IGNOU MMPC-001 December 2022 Previous Year Question Paper

Q1.Describe and discuss various functions of management and the challenges encountered for organisational effectiveness.

Q2.Briefly discuss the steps involved in planning process and its necessity. What is Management by Objectives and what are its benefits ? Explain.

Q3.Describe time and motion study and its advantages. How does Architectural Ergonomics impact the efficiency and productivity of the workers ?

Q4.What is the importance of controlling function in an organisation ? Briefly explain the process of control in an organisation.

Q5.Write short notes on any three of the following :

(a) Economic Model of Decision-making

(b) Scalar Principle

(c) Importance of Communication

(d) Organisational Culture

(e) Resistance to Change

Q6.Read the following case carefully and answer the questions given at the end : The ABC Manufacturing Company is a metal working plant under the direction of a Plant Manager who is known as a strict disciplinarian. One day a foreman noticed Bhola, one of the workers at the time -clock punching out two cards, his own and t he card o f Nathu, a fellow worker. Since it was the rule of the company that each man must punch out his own card, the foreman asked Bhola to accompany him to the Personnel Director, who interpreted the incident as a direct violation of a rule and gave immediate notice of discharge to both workers. The two workers came to see the Personnel Director on the following day. Nathu claimed innocence on the ground that he had not asked for his card to be punched and did not know at the time that it was being punched. He had been offered a ride by a friend who had already MMPC-001 4 punched out and who could not wait for him to go through the punch -out procedure. Nathu was worried about his wife who was ill at home and was anxious to reach home as quickly as possible. He plan ned to take his card to the foreman the next morning for reinstatement, a provision sometimes exercised in such cases. These circumstances were verified by Bhola. He claimed that he had punched Nathu’s card the same time he punched his own, not being conscious of any wrongdoing. The Personnel Director was inclined to believe the story of the two men but did not feel he could reverse the action taken. He recognized that these men were good workers and had good records prior to this incident. Nevertheless, they had violated a rule for which the penalty was immediate discharge. He also reminded them that it was the policy of the company to enforce the rule without exception. A few days later the Personnel Director, the Plant Manager, and the Sales Manager s at together at lunch. The Sales Manager reported that he was faced with the necessity of notifying one of their best customers that his order must be delayed because of the liability of one department to conform to schedule. The department in question was t he one from which the two workers had been discharged. Not only had it been impossible to replace these men to date, but disgruntlement over the incident had led to significant decline in the cooperation of the other workers. The Personnel Director and th e Sales Manager took the position that the discharge of these two valuable men could have been avoided if there had been provision for considering the circumstances of the case. They pointed out that the incident was costly to the company in the possible loss of a customer, in the dissatisfaction within the employee group, and in the time and MMPC-001 6 money that would be involved in recruiting and training replacements. The Plant Manager could not agree with this point of view. "We must have rules if we are to have efficiency; and the rules are no good unless we enforce them. Furthermore, if we start considering all these variations in circumstances, we will find ourselves loaded down with everybody thinking he is an exception." He admitted that the grievance s were frequent but countered with the point that they could be of little consequence if the contract agreed to by the Union was followed to the letter. Questions :

(a) Identify the core issues in the case.

(b) Place yourself in the position of the Personnel Director. Which of the following courses of action would you have chosen and why ?

(i) Would you have discharged both men ?

(ii) Would you have discharged Bhola only ?

(iii) Would you have discharged Nathu only ?

(iv) Would you have discharged neither of them ? Justify your choice of decision.

(c) What policy and procedural change s would you recommend for handling such cases in the future ?