning and Deep Learning, algorithms working under such
an advanced setup can also be used.

❖ Qualitative Models-

This forecasting model is used when trying to predict business important prediction over
a short period of time. Here the business experts are consulted and their opinion forms
one of the crucial inputs in coming up with the forecasted values. These methods also
are commonly used when there is a lack of historical data or the future seems too
unstable to forecast using strictly a mathematical or statistical tool. While there are
various methods that come under this model, the two most common methods include
Market Research and Delphi Model.

❖ Time Series Analysis-

Time Series data focuses on the patterns found in the historical data and uses statistical
methods to understand how time affects the target variable. Here, concepts such as
analysis of the seasonality, trend, cyclicity, and irregularity found in historical data are
used to understand the future better. This method emphasizes the use of statistics and
methods such as ARIMA and SARIMA fall under it.

❖ Econometric Method-
 Unlike Time Series analysis which uses the discipline of statistics, Econometric method
uses a mathematically exhaustive technique to perform business forecasting. While
Time Series analysis is used in a more general business environment, the econometric
method is used in the world of academia to analyze the outcome of economic policies.
The data used in such a form of analysis is highly complex and these techniques take
into account factors such as the fluctuating significance of past data points and the fact
that the impact of predictors on the target variable can change over time.

❖ Indicator Approach-

As the name suggests, this method is taken into account certain indicators to estimate
the future. These indicators can be Key Performance Index (KPI) measuring the business
performance, or government-provided data such as employment rate, inflation rate,
GDP, etc. Here the relationship between these indicators is analyzed and uses the
leading indicators to estimate the lagging ones.

While these are the main models of business forecasting, the readers must know that
this is not the exhaustive list and other models such as projection models and casual
models also exist that are used in specific scenarios.
 ASSIGNMENT- 03
MBA 203 (FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT)

➢ What is “Return on capital employees?”

➢ Working capital management is the key to success for the manufacturing firm. As
a manufacturing firm the profitability of cement industry mainly depends on the
efficient management of working capital e.g. managing the current assets and
current liabilities satisfactorily. This study is decorated to outline the profitability
and working capital position of selected cement industries, correlation between
them and whether the profitability is affected by working capital management.
Ratio Analysis have been used to show Profitability position & Working Capital
position, Correlation Matrix have been used to show correlation between them
and Regression Analysis have been used to show the impact of Working Capital
management on Profitability respectively. The study is mainly based on
secondary data. The study reveals that Profitability position & Working Capital
position over the study period is not satisfactory. From the study it is also found
that there is significantly positive correlation between profitability and working
capital components as well as impact of day sales outstanding (DSO) on
profitability ratios is negatively significant. The study recommended that sample
cement industries should reduce their day sales outstanding (DSO) for improving
their profitability position.

➢ Discuss the role of financial manager.

➢ Financial activities of a firm is one of the most important and complex activities
of a firm. Therefore in order to take care of these activities a financial manager
performs all the requisite financial activities.

➢ A financial manger is a person who takes care of all the important financial
functions of an organization. The person in charge should maintain a far
sightedness in order to ensure that the funds are utilized in the most efficient
manner. His actions directly affect the Profitability, growth and goodwill of the
firm.
❖ Raising of Funds

In order to meet the obligation of the business it is important to have enough cash and
liquidity. A firm can raise funds by the way of equity and debt. It is the responsibility of a
financial manager to decide the ratio between debt and equity. It is important to
maintain a good balance between equity and debt.

❖ Allocation of Funds

Once the funds are raised through different channels the next important function is to
allocate the funds. The funds should be allocated in such a manner that they are
optimally used. In order to allocate funds in the best possible manner the following
point must be considered

▪ The size of the firm and its growth capability

▪ Status of assets whether they are long-term or short-term
▪ Mode by which the funds are raised

These financial decisions directly and indirectly influence other managerial activities.
Hence formation of a good asset mix and proper allocation of funds is one of the most
important activity.

➢ What are the advantages of cash planning? How does cash budget help in planning the
firms cash flows?

❖ Cash Planning-
A cash budget is used internally by management to estimate cash inflows (receipts) and
outflows (disbursements) of cash during a period and the cash balance at the end of a
period. In other words, a cash budget is a plan for an organization to obtain and use
resources over a specific period of time. This means an organization must have an idea
of where their money is coming from and how it should be spent.

Note: A cash budget includes cash only. Do not include discounts received or allowed,
credit purchases or sales, bad debts, depreciation, or any other non-cash items.

❖ Use of Cash Budgets-

Cash budgeting allows an organization to set a goal and move toward that goal. This is
important because each organization has a finite amount of resources and these
resources need to be used effectively. Management uses cash budgeting to manage the
 cash flows of an organization. For example, employees must be paid every two weeks.
The cash budget allows management to forecast whether or not they will have enough
cash to pay their employees. If there are shortfalls of cash, the budget may be adjusted
to correct problems before payments are due.

➢ How does depreciation funds help the industrial concern as sources of finance?
➢ Depreciation may be regarded as the capital cost of an assets allocated over the life of
the asset. ... However, under certain circumstances, depreciation helps a business
concern to affect savings in payment of tax and dividends and amounts to withholding a
part of the funds generated through normal trading operations.

➢ Depreciation may be regarded as the capital cost of an assets allocated over the life of
the asset. In simple language, it means the gradual decrease in the value of an asset due
to wear and tear, use and passage of time. In real sense, depreciation is simply a book
entry having the effect of reducing the book value of the asset and the profits of the
current year for the same amount.

➢ It does not affect current assets or current liabilities and does not result in the flow of
funds or to say more precisely it is a non-fund item. Hence, although depreciation is an
operating cost there is no actual outflow of cash and so the amount of the depreciation
charged during the year is added back to profits while finding funds from operations.
But, then, is depreciation a source of funds?

➢ There cannot be any definite answer in ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to this question as there are
differences of opinion on this important point. But it can be said with certainty that
depreciation, directly at least does not amount to a source of funds. However, under
certain circumstances, depreciation helps a business concern to affect savings in
payment of tax and dividends and amounts to withholding a part of the funds generated
through normal trading operations. It is in this sense that depreciation can be regarded
as an indirect source of funds.

➢ However, it is not even an indirect source of funds under all circumstances. Say, for
example, a company is running into losses and there are no profits, then any amount of
depreciation charged to profit and loss account will neither affect tax liability nor any
payment of dividends, as there are no profits. In this case, depreciation does not
amount to withholding of funds and hence is not a source of funds at all.
➢ Explain various method of financial statement analysis.
➢ Financial statement analysis (FSA) means studying the financial statements of a
company to get meaningful information for decision making. Apart from the
management, external stakeholders also carry financial statement analysis for several
purposes. There are several methods of financial statement analysis that management
and external stakeholders use.
➢ All these methods vary in calculation and factors used for the financial statement
analysis. External stakeholders, including analysts, financial institutions, creditors,
lenders, and more do FSA to understand the health of the company. Moreover, these
methods provide a summary of data that helps to analyze and interpret financial data.

ASSIGNMENT- 04
MBA 204 (CORPORATE & BUSINESS LAWS)
➢ Explain how a case is brought before the courts, and describe the court process.
➢ In the case outlines that follow, each party is represented by an attorney. But this often
is not the case, especially in limited jurisdiction courts. People may represent
themselves in court without an attorney as long as they follow court rules. They often
are called pro per, pro se, or self-represented litigants.

➢ While this guide is intended to give a general overview of the Arizona court system and
its procedures, not all cases proceed as outlined here.

❖ Case Processing in Limited Jurisdiction Courts

➢ Limited jurisdiction courts usually process criminal cases as follows:
➢ Initial Appearance – This is the defendant’s first appearance in court, and the defendant
is advised of the charges. The judge appoints an attorney if the defendant cannot afford
one.
➢ Arraignment – The defendant appears in court to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
Many limited jurisdiction courts combine the initial appearance and the arraignment.
➢ Trial – If the defendant pleads not guilty, a trial is held. The judge—or at the defendant’s
request, a jury—can hear evidence on the charges and find the defendant guilty or not
guilty.
➢ Sentencing – If the defendant is found guilty, the court imposes the appropriate
punishment (sentence).
➢ Appeals – Appeals from decisions of limited jurisdiction courts go to superior court. An
appeal may be heard as a new trial (a trial de novo), or the superior court judge may
 review records of trial proceedings if records have been kept. Decisions made in small
claims court cannot be appealed.

➢ Describe tort law and compare it to criminal law.

➢ A Crime is wrongdoing which hampers the social order of the society we live in. A Tort is
wrongdoing which hampers the individual or his property. Crime happens mostly
intentionally. It is a deliberate act which people do to get some unlawful benefits.

➢ Undoubtedly, is nothing but doing something wrong. Specifically, in this case, the
impact is on society in general. There are special cases or acts which are a crime under
the state
legal system. In case, a person does any of the act, the law will take necessary decisions
of punishment in the court.

➢ Specifically, the proceeding takes place in the criminal court of law. Crimes which go
against laws are already set for the protection of society. Moreover, it keeps peace
ensuring everyone can have the right to live in a society, free of crimes.

➢ What is crossing of a cheque? Discuss various modes of crossing of a cheque.

➢ cheque bears across its face an addition of two parallel transverse lines. Special Crossing
– cheque bears across its face an addition of the banker's name. Restrictive Crossing –
It directs the collecting banker that he needs to credit the amount of cheque only to the
account of the payee.
➢ A crossing is an instruction to the paying banker to pay the amount of cheque to a
particular banker and not over the counter. The crossing of the cheque secures the
payment to a banker.

➢ It also traces the person so receiving the amount of cheque. Addition of words ‘Not
negotiable’ or ‘Account Payee only’ is necessary to restrain the negotiability of the
cheque. The crossing of a cheque ensures security and protection to the holder.

➢ However, we can negotiate a crossed bearer cheque by delivery and a crossed order
cheque by endorsement and delivery.

➢ General Crossing – cheque bears across its face an addition of two parallel transverse
lines.
➢ Special Crossing – cheque bears across its face an addition of the banker’s name.
➢ Restrictive Crossing – It directs the collecting banker that he needs to credit the amount
of cheque only to the account of the payee.
➢ Non-Negotiable Crossing – It is when the words ‘Not Negotiable’ are written between
the two parallel transverse lines.
➢ How does a binding contract differ from other agreements?
➢ The critical difference is that contracts are recognized as legally enforceable promises to
perform. Some agreements—such as clickwrap agreements—have been held to be
legally enforceable, but those agreements must have certain legal terminology that
indicates the parties' intent to enter into a binding agreement.
➢ The critical difference is that contracts are recognized as legally enforceable promises to
perform. Some agreements—such as clickwrap agreements—have been held to be
legally enforceable, but those agreements must have certain legal terminology that
indicates the parties' intent to enter into a binding agreement.

➢ State the various classes of companies that can be formed under the act. Explain the
characteristics of each.

➢ The article aims to elaborate each type of Company as governed under Companies Act,
2013 (CA, 2013). The Act provides for types of companies that can be promoted and
registered under the Act.

➢ Firstly what does company mean? : As per section 2(20) of the CA, 2013 “company”
means a company incorporated under this Act or under any previous company law.

➢ Commonly a company may be defined as “an incorporated association which is an

artificial person, having a separate legal entity, with a perpetual succession, a common
seal (if any), and a common capital compromised of transferable shares and limited
liability.”
➢ These companies are constituted by a special Act of Parliament or State Legislature.
These companies are formed mainly with an intention to provide the public services.

➢ Though primarily they are governed under that Special Act, still the CA, 2013 will be
applicable to them except where the said provisions are inconsistent with the provisions
of the Act creating them (as Special Act prevails over General Act).

➢ Examples of these types of companies are Reserve Bank of India, Life Insurance
Corporation of India, etc.
➢ Registered Companies:

➢ Companies registered under the CA, 2013 or under any previous Company Law are
called registered companies.

ASSIGNMENT- 05
MBA 205 (OPERATIONS RESEARCH)
➢ Give the overview of the or modelling approach.
➢ the bulk of this book is devoted to the mathematical methods of operations research
(OR). This is quite appropriate because these quantitative techniques form the main part
of what is known about OR. However, it does not imply that practical OR studies are
primarily mathematical exercises. As a matter of fact, the mathematical analysis often
represents only a relatively small part of the total effort required. The purpose of this
chapter is to place things into better perspective by describing all the major phases of a
typical large OR study. One way of summarizing the usual (overlapping) phases of an OR
study is the following:
1. Define the problem of interest and gather relevant data.
2. Formulate a mathematical model to represent the problem.
3. Develop a computer-based procedure for deriving solutions to the problem from
the model.
4. Test the model and refine it as needed.
5. Prepare for the ongoing application of the model as prescribed by management.

➢ Explain degenerate transportation problem.

➢ The Transportation Problem is criticaltool for real life problem. Mathematically it is an
➢ application of Linear Programming problem. At the point when the analysts are doing
some work on
➢ Transportation problem has a typical inquiry that, how we can way to deal with the
optimality of Transportation
➢ problem. Optimality gives us the optimal route that prompts the either most extreme
benefit or least aggregate
➢ cost whichever is required. Since last numerous years, there was so much research has
been improved the
➢ situation for Non-Degenerate Transportation problem, however here we are acquainting
the new approach to
➢ get the optimality when the Transportation problem facing the degeneracy.so , here in
this paper, the algorithm
➢ tries to clarify the optimal solution of Degenerate Transportation Problem, or close to
the optimal solution.

➢ In a transportation problem with m origins and n destinations, if a basic feasible solution

has less than m + n – 1 allocations (occupied cells), the problem is said to be a
degenerate transportation problem. Degeneracy can occur at two stages: At the initial
solution. During the testing of the optimal solution.

❖ Resolution of Degeneracy During the Initial Stage:

To resolve degeneracy, we proceed by allocating a small quantity close to zero to one or
more (if needed) unoccupied cells so as to get m + n – 1. The cell containing this
extremely small quantity is considered to be an occupied cell.

➢ Write at least five application areas of linear programming.

➢ The application of specific operations research techniques to determine the choice
among several courses
➢ of action, so as to get an optimal value of the measures of effectiveness (objective or
goal), requires to
➢ formulate (or construct) a mathematical model. Such a model helps to represent the
essence of a system
➢ that is required for decision-analysis. The term formulation refers to the process of
converting the verbal
➢ description and numerical data into mathematical expressions, which represents the
relationship among
➢ relevant decision variables (or factors), objective and restrictions (constraints) on the
use of scarce resources
➢ (such as labour, material, machine, time, warehouse space, capital, energy, etc.) to
several competing activities
➢ (such as products, services, jobs, new equipment, projects, etc.) on the basis of a given
criterion of optimality.
➢ The term scarce resources refers to resources that are not available in infinite quantity
during the planning
➢ period. The criterion of optimality is generally either performance, return on
investment, profit, cost, utility,
➢ time, distance and the like
❖ ADVANTAGES OF USING LINEAR PROGRAMMING
Following are certain advantages of using linear programming technique:
❖ Linear programming technique helps decision-makers to use their productive resources
effectively.
❖ Linear programming technique improves the quality of decisions. The decision-making
approach of the
❖ user of this technique becomes more objective and less subjective.
❖ Linear programming technique helps to arrive at optimal solution of a decision problem
by taking into
❖ account constraints on the use of resources. For example, saying that so many units of
any product
❖ may be produced does not mean that all units can be sold.
❖ Linear programming approach for solving decision problem highlight bottlenecks in the
production
❖ processes. For example, when a bottleneck occurs, machine cannot produce sufficient
number of units
❖ of a product to meet demand. Also, machines may remain idle.
➢ What is simplex tableau if the primal is a max problem?
➢ In modeling applied problems as linear programming problems, it frequently becomes
necessary to add more constraints to the model. These constraints are generally used to
make the model more accurately represent the real problem, and their need becomes
evident when the researcher compares the solution to the linear programming problem
with the situation being modeled. However, adding one or more constraints may cause
the existing solution to become infeasible. In this case the dual simplex method,
discussed in this section, can be used to restore feasibility without having to resolve the
entire new problem.

➢ When we use the simplex algorithm on a primal problem we begin with a feasible but
nonoptimal solution. Each iteration of the simplex algorithm finds a feasible solution
that is closer to optimality, and this procedure continues until an optimal solution is
reached. In the meantime, what is happening to the dual problem? Let us examine the
sawmill problem in this context.
❖ EXAMPLE-
➢ The primal problem in standard form for the model is
➢ Maximize z = 120x + 100y
➢ subject to
➢ 2x + 2y ≤ 8
➢ 5x + 3y ≤ 15 ➢ x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0.
➢
➢ The dual problem is
➢ Minimize z′ = 8s + 15t
➢ subject to
➢ 2s + 5t ≥ 120
➢ 2s + 3t ≥ 100
➢ s ≥ 0, t ≥ 0

➢ What is the role of decision making in OR. Explain its scope.

➢ A decision is an act of selection or choice of one action from several alternatives.
Decision-making can be defined as the process of selecting a right and effective course
of action from two or more alternatives for the purpose of achieving a desired result.
Decision-making is the essence of management.According to P. F. Drucker – “Whatever
a manager does he does through making decisions.” All matters relating to planning,
organising, direction, co-ordination and control are settled by the managers through
decisions which are executed into practice by the operators of the enterprise.
Objectives, goals, strate-gies, policies and organisational designs are all to be decided
upon in order to regulate the performance of the business.

❖ Principles of Decision Making:-

➢ Effective decision involves two important aspects—the purpose for which it is intended,
and the environmental situation in which it is taken. Even the best and correct decision
may become ineffective if these aspects are ignored; because in decision-making there
are so many inside and outside chains of unavoidable reactions. If certain principles are
followed for decision-making, such multidimensional reactions can mostly be overcome.
 ASSIGNMENT- 06
MBA 206 (MANAGERIAL EFFECTIVENESS)
➢ How an Effective Manager will be an Optimizer? Explain.
❖ Decision making is one of the most important functions of management.
The word “decision” is derived from a Latin word “Decis” which means “Cutting away or
cutting off to come to a conclusion” this is itself means that a single thing is to be
brought in action by cutting off many other things that look alike.
Thus decision making means choosing one alternative from available so many.
➢ Effective manager focuses on what he is doing and efficiency deals with how well he
does with minimum wastage of resources.
➢ Since managers deal with input resource that is scarce such as money, people,
equipment, and time, they should be more concerned about its efficient utility,
minimizing resource cost and optimizing the output.
➢ According to Campbell, in his behavioural approach, effective manager is said to be an
optimizer in utilizing all available and potential resources.
➢ Effective managerial job behaviour talks about as "any set of managerial actions
believed to be optimal for identifying, assimilating/ incorporating and utilizing both
internal and external resources towards the functioning of the organizational unit and
sustaining in the long run, for which a manager has high degree of responsibility.
Therefore effective manager is expected to work as an optimizer by focusing on low
waste and high goal attainment

➢ What are the important methods of Executive Development?

❖ Peter Drucker defines it as, “An institution that cannot produce its own managers will die.
From an overall point of view, the ability of an institution to produce a manager is more
important than its ability to produce goods efficiently and cheaply”.
According to Flippo, Executive development includes the process by which managers
and executives acquire not only skills and competency in their present job but also
capabilities for future managerial tasks of increasing difficulty and scope.

➢ Executive Development is an ongoing process that helps managers gain knowledge, skills
and abilities to handle current situations in a more efficient manner and get matured to
handle future challenges successfully.

➢ Executive development is also known as management development. It is one of the

fastest developing areas in personnel. It is realized that an effective management team
may be as important to the survival of an organization as any tangible item on the
balance sheet.

❖ Objectives of Executive Development-

4 major objectives of executive development are:
➢ Sustain in a dynamic and competitive environment
➢ Ensure competent staff at all levels
➢ Develop leaders
➢ Executive Career Growth
➢ Risk can always be associated with loss. Analyses the statement.
➢ Risk is made up of two parts: the probability of something going wrong, and the
negative consequences if it does.
➢ Risk can be hard to spot, however, let alone to prepare for and manage. And, if you're
hit by a consequence that you hadn't planned for, costs, time, and reputations could be
on the line. Similarly, overestimating or overreacting to risks can create panic, and do
more harm than good.
➢ This makes Risk Analysis an essential tool. It can help you to identify and understand the
risks that you could face in your role. In turn, this helps you to manage these risks, and
minimize their impact on your plans.
➢ By approaching risk in a logical manner you can identify what you can and cannot
control , and tackle potential problems with measured and appropriate action. This can
then help to alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety, both in and outside of work.In this
article and video, we look at how you can identify and estimate risks. You will then learn
how a strategy of avoiding, sharing, accepting, and controlling can help you to manage
risk effectively.
➢ Risk analysis is useful in many situations:
➢ When you're planning projects, to help you to anticipate and neutralize possible
problems.
➢ When you're deciding whether or not to move forward with a project.
➢ When you're improving safety and managing potential risks in the workplace.
➢ When you're preparing for events such as equipment or technology failure, theft, staff
sickness, or natural disasters.
➢ When you're planning for changes in your environment, such as new competitors
coming into the market, or changes to government policy.

➢ Briefly explain the Approaches to Leadership.

❖ Introduction to Leadership Approaches-
➢ In a recent blog entry an overview was provided of some of the more common
leadership theories. It resulted in a lively discussion about the role that these concepts
should play for people that are in positions of leadership, or for individuals that work
with leaders as consultants, coaches, human resource partners, and so on. My plan is to
revisit these theories in more depth at some point in the future. For now I would like to
spend some time examining a number of approaches to leadership (aka leadership
models). These approaches, while no doubt grounded in one or more theories of
leadership, can be distinguished from theories in that they attempt to place the
 concepts into more applied frameworks. That is, they attempt to describe leadership
theories in a way that is meant to facilitate the application of the ideas.
❖ The Seven Approaches to Leadership-
➢ I am planning to spend some time reviewing and critiquing the following seven
leadership approaches/models:
➢ Transformational
➢ Charismatic
➢ Authentic
➢ Servant
➢ Dynamical
➢ Adaptive
➢ Strategic
➢ This list is not exhaustive of the different frameworks that could be considered
legitimate leadership approaches or models. Some of these approaches (e.g.
transformational leadership) are typically considered full-fledged leadership theories in
their own right. And some of the frameworks (e.g. strategic leadership) might be
viewed more as a specific leadership competency or leadership role rather than a
framework. I happen to think that these seven are some of the legitimate contenders
for categorization as distinct approaches to leadership.
➢ Managers should concentrate on results, not on being busy. Describe.
➢ If you listen to executives, they’ll tell you that the resource they lack most is time. Every
minute is spent grappling with strategic issues, focusing on cost reduction, devising
creative approaches to new markets, beating new competitors. But if you watch them,
here’s what you’ll see: They rush from meeting to meeting, check their e-mail
constantly, extinguish fire after fire, and make countless phone calls. In short, you’ll see
an astonishing amount of fast-moving activity that allows almost no time for reflection.

❖ Focus and Energy-

➢ Managers are not paid to make the inevitable happen. In most organizations, the
ordinary routines of business chug along without much managerial oversight. The job of
managers, therefore, is to make the business do more than chug—to move it forward in
innovative, surprising ways. After observing scores of managers for many years, we
came to the conclusion that managers who take effective action (those who make
difficult—even seemingly impossible—things happen) rely on a combination of two
traits: focus and energy.
❖ The Procrastinators-
➢ Of the managers we studied, some 30% suffered from low levels of both energy and
focus; we call these managers the procrastinators. Although they dutifully perform
routine tasks—attending meetings, writing memos, making phone calls, and so on—
they fail to take initiative, raise the level of performance, or engage with strategy.
➢ Some procrastinators hesitate, Hamlet-like, until the window of opportunity for a
project has closed. At Lufthansa, for instance, the manager who was charged with
developing an internal survey delayed beginning the project until the deadline passed. “I
could have done [the work],” he admits, “but for some reason, I could not get started.”
The nearer the deadline loomed, the more he busied himself on other projects,
rationalizing that he couldn’t turn to this task until he cleared his desk of less important
jobs.
❖ The Disengaged-
➢ Roughly 20% of managers fall into the disengaged category; they exhibit high focus but
have low levels of energy. Some of these managers are simply exhausted and lack the
inner resources to reenergize themselves. Others feel unable to commit to tasks that
hold little meaning for them. Disengaged managers have strong reservations about the
jobs they are asked to do; as a result, they approach them halfheartedly.

➢ Many managers in this group practice a form of denial we call “defensive avoidance”:
Rather than acknowledging a problem and taking steps to correct it, they convince
themselves that the problem doesn’t exist. Plenty of denial was at play when Lufthansa
stood at the brink of bankruptcy in 1992. Even though the entire industry faced a severe
downturn and Lufthansa was losing revenue, these managers ignored or reinterpreted
market signals, convincing themselves that the company’s expansionist strategy was
correct. Many of them continued to hire new employees in the face of massive
operating losses.