STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT - UNIVERISITY QUESTION PAPERS FROM 2002 - 2007 Year Qt.No.

Questions Marks Answer any 5 questions Write the mission and vision statements for typically large size organizations. How do these help in the 2007 1 20 strategy formulation ? 2007 2007 2007 2007 2 3 4 5 Corporate Strategy should take into account the diverse interests of all the stakeholders of an organization. Explain. How does the mission and vision get developed? What does the hierarchy of strategy intent mean? Consider any organization in an industry of your choice. Prepare a SWOT analysis for that organization and then suggest on the basis of this analysis what should be its future course of action What are the important aspects that companies must consider before they embark on using diversification as a major growth engine ? A turnaround strategy is used for converting a failed company or a sick company into a successful company. You have been appointed as a consultant to turnaround a failed company or a sick company. Please prepare an action plan to turn around a failed or a sick company (take any company of your choice) What could be the possible reasons for companies to use the Mergers & Acquisitions route ? Please lace your answers with examples from the corporate world. Answer any 5 questions What are the various steps of Strategic Management Process ? Describe the significance of each step. " A vision articulates a position that the firm would like to attain in the distant future" said Ms. Maya. " It is the starting point for any Strategic Management Process ". Please explain the Strategy Management Process and the key elements of this process. Coporate Strategy should take into account the diverse interests of all the stakeholders of an organization. Explain. Explain the terms cost based strategies and niche based strategies Consider any organization in an industry of your choice. Prepare a SWOT analysis for that organization and then suggest on the basis of this analysis what should be its future course of action Prepare a competitor profile for any organization of your choice The BCG growth matrix has long remained an excellent tool for evaluating businesses by any companies. Explain how companies can use this tool to evaluate the strategic options for their various businesses. 20 20 20 20

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2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005

9 10 1 1. a. 1. b. 1. c. 1. d. 1. e. 1. f. 2

2005

A turnaround strategy is used for converting a failed company or a sick company into a successful company. You have been appointed as a consultant to turnaround a failed company or a sick company. Please prepare an action plan to turn around a failed or a sick company (take any company of your choice) What could be the possible reasons for companies to use the Mergers & Acquisitions route ? Please lace your answers with examples from the corporate world. Managing Change is the Hallmark of any successful leader. How do you tackle the process of change management ? Question No. 1 is compulsory, attempt any 4 of the rest of the questions Compare and contrast between following concepts with suitable illustrations (any four) Divestment and Spin off Global and Multi Country Operations Supplier Value Chain and Forward Value Chain Competence and Core Competence Growth Markets and High Velocity Markets Entry Barriers and Exit Barriers "In a rapidly changing economy like India, long range planning is often considered as an exercise of futility." Taking a company of your choice, discuss the pro's and con's of planning exercise. Elaborate the contents of long range planning (LRP) exercise on a particular planning issue of your choice for the above mentioned company "Telecom industry has undergone dramatic changes in the last five years. Several leading private and public sector players are investing heavily in this sector." Do you agree with this statement. How can they achieve sustainable competitive advantage given the fact that they have different levels of experience, levels of entry ? Can they apply Porter's model of generic strategies. What are the strategic objectives apart from shareholder value that can guide companies to go in for Mergers & Acquisitions ? Illustrate your answers with suitable examples from Indian corporate scene.

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4. a.

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4. b. Ellaborate the steps followed in acquistion / take over strategies. "Adoption of outsourcing in manufacturing is one of the key strategic initiatives for your company. This would also mean reducing manufacturing sites and transfer of productionto sourcing partners. Success of this strategy is largely dependent on changes in the mindsets of employees in work practices and 5 environement." As a divisional head, management would like you to initiate this change process. What are the key elements of this process ? What steps you would go through to complete the change process ? "In the recent years, Tata's, Birla's, Reliance have diversified into various business sectors." How do 6. a. you rationalize their diversification options ? What parameters you will use to judge the quality of diversification measures ? 6. b. What are the strategic options available to companies for diversification strategies ?

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"Many FMCG companies are under severe profit erosion in the last 2 years. WTO agreement coming into force effective from 2005 brings in new global brands in Indian market. They need to optimize their resources and investments amongst several businesses and product categories." (a) Discuss this statement in the context of Hindustan Lever Limited or Amul. (b) Using BCG matrix, position the businesses / product categories of any one of the above companies and indicate what strategies you would recommend for various SBU's ? Write short notes on any 3 of the following :

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8. a. Vision & Mission statements 8. 8. 8. 8. b. c. d. e. Balanced Score Card Value Chain Analysis Competitive Capability Analysis Diversification Options Strategic Audit Question No. 1 is compulsory, attempt any 4 of the rest of the questions Compare and contrast between following concepts with suitable illustrations (any four)

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8. f. 1

1. a. Mergers and Amalgamations 1. b. Vision & Mission 1. c. 1. d. 1. e. 1. f. Financial Objectives & Strategic Objectives Competence and Distinctive Competence Embryonic Industries and Fragmented Industries Vertical and Horizontal Integration "India will usher in free economy with provisions of WTO agreements coming into force from 2005." Your M.D. wants the strategic planning group of your company to perform environmental scanning (Industry and Competive Environment) of the emerging scenario. What analytical tools you will use as a part of strategic planning committee to carry out this study ? Illustrate your answer by taking any industry or sector of your choice. Asian Chemicals were operating more as a multi-divisional company. With recession in dye stuff, chemicals and agro chemicals industries, Mr. Sumant Mishra, CMD of the group wants to initiate strategic management process within the group. Please explain the framework and key elements of the process that he should address. Fiat (India) Limited, despite launching three models : Uno. Sienna and Palio within last seven years is facing a crisis in Indian automobile industry. CEO of Fiat would like you to conduct a Strategic Audit for the company. As a management consultant what are the critical questions you would like to cover in the audit process and how will you get information for these questions for making recommendations.

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5. a. What are the techniques available for a company to evaluate different businesses in their portfolio?

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What objectives and assumptions are used for BCG matrix ? Explain the process of creating the matrix and how will you analyze and interpret the movements of businesses within a period of time. Your company in the last 5 years has established its position within the top five players of the industry. You now have a task to challenge the market leader and your management is prepared to support the 6 process. Before creating a strategic plan you need to do detailed situation analysis on company capabilities and resources. Develop a process framework for conducting internal analysis for a company. In SEBI's working papers on "Takeover code regulations on corporate sector in India" it was observed 7 that "Major users of acquisition mechanisms were Indian companies accounting for 85% of the total takeover." What different objectives could have guided the Indian companies for M & A process. Illustrate your 7. a. answers with relevant examples How can companies initiate offensive steps to acquire their target companies and how can target 7. b. companies defend hostile takeovers ? "Success of strategy largely depends on strategy implementation which in turn is dependent on 8 changes in mindset, work practices and culture" Do you agree with this statement and illustrate your answers with situations which typically require 8. a. change management 5. b. 8. b. Enumerate and dicuss the key elements of change process Question No. 1 is compulsory, attempt any 4 of the rest of the questions 1 Distinguish between the following concepts with suitable illustrations (any four) 1. a. Competence and Core Competence 1. b. Offensive and Defensive Strategies in Merger & Acquisition game 1. c. Primary and Secondary Value Chain activities 1. d. Vertical Integration Strategy and Horizontal Integration Strategy 1. e. Global and Multi Country Operations 1. f. Vision and Mission Statements "Planning deals with what you have to do today, to be ready for an uncertain tomorrow." Do you agree with this statement in the context faced by several Indian companies against global competition? As corporate planner of an Indian company create a document for formalizing Strategic Management Process in your company. Please explain the framework and key elements of this process 1. g. High Velocity Markets and Fragmented Markets 2. a. 2. b.

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3. a. What are the key elements of change process ?

3. b. How will you handle the change process in any one of the following situations : Your company wants to go ahead with implementation of ERP package for better inventory 2003 3. b. i. management and JIT

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2 2. a. 2. b. 2. c. 3. a. 3. b. 4. a. 4. b. 5

Your company wants to change incentive systems for sales which are focused more to new / focus products "Mergers & Acquisitions have now become a major corporate restructuring tool in Indian corporate scene." Discuss this statement in relation M&A scenario in India. What are the objectives based on which companies can initiate M&A process. Illustrate your answers with suitable examples. "Effective strategy making begins with a vision of where the organization needs to head." Discuss this statement in the context of elements of vision and how a vision statement is created for an organization. Illustrate your answer with a suitable live example from corporate world. "Global players are entering Indian consumer durables market in a big way with heavy investment." How can they achieve sustainable advantage given the fact that they have different levels of experience, levels of entry ? Can they apply Porter's model of generic strategies. "The success of BCG Portfolio analysis is largely dependent on creation of matrix and analysis and interpretation of movement of business portfolios over a period of time." Illustrate this statement by taking a large diversified or multi-product company of your choice. Indicate how you will vary the strategies amongst Star and Cash Cows on the evaluation? "Deregulation of Insurance sector is a key change in business environment of insurance business." You are retained as a consultant to conduct environment scanning for a new entrant to the insurance sector. What are the different analyses you will carry out for the client ? Question No. 8 is compulsory, attempt any 4 of the rest of the questions Mr. Bharat Kapoor after taking over as CEO of your company realizes that strategic planning exists more as fuctional activity and not at the corporate level. He has entrusted the job to you to create a document for formalizing Strategic Management Process in your company. Please explain the framework and key elements of this process. Your company is a member of a large business group with AAA+ rating from CRISIL. Your company is considering 3 options : Enter insurance sector with a alliance from foreign partner Joint venture with global telecom giant Take a major sick competitor "Success of strategy implementation is largely dependent on the change process in creating ownership for proposed strategies." Do you agree with this statement. What are the key elements of the change process ? How will you handle the change process in rationalization of labour force under modernisation of your plant operations ? "Recent studies in Mergers and Acquisitions in Indian Corporate scenerio clearly indicated lack of positive results at levels of company, but yet corporate India is using M&A as a tool for restructuring their operations." What objectives could guide companies for such initiatives ? How can companies initiate offensive steps to acquire their target companies and how can they defend hostile takeovers ? Liberalisation and Globalisation has virtually changed the industry scenario for financial services sector. Perform external analysis for State Bank of India covering environmental scanning, and five forces model.

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8 8. a. 8. b. 8. c. 8. d. 8. e. 8. f. 8. g.

"Automobile industry in India has undergone a sea change in the last ten years. Several global players are currently investing heavily in this sector." How can they achieve sustainable competitive advantage given the fact that they have different levels of experience, levels of entry ? Can they apply Porter's model of generic strategies. "Many companies are under severe resource contraints. They need to optimize their resource allocation amongst several businesses / products." What models are available for companies to evaluate their business portfolios or strategic business units? Taking one model analyze the businesses / products of a company of your choice and indicate how you will vary the strategies amongst SBU's / products based on the evaluation ? Distinguish between the following concepts with suitable illustrations (any four) Competence and Core Competence Divestment and Demerger Portfolio Management and Restructuring in Diversification Entry Barriers and Exit Barriers Global and Multi Country Operations Joint Venture and Strategic Alliances Declining Markets and Fragmented Markets

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Category Mission & Vision Coporate Strategy Mission & Vision SWOT analysis Diversification Turnaround Strategy Mergers & Acquisitions Strategic Management Process Vision & Strategic Management Process Coporate Strategy Strategies SWOT analysis Competitor's Profile BCG matrix

Turnaround Strategy Mergers & Acquisitions Change Management

Miscellanous Operations Value Chain Competence Markets Barriers Long Range Planning Sustainable Competitive Advantage Mergers & Acquisitions Mergers & Acquisitions

Outsourcing

Diversification Diversification

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Vision & Mission Miscellanous Value Chain Miscellanous Diversification Strategic Audit Mergers & Acquisitions Vision & Mission Objectives Competence Miscellanous Integration Strategic Planning

Strategic Management Process Strategic Audit Techniques

BCG matrix

Strategic Planning

Mergers & Acquisitions Mergers & Acquisitions Change Management Change Management

Competence Mergers & Acquisitions Value Chain Integration Operations Vision & Mission Markets Planning Strategic Management Process Change Management Change Management

Change Management Mergers & Acquisitions Vision Sustainable Competitive Advantage BCG matrix

Environment Scanning

Strategic Management Process Mergers & Acquisitions

Change Management Change Management Mergers & Acquisitions Mergers & Acquisitions Environmental Scanning

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Miscellanous

Competence Miscellanous Miscellanous Barriers Operations Miscellanous Markets

Year 2005 2002

Qt.No. 1. f. 8. d. Barriers Entry Barriers and Exit Barriers Entry Barriers and Exit Barriers

Questions

Marks 5 5

2006

BCG Matrix The BCG growth matrix has long remained an excellent tool for evaluating businesses by any companies. Explain how companies can use this tool to evaluate the strategic options for their various businesses. What objectives and assumptions are used for BCG matrix ? Explain the process of creating the matrix and how will you analyze and interpret the movements of businesses within a period of time. "The success of BCG Portfolio analysis is largely dependent on creation of matrix and analysis and interpretation of movement of business portfolios over a period of time." Illustrate this statement by taking a large diversified or multi-product company of your choice. Indicate how you will vary the strategies amongst Star and Cash Cows on the evaluation?

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Change Management Managing Change is the Hallmark of any successful leader. How do you tackle the process of change 10 management ? Do you agree with this statement and illustrate your answers with situations which typically require 8. a. change management 8. b. Enumerate and dicuss the key elements of change process 3. a. What are the key elements of change process ? Your company wants to go ahead with implementation of ERP package for better inventory 3. b. i. management and JIT Your company wants to change incentive systems for sales which are focused more to new / focus 3. b. ii. products "Success of strategy implementation is largely dependent on the change process in creating ownership 3. a. for proposed strategies." Do you agree with this statement. What are the key elements of the change process ? How will you handle the change process in rationalization of labour force under modernisation of your 3. b. plant operations ? 1. 1. 1. 8. d. d. a. a. Competence Competence and Competence and Competence and Competence and Core Competence Distinctive Competence Core Competence Core Competence

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Competitor's Profile Prepare a competitor profile for any organization of your choice

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2 3

Corporate Strategy Corporate Strategy should take into account the diverse interests of all the stakeholders of an organization. Explain. Coporate Strategy should take into account the diverse interests of all the stakeholders of an organization. Explain. Diversification What are the important aspects that companies must consider before they embark on using diversification as a major growth engine ? "In the recent years, Tata's, Birla's, Reliance have diversified into various business sectors." How do you rationalize their diversification options ? What parameters you will use to judge the quality of diversification measures ? What are the strategic options available to companies for diversification strategies ? Diversification Options Environment Scanning "Deregulation of Insurance sector is a key change in business environment of insurance business." You are retained as a consultant to conduct environment scanning for a new entrant to the insurance sector. What are the different analyses you will carry out for the client ? Liberalisation and Globalisation has virtually changed the industry scenario for financial services sector. Perform external analysis for State Bank of India covering environmental scanning, and five forces model. Integration Vertical and Horizontal Integration Vertical Integration Strategy and Horizontal Integration Strategy Long Range Planning "In a rapidly changing economy like India, long range planning is often considered as an exercise of futility." Taking a company of your choice, discuss the pro's and con's of planning exercise. Elaborate the contents of long range planning (LRP) exercise on a particular planning issue of your choice for the above mentioned company. Markets Growth Markets and High Velocity Markets High Velocity Markets and Fragmented Markets Declining Markets and Fragmented Markets Mergers & Acquisitions Your company is a member of a large business group with AAA+ rating from CRISIL. Your company is considering 3 options :

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"Recent studies in Mergers and Acquisitions in Indian Corporate scenerio clearly indicated lack of positive results at levels of company, but yet corporate India is using M&A as a tool for restructuring their operations." What objectives could guide companies for such initiatives ? How can companies initiate offensive steps to acquire their target companies and how can they defend hostile takeovers ? What could be the possible reasons for companies to use the Mergers & Acquisitions route ? Please lace your answers with examples from the corporate world. What could be the possible reasons for companies to use the Mergers & Acquisitions route ? Please lace your answers with examples from the corporate world. What are the strategic objectives apart from shareholder value that can guide companies to go in for Mergers & Acquisitions ? Illustrate your answers with suitable examples from Indian corporate scene. Ellaborate the steps followed in acquistion / take over strategies. Mergers and Amalgamations What different objectives could have guided the Indian companies for M & A process. Illustrate your answers with relevant examples How can companies initiate offensive steps to acquire their target companies and how can target companies defend hostile takeovers ? Offensive and Defensive Strategies in Merger & Acquisition game "Mergers & Acquisitions have now become a major corporate restructuring tool in Indian corporate scene." Discuss this statement in relation M&A scenario in India. What are the objectives based on which companies can initiate M&A process. Illustrate your answers with suitable examples. Miscellanous Divestment and Spin off "Many FMCG companies are under severe profit erosion in the last 2 years. WTO agreement coming into force effective from 2005 brings in new global brands in Indian market. They need to optimize their resources and investments amongst several businesses and product categories." (a) Discuss this statement in the context of Hindustan Lever Limited or Amul. (b) Using BCG matrix, position the businesses / product categories of any one of the above companies and indicate what strategies you would recommend for various SBU's ? Balanced Score Card Competitive Capability Analysis Embryonic Industries and Fragmented Industries "Many companies are under severe resource contraints. They need to optimize their resource allocation amongst several businesses / products." What models are available for companies to evaluate their business portfolios or strategic business units? Taking one model analyze the businesses / products of a company of your choice and indicate how you will vary the strategies amongst SBU's / products based on the evaluation ? Divestment and Demerger Portfolio Management and Restructuring in Diversification Joint Venture and Strategic Alliances

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1 3 5 8. a. 1. b. 1. f.

Mission & Vision Write the mission and vision statements for typically large size organizations. How do these help in the strategy formulation ? How does the mission and vision get developed? What does the hierarchy of strategy intent mean? "Effective strategy making begins with a vision of where the organization needs to head." Discuss this statement in the context of elements of vision and how a vision statement is created for an organization. Illustrate your answer with a suitable live example from corporate world. Vision & Mission statements Vision & Mission Vision and Mission Statements Objectives Financial Objectives & Strategic Objectives Operations Global and Multi Country Operations Global and Multi Country Operations Global and Multi Country Operations Outsourcing "Adoption of outsourcing in manufacturing is one of the key strategic initiatives for your company. This would also mean reducing manufacturing sites and transfer of productionto sourcing partners. Success of this strategy is largely dependent on changes in the mindsets of employees in work practices and environement." As a divisional head, management would like you to initiate this change process. What are the key elements of this process ? What steps you would go through to complete the change process ? Planning

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2. a.

"Planning deals with what you have to do today, to be ready for an uncertain tomorrow." Do you agree with this statement in the context faced by several Indian companies against global competition? Strategic Audit Strategic Audit Fiat (India) Limited, despite launching three models : Uno. Sienna and Palio within last seven years is facing a crisis in Indian automobile industry. CEO of Fiat would like you to conduct a Strategic Audit for the company. As a management consultant what are the critical questions you would like to cover in the audit process and how will you get information for these questions for making recommendations. Strategic Management Process

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What are the various steps of Strategic Management Process ? Describe the significance of each step. Asian Chemicals were operating more as a multi-divisional company. With recession in dye stuff, chemicals and agro chemicals industries, Mr. Sumant Mishra, CMD of the group wants to initiate strategic management process within the group. Please explain the framework and key elements of the process that he should address. As corporate planner of an Indian company create a document for formalizing Strategic Management Process in your company. Please explain the framework and key elements of this process. Mr. Bharat Kapoor after taking over as CEO of your company realizes that strategic planning exists more as fuctional activity and not at the corporate level. He has entrusted the job to you to create a document for formalizing Strategic Management Process in your company. Please explain the framework and key elements of this process. " A vision articulates a position that the firm would like to attain in the distant future" said Ms. Maya. " It is the starting point for any Strategic Management Process ". Please explain the Strategy Management Process and the key elements of this process. Strategic Planning "India will usher in free economy with provisions of WTO agreements coming into force from 2005." Your M.D. wants the strategic planning group of your company to perform environmental scanning (Industry and Competive Environment) of the emerging scenario. What analytical tools you will use as a part of strategic planning committee to carry out this study ? Illustrate your answer by taking any industry or sector of your choice. Your company in the last 5 years has established its position within the top five players of the industry. You now have a task to challenge the market leader and your management is prepared to support the process. Before creating a strategic plan you need to do detailed situation analysis on company capabilities and resources. Develop a process framework for conducting internal analysis for a company. Strategies Explain the terms cost based strategies and niche based strategies. Sustainable Competitive Advantage

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"Telecom industry has undergone dramatic changes in the last five years. Several leading private and public sector players are investing heavily in this sector." Do you agree with this statement. How can they achieve sustainable competitive advantage given the fact that they have different levels of experience, levels of entry ? Can they apply Porter's model of generic strategies. "Global players are entering Indian consumer durables market in a big way with heavy investment." How can they achieve sustainable advantage given the fact that they have different levels of experience, levels of entry ? Can they apply Porter's model of generic strategies.

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"Automobile industry in India has undergone a sea change in the last ten years. Several global players are currently investing heavily in this sector." How can they achieve sustainable competitive advantage given the fact that they have different levels of experience, levels of entry ? Can they apply Porter's model of generic strategies. SWOT analysis

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Consider any organization in an industry of your choice. Prepare a SWOT analysis for that organization and then suggest on the basis of this analysis what should be its future course of action Consider any organization in an industry of your choice. Prepare a SWOT analysis for that organization and then suggest on the basis of this analysis what should be its future course of action Techniques What are the techniques available for a company to evaluate different businesses in their portfolio? Turnaround Strategy A turnaround strategy is used for converting a failed company or a sick company into a successful company. You have been appointed as a consultant to turnaround a failed company or a sick company. Please prepare an action plan to turn around a failed or a sick company (take any company of your choice) A turnaround strategy is used for converting a failed company or a sick company into a successful company. You have been appointed as a consultant to turnaround a failed company or a sick company. Please prepare an action plan to turn around a failed or a sick company (take any company of your choice) Value Chain Analysis Supplier Value Chain and Forward Value Chain Value Chain Analysis Primary and Secondary Value Chain activities

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