MN2177

Core Management Concepts

Supplementary Sample Examination Paper (2018)

Please note that some of these questions overlap. The aim of this sample paper is to
focus on the areas of the syllabus that were updated for 2017-18. There are thus two
questions on marketing and two on management science, as these are the areas that
have been most updated. This is not reflective of the real exam, where it would be
incredibly unlikely for you to find two questions on either marketing or management
science.


Time allowed: Three hours

Candidates should answer FOUR of the following EIGHT questions. TWO
questions from Section A, and TWO questions from Section B. All questions
carry equal marks.

Section A

1. How useful is trait theory for explaining what leaders do? You should use
other relevant leadership theories and concepts to justify your answer.

2. Define what is meant by the term ‘security asset class’. Why might a
company’s investment manager want to invest a firm’s funds in a variety
of different asset classes?

3. Critically evaluate the usefulness of financial monitoring in the
divisionalised firm. Will financial monitoring provide a complete picture
of a division’s health?

4. How can queuing theory be used to improve firm practice? What are
some of the limitations of this management science technique?

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Section B

1. How has the ‘information revolution’ had an impact on the development
of management science? You should present at least two examples of the
contemporary use of management science in the workplace.

2. Explain some of the ways in which a firm’s structure can act as a barrier
to it achieving what it would like to. Provide possible ways to overcome
these barriers, using examples to illustrate your answer.

3. Discuss three key marketing decisions that a children’s clothing
manufacturer will have to make with regard to deciding which products
to develop and sell. You should make use of relevant marketing theory to
structure your answer.

4. ‘Marketing has no value in a perfectly competitive market’. Discuss this
statement, ensuring that you provide a clear explanation of ‘perfectly
competitive market’ within your answer.

End of paper

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