Answer ALL questions from SECTION A (multiple choice) and TWO questions out of four from SECTION B

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA Norwich Business School Main Series UG Examination INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS NBS-4008Y Time allowed: 2 hours Answer ALL questions from SECTION A (multiple choice) and TWO questions out of four from SECTION B ALL questions in Section A carry EQUAL marks (Total 20%) ALL questions in Section B carry EQUAL marks (Total 80%) Section A answers MUST be completed on the separate answer grid provided on PAGE 7. Select one answer unless otherwise specified. Example below: EXAMPLE ONLY Question A B C D 1 2 NOTE - Only clearly identifiable answers will be marked Section B answers MUST be completed in the answer book provided ANSWERS for Section A and Section B MUST be attached together at the end of the exam with the tag provided Notes are not permitted in this examination Do not turn over until you are told to do so by the Invigilator NBS-4008Y Module Contact: Dr Dimitrios Dousios, NBS Copyright of the University of East Anglia Version 1

2 Page 2 SECTION A Answers MUST be completed on the separate answer grid provided on PAGE Which of the following is a characteristic of centralisation? a) Decisions are taken by those at the top of the vertical hierarchy b) Staff are given autonomy to make their own decisions c) All managers make decisions d) A large number of the decisions are taken by those at divisional or operating level 2. Select TWO examples of foreign direct investment: a) Exporting overseas b) Internet selling to international customers c) Setting up a new production unit overseas d) Partnering an overseas company 3. Which is not a main method of engaging in international business? a) Licencing b) Exporting c) Importing d) Investing on foreign stock markets 4. Which of the following was not suggested as a potential benefit for the socially responsible organisation? a) Being more robust in times of recession b) Attracting ethical investors c) Recruiting and retaining motivated employees d) Creating markets for environmentally friendly process technologies 5. Which statement is not true of entrepreneurs? a) They generally stick to the processes already in use b) They are agents of change c) They take risks d) They apply innovative ideas

3 Page 3 6. PESTLE, used as an acronym to help describe an organisation s environmental context, stands for: a) Practical, Essential, Statutory, Transient, Learning, Engagement b) Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environmental c) Processes, Essences, Structures, Templates, Limits, Escapes d) Political, Environmental, Social, Temporal, Local, Expedient 7. Which of the following is a stage of the product life cycle? a) Growth b) Emergence c) Revealing d) Repackaging 8. E-business actually stands for: a) Any electronically mediated communication between an organisation and its stakeholders b) An organisation using electronic media to sell direct to its customers c) An organisation using electronic media to purchase from to its suppliers d) Electronic business 9. Which would be the best description of e-commerce? a) An organisation using electronic media to purchase from to its suppliers b) The use of electronic communications for all business processes c) An organisation using electronic media to sell direct to its customers d) All of the above 10. Buy-side e-commerce refers to: a) An organisation using electronic media to sell direct to its customers b) The use of electronic communications for all business processes c) Any electronically mediated communication between an organisation and its stakeholders d) E-commerce transactions between a purchasing organisation and its suppliers TURN OVER

4 Page Which of the following is a cost efficiency driver for e-business? a) Reduced operating costs b) Increasing speed with which supplies can be obtained c) Increasing speed with which goods can be dispatched d) All of the above 12. Twitter belongs in which category of website? a) Media or publisher site b) Social network c) Brand-building website d) Transactional website 13. Which of the following describes social media marketing? a) Creating and managing long-term arrangements to promote online services on third party websites b) Using online ads such as banners to achieve brand awareness c) Monitoring and facilitating customer-customer interaction and participation through the web to encourage engagement with a company and its brands d) None of the above 14. In digital marketing, PPC stands for: a) Pay per click b) Pay per consumer c) Personal protocol choice d) Public promotion click 15. E-government does not provide: a) The ability to gather taxes more efficiently b) Facilities for dissemination of information and online services at local and national levels c) The facility to securely communicate between governments and government departments d) An interface for government selling

5 Page The scope of human resource management includes: a) Procurement b) Development c) Compensation d) All of the above 17. What are the sources of innovation a) Accidents and the unexpected b) Market-based need pull c) International knowledge push d) All of the above 18. What are the types of innovation in terms of market impact? a) Disruptive innovation b) Position innovation c) Paradigm innovation d) Sustaining innovation 19 Which TWO of the following are NOT entrepreneurial skills? a) Using established management practices b) Identifying opportunities c) Creating solutions d) Imitating 20. Which of the following is a part of Porter s Generic Competitive Strategy framework? a) Cost Leadership b) Competitiveness c) Innovativeness d) Situation leadership TURN OVER

6 Page 6 SECTION B: Answer TWO questions from this section. Answers MUST be completed in the answer book provided. (This section constitutes 80% of the marks. Each question is worth 40%). 21. What are Information Systems and why are they so central to businesses? Justify your answer with examples and state any assumptions you have made. 22. Define search engine marketing and discuss different types of search engine advertising. 23. Workers dislike work and can be motivated by fear of losing their job or by extrinsic reward. Discuss the impact of motivation of employees using motivation theories to support your discussion. 24. Outline and discuss factors that contribute to the increase in the number of small businesses. END OF PAPER

7 Page 7 Student Registration Number: Section A - Answer Grid Section A answers MUST be completed on the answer grid. Please select one answer unless otherwise specified. Question A B C D

8 Page 1 Introduction to Business NBS-4008Y Generic Exam Feedback Students performed well in the exam with only five failed scripts. The vast majority prepared well, with answers structured in a manner suggested in the exam preparation sessions. Multiple choice test performance (Section A) was satisfactory with an average of 13/20. The kahoot in-class exercises definitely helped. First class scripts wrote in a structured, coherent manner applying theory and linking theory to examples. 2:1 scripts addressed the main points as requested but lacked depth and sophistication expected from a 1 st class exam script. Weaker scripts were rather broad and descriptive. Failed scripts did not address the topic at all. Section B 1. What are Information Systems and why are they so central to businesses? Justify your answer with examples and state any assumptions you have made. Generally students addressed that question in satisfactory detail. Most scripts provided a definition of IS. Information Systems are systems comprising people, data, software, hardware, procedures and controls to produce information from data to allow those decision makers the information they need at various levels of the organisation. However, more detail in terms of the value of IS as a business resource (enhancing organisational potential to create opporutnities, change business practices and reduce costs) would be beneficial. Examples should be further elaborated for a better outcome. 2. Define search engine marketing and discuss different types of search engine advertising. Performance could be better in this question. Confusing use of what is search engine marketing it is NOT e-commerce or e-marketing! Search engine marketing refers to the use of search engines to build and sustain brands. Search engine advertising, refers to the use of search engines to support direct sales to online consumers. Most scripts provided an overview of both and good use of examples. However, the exam question required detail in different types of search engine advertising (e.g. organic, pay per click, keyword advertising) as per lecture slides. 3. Workers dislike work and can be motivated by fear of losing their job or by extrinsic reward. Discuss the impact of motivation of employees using motivation theories to support your discussion. Some well prepared answers in this question. Students provided good application of a number of theories such as McGregor s X&Y, motivation theory and the extrinsic reward such as money or promotion as positive drivers of behaviour and performance. Some very good answers also discussed theories such as Hertzberg, Maslow, McClelland, Hawthorne studies to argue the case that other factors are more influential in long term motivation.

9 Page 2 4. Outline and discuss factors that contribute to the increase in the number of small businesses. Mixed performance with this question. Most answers provided a definition of entrepreneurship and small business (it is according to the EU definition of small firms) but a good number of answers did not provide explanatory detail on the role of technology for providing access to a range of enterprise opportunities. In principle, good answers discussed e-commerce, social media and the proliferation of Information Technology and provided examples. More emphasis was required on the growing diversity in enterprise activity, downsizing and outsourcing practices as well. There were some answers that used the PEST framework to explain the increase in the number of small businesses and this was incorrect! Marking Guide For All Questions: First (70%+): The answer includes a conclusive list of identified factors and discussion of them, as well as references to relevant theories, studies, and / or current debates. Finally, the use of applications business examples, relevant policies and / or references from newspapers, current affairs programmes etc. are also expected for a FIRST grade. 2.1 (60% - 69%): The answer includes a comprehensive list of identified factors and discussion of them, as well as some references to relevant theories, studies, and / or current debates. In addition, providing one or two business examples, relevant policies and / or references from newspapers, current affairs programmes etc. 2.2 (50% - 59%): The answer includes some identified factors and discussion of them, as well as few references to relevant theories, studies, and / or current debates. In addition, providing one business examples, relevant policies and / or references from newspapers, current affairs programmes etc. Third (40% - 49%): The identified factors and discussion is limited, very few references to relevant theories, studies, and / or current debates are provided and very few business examples, relevant policies and / or references from newspapers, current affairs programmes etc are given. Fail (0% - 39%): The identified factors and discussion are substantively or wholly missing, no references to relevant theories, studies, and / or current debates are provided and no business examples, relevant policies and / or references from newspapers, current affairs programmes etc are given. A failure to understand the question is progressively relevant as the mark declines.