UPSC Mains 2024 Management Optional Paper I questions

27 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2024. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Management Optional PYQs

1. Elucidate the three categories of roles which a manager has to perform as suggested by Henry Mintzberg.

   10 marks

2. What are the main sources of resistance to organisational change? Select any two sources and outline the ways of overcoming such resistance. Comment upon the effectiveness of role negotiation as an OD intervention.

3. How do practices like job rotation and job enrichment aid in the raising of employee motivation? Why do organisations find it more difficult to enhance intrinsic motivation than extrinsic motivation for their employees?

   10 marks

4. How are selection criteria identified for a given job validated? How do organisations apply predictive validity and concurrent validity measures?

5. In the emerging scenario of IT enabled work environment, highly dynamic external business environment and changing workforce expectations, what are the future challenges for human resource management? Specify and suggest ways of managing these challenges.

   10 marks

6. Discuss the various types of "Control Mechanisms" a manager can apply in order to take his organization to desired excellence. Suggest ways to overcome resistance to control.

   20 marks

7. "Not only is stress inevitable in modern work life, it is also necessary for human progress in organisations". Critically examine this statement. Distinguish between the levels of functional work stress in terms of their effect on employee behaviour and performance.

   5 marks

8. How do the requisites for successful international human resource management differ from those in case of a domestic organisation? How should the challenge of managing multicultural teams be managed in international organisations?

9. Discuss the key determinants of organisational structure and design. Among the emerging organisational design trends, comment upon the virtual organisation design and learning organisation design formats, briefly explaining the influence of organisational design choices on employee involvement.

   20 marks

10. "Henri Fayol's contributions to the field of management are very distinctive and are highly appreciated". Analyze the statement and explain the 14 principles of Fayol.

11. Training need assessment is one of the most important aspects of planning the training and development system for any organisation. What are the approaches that can be applied for training need assessment in case of a government organisation that is undergoing digital transformation? Describe the instructional strategies that you would recommend once the training needs have been assessed.

    5 marks

12. How do variables like organisational culture and choice of performance criteria affect the design and functioning of a performance management system? What are the types of performance information you would require to effectively carry out performance management for your shop floor workers and your production manager? Critically comment on why the information requirement differs for the two situations.

    20 marks

13. In the present day organisations, which bases of power, coercive or persuasive, have proved to be more effective and why? Support your answer by taking suitable examples. Comment critically upon the desirability of multiplying power in organisations through empowerment.

    5 marks

14. What are the factors of cross-cultural classification a global business manager of a consumer durables company should consider for managing in global environment and being successful to achieve desired profits?

15. How can Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) analysis be used to assess the effect of changes in sales volume, sales price and costs on profitability.

16. What is the significance of the full disclosure principle in GAAP? How does it impact financial statement presentation?

17. Distinguish between 'Total Cash Flow' and 'Incremental Cash Flow.' What are the limitations of Incremental Cash Flow? Also explain the treatment of sunk cost and allocated overheads in cash flows.

18. "Holistic Marketing is a very successful strategy in contemporary marketing". Evaluate the statement. Discuss the different dimensions of Holistic Marketing.

    10 marks

19. As the GM-Marketing of an FMCG company you have to make a 'Marketing Plan' for a new marketing territory. What shall be the various components of marketing plan which you will make for your company in respect of this new territory?

20. A proforma cost sheet of a company provides the following data: The following is the additional information available: Average raw material in stock: one month Credit allowed to debtors: two months Time lag in payment of wages: one and a half weeks Overheads: one month One fourth of the sales are on cash basis. Cash Balance is expected to be ¥,20,000. You are required to prepare a statement showing the working capital needed to finance a level of activity of 70,000 units of output. You may assume that production is carried on evenly, throughout the year and wages and overheads accrue similarly.

    20 marks

21. What is standard costing? How is it used in management accounting? How can a company differentiate between controllable and uncontrollable variances and what strategic actions can be taken based on this distinction?

22. "Well differentiated products create a significant competitive advantage and a distinctive aura for themselves." Analyse the statement and discuss the various attributes on the basis of which products can be successfully differentiated.

23. Sunder Ltd. is planning an expansion programme which will require %30 crores and can be funded through one of the three following options: 1. Issue equity shares of %100 each at par 2. Raise a 15% loan, and 3. Issue 12% preference shares The present paid up capital is %60 crores and the annual EBIT is %12 crores. The tax rate may be taken at 30%. After the expansion plan is adopted, the EBIT is expected to be £15 crores. Calculate the EPS under all the three financing options indicating the alternative giving the highest return to the equity shareholders. Also determine the indifference point between the equity share capital and the debt financing (i.e. option 1 and option 2 above)

24. What is beta in the context of the CAPM? Explain how it measures systematic risk. Discuss the beta values and their implications for asset pricing.

25. What are the key criteria the marketing manager of a company dealing in light motor vehicle (LMV) category should consider for effectively segmenting a market? Discuss the variables under the demographic segmentation. Give examples to support your answer.

    20 marks

26. How would you choose among leasing, leveraged buying and hire-purchase? 6 (ii) Under what conditions 'sale and lease back' is a preferable option?

27. "While managing Marketing Channels issues of Channel Conflicts often occur." In light of this statement, elucidate the types of Channel Conflict. Suggest the mechanisms to manage Channel Conflict.