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 -