Sample answers for the POM Final Test

Sample  POM Question Paper 

Dear Management Trainees ! !

It is my belief that examinations can be made interesting to the learners.

It is also possible to create loads of information through routine media of examinations. Every time hundreads of studens are writting examnations. Why not use the same media to crate loads and loads of informaiton pertaining to a subject / course ? It is quite possible.

In reality, the system of examinations CAN not only test the learning of the students but it can  create wealth of information  which can be useful to many successive students. Information thus created out of examinations  can be boon for  all those unfortunate majority of people who could not afford education and could not join the academic system.

In pursuit of this, I made a policy for my self, where  PREVIOUS year exam papers that are used will be shared and published as blogs. This is done so as to make the students to develop an idea  on how to PREPARE  for the final examinations.

In this blog post, I have published THREE previous question papers. As a sample, answers to one / two questions are given to the readers. The idea is to inform the student on  how to right answers; and how to write them.. 

Q. No. 1: 

a)      Discuss the  differences  if any in the contributions made by  the management thinkers viz., F W Taylor, Max Weber, and Henry Fayol  to the discipline of  Management. 

The three management thinkers viz., Taylor, Weber, Fayol have contributed THREE different aspects related to the discipline of MANAGEMENT.  It is surprising that although three different thinkers have contributed different aspects, and all the three aspects are related and together becomes whole  for achieving managerial excellence in organizations.  These three aspects do not CONFLICT each other rather COMPLEMENT each other in managing organizations. 

Taylor contribution was focused on  assembly line / Shop floor. His focus was - the work, worker, tools for working, methods of work, work performance, comfort in working, methods of  payment of wages etc. 

Fayol focused on creating right kind of organization. Focus here is management and managers. 14 principles of Fayol lead to emergence to build modern organizations. Organizations became reality  when 14 principles are put to action. 

Weber again focused on management of organizations. Here the focus was on Bureaucracy - Rules and Rules  for better management of organizations.Rules pervade whole of organizations.

 b) Discuss  the application of the theories proposed by these management thinkers in   managing ‘ Valley Crossing’ exercise you have participated  in POM Class .

Taylor:

Training of the members for the task roles 
Developing role description for each of the members

Method study and written procedure for valley crossing  

Weber

Norms of behaviour among the members 

Fayol 

Valley crossing involves only three members. and there is no place for mangers . Hence much of management is taken care of the members only. Fayol ideas of management comes into effect when  organizations grow and they become larger and larger.

 

Q. No. 2 :  

a)      What is Theory X and Theory  Y Management?  

 Theory X and Theory Y is ..

b) Explain   how  you to make use of the knowledge the Theory X  and Theory Y in managing the Valley Crossing exercise ? 

 Theory X and Y comes in to play on account of the assumptions the members hold for their colleagues. Team members may assume that other members are  regressive, work inhibiting, un trust worthy, less competent,  and demotivating ones.  Here, Theory X management comes into play.

 On the other hand, when valley crossing team members assume that their colleagues are progressive, proactive, work promoting and trust worthy  then Theory Y Management comes into play.

The way the members will work together will vary depending upon their assumptions. if they hold Theory X assumptions .. the working style will be - 



On the other hand, they hold Theory Y assumptions the working methods will be -

Three Monks in Budhist Monastry - Learnng Management

Three Monks in Budhist Monastry - 

Learning Management lessons from this film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_V4PnqIkUc

 Here is a  Chinese Saying: 

 " One monk will shoulder two buckets of water. 
Two monks will share the load, 
but add a third and no one will want to fetch water" . 

This saying is made into 12 min. video film available on You Tube.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_V4PnqIkUc

This  film can be used to teach Management related concepts to MBA students very well. This film was used by Dr Mandi, a faculty member at NITIE Mumbai for teaching his MBA students @ NITIE during June - Sep 2012 as part of a course called Principles of Organisaiton and Management .

Purpose of the present blog is to..
give an idea of how the film can be used as a method of learning. . 

 

It is also our experience that there is danger in the film that  audience ( who cannot think innovatively ) come to  IRRELEVANT and USELESS  conclusions afrer seeing this film.There is need to train the MBA audience to understand the film in its proper perspective.

Some IRRELEVANT conclusions that people may MISUNDERSTAND are listed below. 

 
1. People by their very nature shirk responsibilities. People do not cooperate with other members.

2. When DANGERS / UNFORTUNATE situations are in the offing,  people try to cooperate.

3. More and more people come together, result is chaos, and damage. so more people should not come together..

4. Design organisation and its systems  for the people that are on hand. 

In reality, these conclusions are FALSE. The film does NOT share these conclusions. 

Above conclusions  reflect Theory X mind set of the audiences. 

Thinking innovatively, the film try to campaign absolutely different  things. 

Learning Objectives for the film are :

• Concept of  managerial excellence
•  
• Appropriate, Safe, and Efficient work methods  & trying to plan  higher productivity
•  
• Importance of Innovation
•  
• True and Innate nature of human behavior  -  Positive and Productive behavior of monks in the story
• 
  
• There are many ways effective work methods can be designed so as to harness  the human potential

Some of the guiding questions for the students

• Productivity measurement and productivity enhancement
• Work process designing and  redesign
• Need for Innovation 
• Member roles, responsibilities
• People with different personalities and their relevance for HRM in the context of organization
• Orgnisational behavior  - Behavior of employees with reference to  given  work methods 
• Innovating range of innovative  work methods

Team Work Film -  POM student Assignment: 

1. Students are asked to see the film.  They are made to think what they understand while seeing the film and after seeing the film. 

2.  Students are encouraged to discuss the film and its contents.

3.  There are number of blogs written  by your senior students on this film.. You can visit their blogs if you want to do..

                                    Some suggested blogs your seniors ( IM 19 ) wrote : . 

 http://pomcourse2012.blogspot.in/p/student-blogs.html

There are 100 plus blogs listed here.. 

Some suggestions for Effective Reflections:

• While analyzing the film POM students need to limit themselves to the contents that is given in the film ONLY. 
• It is advised to avoid to bring in certain information that is not shown ( outside,  unnecessary , irrelevant things )  in the film. 

Additionial information: MBA students need to know about Work, power, and its measurement.
This film give below enhance the student understanding of the tools to use..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDK2p1QbPKQ&feature=related


Some important LEARNING POINTS  that  students need to engage themselves. They are .   .   .

1. In the film THREE monks are shown to be of three different sizes / temperament   ( personalities )  -  Short, Long, and Fatty.  What is the significance of this  in the context of modern business organization?

Why three characters cannot be made in to O N E size all ?

How this point is related to a situation where in all kinds of people coexist in most of the  modern  large business organisations  that we come across ? Think and write your answer.

2. In the film, it was shown that  three monks have come across THREE different  creatures ( Tortoise, Honey bee, and a fish )  on their way to the monastery. They  dealt with these THREE creatures in their different / own ways.

Could you notice  what each monk has done for  each of the creatures that he came across ? What is the significance of each of the acts by the monks? has it got any relevance  for the theme of the film ... Team Work ?

3. What are the possible methods of getting water ? List them

When ONLY ONE person is there:

• Method I  - One person getting ONE bucket of water by carrying on head.( This method is NOT shown in the film. However, one imagine this method also....
• Method II - One person getting TWO buckets of water with the help of a pole and trying to hand TWO buckets two sides of the pole.  

 When TWO  person are there:

•  Method I repeat -  Each of the persons  getting ONE bucket of water by carrying on head. 
• Method II repeat -  Each of the TWO  persons getting TWO buckets of water with the help of a pole and trying to hand TWO buckets two sides of the pole. 
•  Method III -  A pole is arranged and ONE bucket is  hanged in the middle of the pole. Two of the monks working as a team  carry's   ONLY ONE  bucket of water

When THREE  persons are there:

•  Method I repeat 
• Method II repeat 
• Method III repeat 
• Method IV -  Pully is arranged - Three people standing at THREE different points on the hill  - Try to pull out one bucket of water every time.

4. What is the relative efficiency levels of the following methods ?
 

Table -  'Efficiency' levels of various methods - 

A Comparison

1	Situation	1 Monk	1 Monk	2 Monks	3  Monks
2	Method – No.	M I	M II	M III	M IV
	Method – Description	One monk carrying ONE bucket of water on head	One monk carrying TWO  buckets of water on pole hanging two sides	Two monks carrying ONE bucket of water by hanging the bucket in the middle of the pole	Pully – Rope, 3 Monks standing at THREE different roles pulling out ONE bucket water
3	Input – Effort ( Zulu) ..	?	?	?	?
4	Output – Water	1	2	1	Many
5	Productivity ( Output / Input)
6	Rank	?	?	?	?

- Work out the above gaps and arrive at Productivity measurement across methods..

5. In the film  it was shown that the quality of the  prayer by monks  has got changed when they shifted from one method of working  to the other method of working.. ( i.e., getting water) .

Understand the working of the  monks across ( I - IV ) methods:

• Method I  - One person getting ONE buckets of water
•  
• Method I to Method II - Two persons getting one bucket of water
•  
• Method II to Method III - three persons working in tandem getting innumerable number of buckets.
•  
•  Method III to Method IV - three persons working in tandem getting innumerable number of buckets.

6. Arrive at systematic analysis on the factors - Effort , Output ( water buckets ), Productivity, Happiness,

• Method I  - One person getting ONE bucket of water     
•                 - One person getting TWO buckets of water..
•  
• Method I to Method II - Two persons getting one bucket of water
•  
• Method II to Method III - Three persons working in tandem getting innumerable number of buckets.
•  
•  Method III to Method IV - three persons working in tandem getting innumerable number of buckets.

7. Have you noticed ( as shown in the film ) change in the quality of the  prayer by the monks in the work method transformation from Method I - II - III..  Make note of the same.

What is the significance of this aspect for the overall theme of the film ?


8.  In the film,  when second monk joined the first one, there arose a conflict  / fight between them while getting the water from Lake  to Monastry.

Reason  - The basket of water was moving back and forth causing heavy weightage to one and also inconvenience  to both the monks.

Solution: Later on they solved the problem by simply identifying the mid point ( fulcrum)   by tiding the water basket rope. What is the role of Management function in the given below points.

• Why they had a problem in identifying the fulcrum?
• What is the process they followed in marking the fulcrum?
• What is the significance of this act ? 
• What is the learning for MBA students who are supposed to create work methods for the employees and solve the work problems in organisations ?

9. In the film, more than one time a mouse appears. Recall the appearance / contribution  of the mouse.

What is the significance and implications  of showing  the mouse in the film? What is the message MBAs need to take from the appearance of the mouse in the film for the  management of large organizations. 

10. There is clear pattern in the behaviour of monks when the NEW monks join them...

When ever  new monk arrived, senior monks were polite and also good with them. But as time passed by  they  start shirking the work..

Why it happens like that ? What is the significance of such act  ?
What does this mean organizations ?
What is the role of MANAGERS to overcome this kind of sitation ?

What is the message the film try to convey to MBAs with this part of the film ?

11. In the film, the small monk puts the  water in to the flower waze in front of the Budha statue and he was blessed for such noble act ( Note that .....Budha  statue smiles at this stage ! ) .

What does this mean in organisational context ? 

12. However, the same monk when had HICCUPS  ( including other monks ) resort to take back the water from the Budha's  flower waze and  drinks it . This act by the monk made Budha ( as shown in the film ) also surprising.

In the same vein all other monks also resort to take out the water  when they had HICCUPS ( due to eating fruits  during the prayer !) . What is the significance of this part in the management of modern organizations ?

13. In the film it was shown that in a hurry to put off the fire in the monastery  the monks  could not pay sufficient attention to small things. It was shown that the bigger and taller monks walk over the small tortoise causing pain to it.

What is the significance of this part ?
 
14 . When the fire broke off in the monastery,  three monks worked very hard to put off the fire.
What method they followed.. How effective it was ? Evaluate work methods used in URGENCY situation and their efficiency for the organisaitons. 


15. It was shown in the film that in a hurry to through the water one of the monks, picks up the small sized monk and try to throw him in to the fire.

However, fortunately that could not happen. The mistaken Monk could realise and remorse. The  monks realize this blunder and feel sorry for the younger monk who would otherwise thrown off and met with fatal consequences.

What is the significance of this act in the film ?

16. A comparison of work method used in the film are made in the given below table. Try to understand  and get ready to answer some questions.. 

Team Work Film - Work methods comparison:  

 

Items for comparision	Method I	Method II	Method III
1. Members	One Monk	Two Monks	Three Monks
2. Work tools and  work method	Two baskets Long stick hanging two buckets  two ends of the long stick..	One basket Long stick hanging  one bucket in the middle	Three baskets Rope, Kuppe, and pulling water bucket on pulli
3. Input  - Effort by monks  ( Units in Jouls)                  ( Estimated figures)	100 Jouls  ( J)  by One person	< 50 Jouls ( J ) by two persons together	Total effort together by the three monks in this method is almost                          ' INSIGNIFICANT'.
4. Output - Water	2 baskets	One basket	The output ( number of baskets of water )  that the method can fetch is almost   ' SO MUCH WATER'
5. Productivity Measure:            ( Input / Output)	100 J / 2 Buckets  =  50 J per basket of water	< 50 J / 1 Bucket  =  < 50  J per basket of water	Insignificant effort per basket of water
6.Nature of Member  Roles	Independent	Somewhat  Interdependent	Very much Interdependent
7. Monks Life philosophy@ monastery	Life is misery and Death is the solution @ This is evident as shown  in the film the monk is physically exhausted and gets in to  sleep while doing daily  prayer.	Life some how can be managed to make it worth living ..  @ This is evident as shown in the film the monks engage in  more productive prayers. Monks are shown not sleeping as much as they  used to do earlier.	Life is Fun and even monks can have  blissful life..   @ This is evident as shown in the film that the monks  are happy and blissful to work together.

It is suggested that students try to understand the significance of systematic analysis of the work methods so as to understand the MANAGEMENT  learning out of the film.

 17. What are our learnings for specific instances that are shown  in the film - 

1. Small, Long, and fat monks - 
2. Three monks behaving differently  with THREE animals - Tortoise, Honey Bee, and Fish on their way to monastry
3. Initial respect they show and later on they not helping new comers
4. Monks engaging in indiscipline while doing their prayers - Eating fruits while doing the prayer, Taking water fror Budha statue flower waze
5. When disaster struck them - their  working pattern
6.  While throwing the water on to the fire - throwing a small monk in to the fire
7. Disagreement and agreement among the monks in finding  the mid point for the pole to fix the knot
8. Three roles in the final method of working- one filling the water bucket  second pulling up bucket through the pully and the third unloading the water bucket

Learnings : ? ?