UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2018/2019
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF BUSINESS IN
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BUSS 102: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
FULL TIME/PART TIME/DISTANCE LEARNING
DATE: AUGUST, 2019 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question One & ANY OTHER TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE
John Walshburg is the Director of Poligon University of North Africa. The African Campus of
Poligon University (ACPU) is the African branch of the Poligon University of Zurich (PUZ) in
Switzerland. PUZ is an international university with branches in other parts of the world. In Africa,
ACPU is the main branch with facilitation offices in a few African countries.
A few years ago, a local facilitation office (LFO) in a country in the South of Sahara, was opened.
For the first three years, the facilitation office was successfully managed. The students came to
join in good numbers and the office was a clear sign of success in executive education, specifically
in business education. ACPU registered students to study for MBA (Masters in Business
Administration ) and BBA(Bachelor of Business Administration). The type of education was the
distance learning method. It was well managed and more students joined ACPU because of its
flexibility in course and affordable fees structure.
The agent in charge of the local facilitation office, is a well-educated individual, with a master’s
degree. He has employed a capable young graduate who handles applications and all other
inquiries between North Africa and the local facilitation office (LFO).
Recently it was noticed that LFO is closed at the time when the students and potential students
want to see the office administrator. They go to the office but find it locked. No information is left
at the door to guide the anxious students. The agent does not come to LFO anymore, and the office
manager does not know what to do about (i) the new applications and (ii) what to tell the anxious
students about important matters which used to be handled by the local agent himself. Mr.
Walshburg does not communicate with the local agent as much as he used to do in the past because
the telephone in LFO is not working any more. The agent has left the office administrator without
guidance and the complaining students literally shout at the helpless administrator without settling
the actual problems. For example, it is common to hear new applicants complaining: “How long
will it take you to process my application?” The usual answer from the administrator has been:
“As soon as the agent comes to check them.” People from outside do not know what is the problem.
a. Basing your argument on the facts given above, what would you consider as the main
cause of problems? Identify the major problems (10 Marks)
b. If you are a management consultant employed to advise ACPU, what action would you
recommend for:-
i. Mr John Walshsbury
ii. The Local agent
iii. The Office administrator (6 Marks)
c. Highlight any five principles of bureaucratic organizations by Max Weber and relate to
the ACPU (10 Marks)
d. Outline the management function according to Henry Fayol that inappropriately done at
ACPU (4 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
a. Explain how the ideas of scientific management thinkers contribute to the development of
concepts and principles of modern work management in organizations (10 Marks)
b. State and explain any five external environmental factors clearly indicating how they
influence business performance (10 Marks)
QUESTION THREE
a. Explain ten major forces that have been responsible for the sweeping changes and re organizations that have been taking place in Kenyan firms in the recent past
(12 Marks)
b. Highlight any five advantages of a company over a partnership (8 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
a. State and explain any four skills that a manager must possess for effective performance of
his job (8 Marks)
b. One of the functions of management is decision making. Describe various types of
decisions taken by managers and explain the steps that should be followed to arrive at the
right decisions. (12 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
In the recent past, corporate governance debate has dominated the agenda for regulators. .
a. Argue the case for good corporate governance for a firm and country (8 Marks)
b. Explain any six factors that influence the quality of governance (12 Marks)
