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Technology And Innovation Management (April 2011) Question Paper
Technology And Innovation Management (April 2011)
Course:Bachelor Of Commerce
Institution: Kca University question papers
Exam Year:2011
1
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2010/2011
SECOND YEAR EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
COMMERCE
CMS 202: TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT
DATE: APRIL 2011 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO questions
The impact of technology on developing countries
Over the last 20 years or more, mobile telecommunications and the internet have made great leaps
forward. Vodafone is a market leader in opening up access to people and information around the globe
24 hours a day. The connectivity provided by mobile phone technology supports economic
development. Its impact on a developing country like Kenya has been extremely positive. Many
families live in vast, remote areas of the countryside. Installing landlines over those distances is
expensive and difficult.
Families are often separated as the main earners are forced to live and work in the townships in order
to earn enough to keep their families. Many are self-employed small farmers or trades people such as
plumbers and builders. For small businesses, better access to mobile technology means that they can
advertise to a wider audience and do not have to rely for work on word-of-mouth. They can be sure
that clients can contact them with ease.
Vodafone in partnership with Safaricom also recognised the need to improve the movement and
security of money to allow small businesses to grow. As a solution, Vodafone set up M-PESA (literally
'mobile money') working with funding from the Financial Deepening Challenge Fund (FDCF). This is
a UK fund established to aid international development.
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A mobile network is quick and easy to install and less expensive to run than landlines. M-PESA
provides a simple, secure, low-cost money transfer system: There are over 2,200 M-PESA registered
agents in petrol stations, supermarkets and other retail bases across Kenya and five million subscribers.
The service has lots of benefits. For example M-PESA has helped small businesses such as taxi drivers
by enabling them to receive money for fares without having to drive around with lots of cash in their
cars. The service was particularly helpful during a recent conflict in the country as it helped people to
transfer money safely. M-PESA has also been used to buy everyday items, as well as to pay the rent,
send funds to other people or buy phone airtime. It has even been used to pay school fees, as secondary
schooling is not 'free' in Kenya. By providing safe, secure transfer of money, Vodafone's M-PESA
system has:
• helped small businesses become more financially secure
• provided a safe way for wage earners to send money back home to their families
• solved the problems of carrying around large amounts of cash
QUESTION ONE
[i] M-Pesa is a money transfer technology. Define the concept technology in relation to the case study
above. [2Marks]
[ii] Describe the three key components that one would use in carrying out an assessment of a
technology product like M-Pesa [6Marks]
[iii] Define giving examples, the three types of innovation [6Marks]
[iv] What stage of product adoption is the M-Pesa technology in Kenya at? Justify your answer
[10Marks]
[v] Is Vodafone a learning organisation? Explain your answer [6 Marks]
QUESTION TWO
[i] Evaluate the role of government policy in the growth of technology in Kenya [10Marks]
[ii] Explain the factors that have aided the diffusion of the money transfer service technology in Kenya
[10Marks]
QUESTION THREE
[i]Explain how the management at Vodafone can grow a robust innovation culture in the organization
[10Marks]
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[ii]Evaluate the impact mobile money transfer technology on the Kenyan commercial and social scenes
[10Marks]
QUESTION FOUR
[i] How can Vodafone manage the introduction of new technology in future [10Marks]
[ii]Explain the methods of enhancing creativity among the youth [10Marks]
QUESTION FIVE
[i] Explain the functions of a technology and innovation department in an organisation like Vodafone
[10Marks]
[ii] Intellectual property management plays a key role in the success of technological innovation.
Discuss this statement with reference to mobile money transfer [10Marks]
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