Hcba 3110: Strategic Management Question Paper
Hcba 3110: Strategic Management
Course:Master Of Business Administration
Institution: Jomo Kenyatta University Of Agriculture And Technology question papers
Exam Year:2012
W1-2-60-1-6
JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2011/2012
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
HCBA 3110: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
DATE: APRIL 2012 TIME: 3 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer question ONE and any other THREE questions
QUESTION ONE
CASE STUDY
When Maria Bellisario became director and CEO of ITALTEL, a state owned telecommunications equipment manufacturer in Italy, the company was in trouble, high losses, large debts, insufficient research and development and an overstaffed unionized organization. Multinational companies had entered the Italian market, but fortunately since ITALTEL was a state owned company, the government was trying to protect it among other domestic companies. Ms.Bellisario took some major steps to turn the company around and to improve productivity. Here are some examples of the new direction;
i. Restructuring the organization into business units which was accomplished through open communication and cooperation with the union.
ii. Leading the company into dynamic management information systems which required retraining of employees.
iii. Developing a programme to upgrade low skilled women in the workforce
iv. Pushing for intra European cooperation with the companies in France, England and Germany.
v. Improving efficiency through innovation of products and manufacturing process.
Required:
a. Identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for ITALTEL telecommunications. (7marks)
b. Assuming Ms.Bellisario had consulted you to make a strategic decision for this company, illustrates the strategic management process that you could follow and briefly explaining the steps. (7 marks)
c. Lewin’s has come up with three steps model of managing change. How could the organization apply this model to manage its change processes without affecting the running of the business? (6 marks)
d. Strategies are formulated in three (3) main levels that form the “Hierarchy of strategy.”Discuss the composition of the hierarchy of strategy in relation to the above case highlighting major responsibilities at each level. (5 marks)
e. How can Ms.Bellisario evaluate the success of strategic decision that she makes for this company? Illustrate. (5 marks)
Question Two
A nation’s competitiveness is very important more so in the present global economic world with a very volatile business competition. Michael Porter has given the diamond model as a tool to measure the nation’s competitiveness. With a clear illustration discuss in detail the application of Professor Michael Porter’s Diamond model in the Kenya’s vision 2030, and how Kenya will be expected to become competitive globally. (10 marks)
Question Three
a. The role of careful formulated strategies is quite significant in all types of organizations business or non-business, public or private sector, large or small, in developed countries or underdeveloped countries. Explain the four main roles of a strategy. (5 marks)
b. Managers must be trained to avoid the risks of unintended negative consequences involved in strategy formulation and implementation. What are the consequences? 5 marks
Question four
a. When talking of situational analysis, industry analysis and competition analysis are the two main factors that require an in- depth analysis. Explain these two situations.2 marks
b. ABC limited, a newly established company could want to open a local detergent manufacturing plant in Kenya by mid 2012.You have been appointed a consultant to help the company conduct an industry and competition analysis .Discuss the main issues or activities that you could analyze in order to understand the detergent industry, competition level and structure in Kenya with the help of the five forces model.8 marks
Question five
a. To identify the competitive position of an organization, one can use life cycle analysis. With relevant illustrations discuss the life cycle analysis model indicating demand and supply condition. 5 marks
b. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) tool matrix is one of the tools used in product portfolio analysis. Clearly illustrate and explain the analogy of the BCG matrix. 5 marks
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