PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF MANAGEMENT
Instructions to Candidates:
- This paper contains TWO sections, A and B.
- Answer ALL the questions in Section A and THREE questions from Section B in the answer booklet provided.
- Maximum marks for each part of a question are as shown.
- Candidates should answer the questions in English.
SECTION A (40 marks)
Answer ALL the questions in this section.
- Explain each of the following managerial roles:
- Disturbance handler role.
Answer: The disturbance handler role involves managing and resolving conflicts, disturbances, or crises that arise within an organization. - Spokesperson role.
Answer: The spokesperson role involves representing the organization to external stakeholders by communicating on behalf of the company and providing official information.
- Disturbance handler role.
- With reference to the Behavioral Theory of Management, explain two conclusions made by Elton Mayo from the Hawthorne experiments.
Answer: Elton Mayo concluded that:- Social factors in the workplace, such as feeling valued and recognized, have a significant impact on worker productivity.
- Informal groups within the workplace strongly influence worker behavior and performance.
- Outline four features that may determine the degree of cooperation in an industry.
Answer:- Degree of competition among firms.
- Level of trust between companies.
- Regulatory framework within the industry.
- Availability of resources and mutual benefits for collaboration.
- Highlight four areas in which an organization can apply delegation.
Answer:- Task execution and management.
- Decision-making processes.
- Leadership of specific projects.
- Resource allocation and budgeting.
- State two reasons that may make delegation important to an organization.
Answer:- Helps to free up time for management to focus on strategic activities.
- Empowers employees by giving them responsibility, enhancing their skills and development.
- Outline four principles that should be followed when setting performance standards during the planning process.
Answer:- The standards should be measurable and clear.
- They must be realistic and achievable.
- They should align with organizational objectives.
- There should be a time frame for achieving the standards.
- Highlight four advantages derived from formal communication.
Answer:- Ensures clarity and consistency of information.
- Provides a formal record for future reference.
- Facilitates accountability and responsibility.
- Helps in maintaining a structured flow of information.
- State four factors that may hinder effective communication in an organization.
Answer:- Language barriers.
- Cultural differences.
- Poor listening skills.
- Technological disruptions.
- Outline four reasons that may make training important to an organization.
Answer:- Enhances employee skills and competencies.
- Improves organizational productivity and performance.
- Facilitates employee motivation and job satisfaction.
- Reduces errors and increases work quality.
- Explain the importance of implementing social responsibility activities in an organization.
Answer: Social responsibility enhances a company’s public image, helps attract and retain talent, builds customer trust, and contributes positively to the community and environment.
SECTION B (60 marks)
Answer any THREE questions from this section.
- (a) Explain four ways in which forces of bureaucracy have been incorporated in modern organizations.
Answer:- Clear hierarchical structures with defined roles and responsibilities.
- Standardized procedures and rules for tasks and decision-making.
- Merit-based employment and promotion systems.
- Detailed documentation and record-keeping for accountability.
(b) Outline four roles that are played by a manager in an organization.
Answer:- Planning and organizing resources.
- Leading and motivating employees.
- Controlling and monitoring activities.
- Communicating effectively with stakeholders.
- (a) Explain four external economic conditions that constitute the economic environment of an organization.
Answer:- Inflation rates.
- Interest rates.
- Exchange rates.
- Government fiscal policies.
(b) Outline three measures that an organization may take to improve the effectiveness of decision-making.
Answer:- Incorporating data-driven insights.
- Encouraging collaborative decision-making.
- Implementing feedback mechanisms to evaluate past decisions.
- Explain the differences between how the line organizational structure and the line-staff organizational structure may be applied in an organization.
Answer:- Line structure involves direct authority and clear reporting lines, while line-staff structure incorporates advisory roles alongside the main chain of command.
- Line structure is more rigid, while line-staff allows for specialization and flexibility.
- (a) Explain four factors that may account for the increased popularity of the participative approach to management.
Answer:- It improves employee morale and engagement.
- Facilitates better decision-making through diverse input.
- Enhances innovation and creativity within teams.
- Builds trust between management and employees.
(b) Explain four benefits of using the committee system of decision-making in an organization.
Answer:- Encourages thorough consideration of issues through discussion.
- Promotes shared responsibility and accountability.
- Ensures decisions reflect multiple perspectives.
- Helps in balancing power within the organization.
- (a) Explain the importance of maintaining ethical standards among employees. Outline four measures that an organization may take to uphold ethical standards.
Answer:- Ethical behavior enhances the company’s reputation.
- Reduces legal risks and promotes compliance with laws.
- Builds customer trust and loyalty.
- Fosters a positive work culture.
Measures:
- Implementing a code of ethics.
- Providing regular ethics training.
- Establishing clear reporting channels for misconduct.
- Enforcing disciplinary actions for ethical violations