NMIMS SEM 3

NMIMS Semester 3 December 2023 Marketing Assignments  Customer Relationship Management Q1. Raghav has started his business and is doing it successfully for quite some time. However, the business has been undergoing a tough competition in the last couple of years and he is planning to start CRM practices for his organization. As a consultant what would you advise him regarding the advantages, disadvantages of CRM. What will you advise him on the prospects of CRM? Q2. Your company manufactures LED bulbs for sales both in B2B and B2C markets. However, to build relationships you feel there is a strong need to partner with major customers. Your consultant friend has explained to you about the concept of reciprocation. How would you use the concept of reciprocation to build a strong relationship with your customers? Q3. As a Chief Technological Officer, you are about to implement, a CRM solution in your organisation? How will you: a. Build a strong database of your customers? Modify and update it as necessary? What will be your sources of data? b. How will you build a CRM roadmap for your technological implementation? Marketing Strategy 1. Take any corporate of your choice and explain various levels of strategy for that organization. 2. Assume you are planning to start your own start-up and you have decided to start the same with a clear Vision, Mission, Goals, and objectives. Create and elaborate on the same. (You can decide any business of your choice) 3. a) Explain the concept of need, want, and demand for the footwear category. b) Explain the 7P’s of Marketing for any restaurant of your choice. Consumer Behaviour Q1. A study in 2021 by People Research on India’s Consumer Economy (PRICE) in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India on Digital Payments has estimated that around 61% of Indian households will be doing digital payments by 2025 if the enabling environment for that is created. The break-up of the households across 3 broad income groups viz. Rich, Middle Class and Poor for digital payments is as under: Class No. of Households in Millions expected to do Digital Payments by 2025 % Share Rich 36.0 23.6% Middle Class 61.0 40.2% Poor 55.0 36.2% Total 152.0 100.0% It is obvious that the Poor Class is going to be much bigger in Digital Payments compared to the Rich and almost similar in share compared to the Middle Class, though their average ticket size is going to be smaller. It is also clear that in order the realise the potential number of 55 million Households the poor will need the highest support and hand-holding From a consumer buying perspective what are the things think the Government Authorities along with banks and financial institutions do to enable a faster adoption of Digital Payments across the poorer and economically backward sections of the society. Q2. Age has 2 broad categories – chronological age and Subjective Age which is different from chronological age. Subjective Age has 4 dimensions. Analyse how the 4 dimensions of Age will impact the purchase choices for consumers buying cosmetics and ready-to-wear clothes. Q3. Answer the following a) A company in USA has developed a Gluten Meter which is device that measure the gluten content in the food a consumer wants to consume. Gluten is a group of proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and their derivatives. It’s what gives dough its elasticity and helps baked goods maintain their shape. While gluten is responsible for the desirable texture of many baked products, it can aggravate diabetes and obesity. Since India has the highest number of diabetics in the world this American wants to understand the attitude of people towards Gluten and Gluten Meters. How will they be able to understand the attitude of the consumer to this. b) How will you use hemispheric laterization to influence consumers to buy a particular brand of a lifestyle home theatre system like Bose. Sales Management Q.1 Assume you are a sales manager. You will be opening a new branch for which you intend to promote one of the existing salespersons as a branch sales manager. What criteria or qualities would you look for in selecting a person for the position of branch sales manager? Q.2 Take any product/service of your own choice & explain the Personal Selling process. Q.3 Read the case & answer the questions based on the case: Krishna Kumar, the marketing manager of MM Marketing Company was thinking how to go about designing sales territories, assigning salespeople to the territories and setting sales quotas, particularly as the product was new. The new product, called Swishflow fan was a unique kind of a table fan with attractive air-conditioner like looks. Considering the initial production capacity of 1,00,000 numbers in the first year, Krishna Kumar decided to market the product in and around Mumbai, where the marketing and sales office was located. The target consumers were household as well as commercial organizations, who could use this product as table-fan and wall-mounted fan. Krishna Kumar thought that the territory design should include geographical areas with high market potential for achieving the sales budget of 1,00,000 numbers in the first year and a growth of 25 % per year for subsequent four years. He calculated a sales force size of seven numbers, and decided to launch the product initially in major metros and cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Krishna Kumar was of the view that sales quotas should consider sales volume, selling expense, and also number of sales calls per day, in order to have a proper control on salespeople. He wondered how to design sales territories, what criteria should he consider while assigning salespersons to territories, and how to design the sales quotas considering the factors mentioned above. Questions: a) If you were Krishna Kumar, how would you design the sales territory? b) Suggest a suitable selling strategy for the new launch International Marketing Q1. Your company is a manufacturer of Incense sticks, also called Agarbatti, from India and are

NMIMS Semester 3 DECEMBER 2024 Marketing Assignments  Customer Relationship Management 1. You have started a new business. However, to acquire new clients and retain existing ones, you plan to adopt the concept of reciprocity. What are the different ways you can adopt to use reciprocity? Explain with examples. 2. Starbucks and Walt Disney have a strong community of loyal customers. However, this has been built over a period. How does a community help a business, what does a community imply and cite two examples of strong community networks and how they have helped companies build a loyal customer base. 3. Dissatisfaction of CRM implementations are high. CRM projects also need to be futuristic.” In context of the statement: a) What causes dissatisfaction in CRM implementations? b) What are the factors that you must consider for the future of your CRM projects? Marketing Strategy Q1. You are the marketing director of Axis bank; you have acquired the credit card and consumer banking business of Citibank India. Evaluate the merits of the action in the context of strategy. Is it good strategy or bad? What steps would you take to integrate the two brands? How would you communicate the same to Axis bank as well as the legacy Citibank customers? Q2. CVC partners paid nearly 5000 crores for buying an IPL franchisee. Was this a sound strategic decision? Analyze the revenue potential and return on investment over the next 5 years. What  type of marketing  strategy should  the company adopt  to  get  sustainable revenue? Q3. PVR and Inox merged together to create India’s largest multiplex chain. Integrating and creating a singular brand identity is the company’s biggest challenge. a) As marketing director of the firm create a brand integration strategy. b) Create a new brand identity, brand name and communications strategy. Consumer Behaviour Q1. The latest kid in the e-commerce space is tastes 2 plate [t2pis the app name] and their website is  https://tastes2plate.com/home. This site is doing intercity food delivery and is currently available in Kolkata, Patna, Lucknow, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Jaipur, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kochi and Goa. It wants to launch its services in Pune and Ahmedabad in the next months. Explain how can they persuade citizens of Pune and Ahmedabad to order food from other cities using the principles of “Persuading Customers” under Buyer Behaviour. Q2. Herd mentality, also known as mob mentality or crowd mentality, is a psychological phenomenon  that  significantly  impacts  human behavior.  Analyze  how  are  herd  or  mob mentality connected to consumer behaviour. Support this with an example of your choice. Q3. Answer the following a) Panchamrit, Dr. Vaidya’s and Zingavita have recently introduced “Chywanprash Gummies” similar to the Gummy Vitamins introduced a long time back for Multivitamins. These are targeted to children. Explain which principle of changing consumer attitude has been used in the creation of Chywanprash Gummies. b) How do celebrities add value to product positioning? Explain in detail by taking an example of any product whose purchase and use by you or your family was influenced by celebrity endorsement. Sales Management 1. A sales representative for a luxury watch brand is tasked with selling high-end timepieces to corporate clients and individual customers. How should the sales approach differ between these two types of clients, considering the diversity in their purchasing motivations? Recommend the most effective selling theory applicable to each scenario 2. A new tech startup is preparing to launch a cutting-edge smartwatch and needs to estimate its potential sales for the first year. How should the sales team approach forecasting these numbers, and what factors should they consider to make their projections as accurate as possible? 3. Read the case & answer the questions based on the case: A mid-sized fashion retailer is developing its sales budget for the upcoming fiscal year. They need to account for seasonal trends, planned promotions, and expected changes in consumer behavior due to recent market shifts. The challenge is to create a realistic budget that aligns with their growth targets while staying within financial constraints. Questions: What factors should the retailer consider when estimating sales revenue for the upcoming year? How can the retailer adjust their sales budget if unexpected economic changes occur during the year? International Marketing Q1. Pursuing International Marketing at the global marketplace can be a daunting task and also navigating it is tricky. What in your opinion motivates firms to engage in international marketing? Q2. In our country many products from China dominate our markets and have made production unprofitable for Indian manufacturers. In your opinion should we allow the entry of Chinese products in our country? Q3. Read the following case study carefully and then answer the questions that follow: Your firm manufactures EV bicycles in India and wishes to market them globally. In spite of competition, you see that South Africa has a huge potential and plan to expand your retail operations in South Africa. a) Explain your market entry strategy to launch the EV bicycles in South Africa. b) Explain major global pricing    Which  of  these  pricing  policies  would  you consider while launching the EV bicycles in South Africa? Brand Management Case: Gillette Inc. Founded in 1901 by King C. Gillette, Gillette Inc. revolutionized personal grooming with the introduction of the world’s first safety razor, forever changing the way men shave. Over the  past  century,  Gillette has  established  itself  as  a  global  leader in  grooming, consistently innovating to deliver superior products that meet the evolving needs of consumers. In 1938, the company introduced the first razor blade made of stainless steel, significantly extending blade life. The 1970s saw the launch of the Trac II, the first two- blade razor system, followed by the Sensor in 1990, the first razor with spring-loaded blades. Later they introduced a disposable twin-blade razor namely Presto. The new millennium ushered in the Gillette Mach3 in 1998, which set a new standard for shaving performance. Gillette continues to innovate, expanding its product range to include a variety of grooming products, from razors and

NMIMS Semester 3 December 2024 Finance Assignments Capital market and portfolio management Q1. Suppose you are advising a friend who is unsure about investing. What key factors would you explain to them to help them make a more informed decision? Q2. Suppose you had to create a visual representation of stock return distributions. What features would you  include to  effectively  illustrate the  characteristics  of both  types  of stock  return distribution and their impact on understanding stock performance? Q3a. ABC Ltd earned a net income= ₹4,00,000/- at the end of the year 31st  March 2020. Shareholder’s  equity  on  31st   March  2019  =  ₹16,00,000/-  &  on  31st   March  2020  = ₹15,00,000/- Calculate ROE for the year ended 31st March 2020. b. Imagine you are an investment adviser and your client decides to invest Rs.10,000/- in multiple investment avenues. He decides to invest 40% in mutual fund and rest in shares. Expected return from mutual fund is 8% & from shares is 12%. Calculate total expected return for your client. . Strategic cost management 1. A leading business school is planning to launch a new post-graduate course in Data Science and Analytics. The course is designed to cater to the growing demand for skilled professionals in this field. The school’s administration is tasked with determining the optimal pricing strategy for the course. The school has conducted market research to understand the demand for the course and the pricing sensitivity of potential students. The research indicates that there is a strong demand for the course, and students are willing to pay a premium for a high-quality education from a reputable institution. However, students are also price-conscious, and the school needs to balance the demand for the course with the need to generate revenue. The school’s administration is considering two pricing methods: cost-plus pricing and break-even pricing. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of cost-plus pricing and break-even pricing in the context of this situation. 2. The management of a retail company, “The Retail Haven,” carries a notion that it has been experiencing declining profits despite a steady increase in sales. The company’s management is concerned about the company’s financial health and has tasked you with conducting a ratio analysis to identify potential areas of concern Particulars                               Year 1             Year 2 Sale                                         ₹1,00,000        ₹1,20,000 Cost of Goods Sold                ₹70,000             ₹80,000 Gross Profit                             ₹30,000             ₹40,000 Operating Expenses                ₹20,000             ₹25,000 Operating Income                   ₹10,000             ₹15,000 Interest Expense                      ₹2,000                ₹2,500 Net Income                             ₹8,000               ₹12,500 Total Assets                            ₹50,000             ₹60,000 Total Liabilities                       ₹20,000             ₹25,000 Shareholders’ Equity              ₹30,000             ₹35,000 a) You’re required to calculate the following financial ratios for both years: Gross Profit Margin Ratio Net Profit Margin Ratio Return on Assets Ratio (ignore taking average for balance sheet number) Return on Equity Ratio (ignore taking average for balance sheet number) b) Analyze the trends in these ratios and comment if the management is correct. 3. August Ltd. is a medium-sized enterprise operating in the consumer electronics industry. The company has been in business for several years and has a reputation for producing high-quality products. However, the company has been facing increasing competition from both domestic and international rivals. To maintain its market position and drive growth, the company is considering launching a new product. The new product is a cutting-edge gadget that is expected to appeal to a wide range of consumers. The company believes that the product has the potential to become a major success and significantly boost its revenue and profitability. However, before launching the product, the company needs to conduct a thorough analysis to assess its financial viability and potential risks. It is considering launching a new product. The estimated fixed costs for the product are ₹1,000,000 per year, and the variable cost per unit is ₹50. The expected selling price per unit is ₹100. a) Calculate the break-even point in units and in rupees for the new product. If the company expects to sell 20,000 units of the product per year, what will be its profit or loss? b) Calculate the margin of safety in units and in rupees for the new product, assuming expected sales of 20,000 units per year. What does the margin of safety indicate about the product’s profitability? Marketing of financial services Q1. A Finance Head (CFO) of Finance Company is deeply analyzing the criticalities of outside Market environment from Customer point of view. While analyzing Consumer Choices for Financial Services, how CFO & his team can demarcate the ‘Non- Controllable’ Consumer Choices in rendering of Financial Services? Kindly elaborate. Q2. A 60-year-old senior citizen, recently retired from a GM position at an MNC, has received a substantial retirement corpus. Seeking to ensure a comfortable and secure post- retirement life, he approaches an investment planning firm for guidance. What guidelines should the Firm’s Investment Advisor follow in developing a retirement plan for this individual? Q3. a) In case if a NBFC is being set up at Town place and planning to render core financial services to young & mid age Crowd (50% population) what they can enlist as most  Distinct  Characteristics  of  Financial  Services?  Elaborate  any  4  to  5  Distinct Financial Services. Q3. b) How a Bank Manager foresee their Customers Important Choices while availing different types of Banking Services? Explain Paradigm as Internal Factors. Taxation- Direct and Indirect Q.1. You are required to compute the taxable income for Mr. Sharan for the Assessment Year 2023-24 from the information provided below: Basic salary – Rs. 20,000 per month Bonus – Rs. 30,000 Cash gift – Rs. 40,000 Arrears of salary – Rs. 10,000 Dearness allowance – Rs. 8,000 per month Insurance premium paid by Employer – Rs. 20,000 per annum Medical expenses paid by employer – Rs. 18,000 Education allowance for his two children – Rs. 600 per month City compensatory allowance – Rs. 2,000 per month He is given lunch allowance – Rs. 100 per day for 250 days during the previous year. He contributes 15% of his salary to a recognized provident fund

NMIMS Semester 3 December 2024 HRM Assignments Organisation Culture 1. Reflect on an organisation you are familiar with, whether through first-hand experience, academic case studies, or widely available information. In this organisation, are employee engagement, sense of ownership, and commitment to organizational goals notably strong? Could these positive traits be indicative of how property rights are organised to fortify the culture of the organization? 2. Investigate how organizational ethics and the culture of an organisation interact with and influence each other. Could the integration of ethical principles and values within the organizational culture serve as catalysts to instil a sense of integrity, trust, and responsibility among employees? 3. Zion Inc. is a successful technology company known for its innovative products and services. However, the organization has recently encountered challenges with declining employee performance and low workplace engagement (bottom quartile engagement score in the sector benchmarking exercise) . The leadership team recognizes the urgency to address these issues and takes the initiative to focus on reshaping the organizational culture and leadership practices. The current culture at Zion Inc. revolves around a number driven sales pitch, high-pressure work environment that places significant emphasis on individual achievements rather than teamwork. This approach has led to a lack of collaboration and effective communication among different teams, resulting in inefficiencies and a sense of disconnection among employees. To initiate the journey of cultural transformation, the leadership team introduces a series of strategic interventions. Primarily, they emphasize the significance of collaboration among employees. They form cross-functional teams that promote knowledge-sharing, problem-solving, and collective decision-making, with the aim of breaking down existing silos and fostering a culture of unity. Recognizing the importance of shared values, Zion Inc. reevaluates and refines its core principles. The leadership ensures that these values resonate with the employees and serve as guiding principles for decision-making and behaviour, fostering a keen sense of purpose and direction for the entire organization. Furthermore, to enhance leadership effectiveness in driving cultural change, the leadership team undergoes training in transformational leadership. This training equips them with the necessary skills to inspire and empower employees, foster open communication, and create a positive and motivating work environment. To gather valuable insights from employees, Zion Inc. establishes various feedback mechanisms, including surveys, suggestion boxes, and open-door policies. These mechanisms encourage employees to share their ideas, concerns, and suggestions for improvement, empowering them to actively participate in shaping the organizational culture. In addition, the company introduces a recognition and rewards program to celebrate employee achievements and contributions. This initiative is designed to boost employee morale, motivation, and overall job satisfaction, reinforcing a positive work culture. As a significant step towards enhancing the workplace environment, Zion Inc. embarks on a “Great Place to Work” certification journey. The company aims to attain this prestigious certification by implementing practices and policies that enhance workplace culture, employee satisfaction, and well-being. Through anonymous employee surveys and feedback, Zion Inc. assesses its strengths and areas for improvement, further contributing to the cultural transformation. a. Zion Inc. aims to measure the effectiveness of its cultural interventions and the “Great Place to Work” certification on employee engagement and business performance. As the People & Culture Business Partner, suggest key performance indicators (KPIs) for leadership to assess the impact of these interventions in driving positive organizational outcomes. b. Discuss the role of leadership in driving the cultural transformation at Zion Inc. How can effective leadership align the culture with the company’s values and inspire employees to embrace the new cultural norms, particularly in the context of the certification journey? Organisational Theory, Structure and Design 1. An organisation is considered as a system where different interrelated components interact with each other to attain common goals. What according to you are the various components of an organisation as a system? Give suitable examples. 2. The Neoclassical Approach is developed by Elton Mayo and his associates. What do you think is the assumption of this approach? In this context explain the important features of this approach that managers should be aware of. Add corporate examples. 3. Without an effective organisational structure, employees would not be clear about their job roles and there would be no chain of command to follow. Keeping the above scenario in mind, explain with examples: a. Discuss the key features of the line and staff organisational structure. b. Explain which features are needed to create a Matrix Organisation Structure. Compensation & Benefits Q1. The major elements in the “wage structure” of a mid-sized manufacturing company are as follows:- a) Basic Pay; b) Yearly Increments to Mgl staff based on Pay grade c) Individual Incentive scheme to workmen and d) Benefits include i) Pickup & drop facility by Co’s own Transport Dept ii) free lunch in Co’s Canteen iii) Medical Benefit as per ESI scheme for workmen category & actuals for Mgl staff & other statutory b’fits like PF & Gratuity. The company manufactures electrical components for the auto industry and lately it has not been doing too well because of increased competition, mainly from Chinese companies. Accordingly, the Co has requested you to recommend suitable cost saving measures to increase the profitability. What will be your recommendation? Q2. Preeti and Susan were Chartered Accountants and they had about twenty years of experience each in working with reputed Audit & Financial Consultancy firms. Both resigned from their positions and started a small Audit firm of their own after taking a loan from a bank. Since they were a “start-up” company they employed a few qualified people and also paid them better than the market rate. Initially they struggled, but after some time their financial condition got better and by the end of seven years they reached a very stable position. By that time, they were employing fifteen people who had been inducted into the Co at different levels drawing different pay. However, as there was no regular pay structure, there was wide disparity in the pay drawn by different employees. To rectify this situation, both Preeti & Susan decided to

NMIMS Sem 3 Decemeber 2024 Operations Assignments Procurement Management 1. GeoLinks is a medium-sized supply chain  management  company that  operates  in  e- commerce industry. Describe the evolution of e-procurement, including its various stages and technological advancements and explain how understanding this evolution can guide GeoLinks in developing a robust e-procurement strategy. Also, recommend pricing models that GeoLinks can adopt to ensure competitiveness and profitability in the e-procurement marketplace. 2. XYZ Infra is a construction company specializing in large-scale infrastructure projects. The company often engages in contracts with government agencies to build roads, bridges, and public facilities. Evaluate the factors that XYZ Infra should consider when determining its pricing strategies to manage and negotiate government influences on pricing while maintaining a fair and mutually beneficial partnership. Also, suggest a contingency plan and contractual clauses that XYZ Infra should include to mitigate risks associated with contract cancellations and unexpected project disruptions. 3. GeoTronics is a multinational electronics company that sources components and materials from various countries for its manufacturing operations. It wants to source a wide range of products from multiple suppliers of south Asia and distribute them to various markets in the gulf. a) Explain the legal authority and responsibilities of a purchasing manager and discuss the importance of ethical considerations in global sourcing decisions for GeoTronics. b) Describe different methods of global sourcing that GeoTronics can adopt to procure products from international suppliers and outline the factors that they should consider when evaluating potential global suppliers. Service Operations Management Q1. Defining the concept of the ‘Service Design; explain in detail the different ways in which organizations can implement ‘Service Design’? Support your explanation with a reference to a restaurant setup (you can choose any reference setup of your own choice) Q2. Enlist and explain in detail the various dimensions through which Service organisations are evaluated for Quality by customers? Elaborate your answer with a reference of any educational institute of your choice. Q3. The Healthcare sector has become a very critical service sector domain in recent times, especially in the post Covid scenario. Hence it is very obvious for Healthcare Institutes to plan their operations in several ways to provide the best services to their target customers. Explain the following aspects of these organisations in context of the following areas as given below. a) Enlist and explain the various elements that need to be incorporated in a Service Framework of the setup. b) How do healthcare setups use the concept of a Service Design (Blueprinting) for their service operations. Enterprise Resource Planning Q.1 Maketyre is a tyre manufacturing company which makes tyres for various tyoes of vehicles.  With the vast growing business across the Country, they decided to implement ERP system in their organization. Discuss the various factors for successful ERP implementation which Maketyre will follow and explain the challenges which Maketyre may face while ERP implementation. Q2. Thakur Das Jewellers are into gem business based in Mumbai. Thakur Das Jewellers have expanded their branches with in different cities and have various departments such as Finance, Sales, Purchase etc. With the extending number of business processes, discuss using which technology Thakur Das Jewellers can integrate their processes to smoothen and streamline the business processes of their business. Discuss the features of Finance, Sales and Purchase modules with reference to the gem business of Thakur Das Jewellers. Q.3 PeopleCare Technology is new IT Company with the motive of providing solutions to different Organisations by catering to their specific product requirements. They have decided to implement SAP software in their organization to integrate the various business processes and to enhance the efficiency of the organization. Considering the above scenario, discuss the following: a) Discuss the benefits of SAP implementation by PeopleCare Technology. b) Discuss the SAP   architecture   which   PeopleCare   Technology   has   used   for implementation. Total Quality Management 1. As a leader of new product development team, you are asked by the management of your organization to comprehend the expectation of the customers and design product and services in view of that. Discuss a valuable methodology you would adopt that can significantly enhance the new product development process and thereby meet customer satisfaction. 2. You are appointed as head of quality department and told it is utmost priority for your department to monitor defects and control quality. Discuss the seven basic quality control tools which may help your department in controlling quality and minimizing defects. Give examples for each tool. 3. After entering global market, Maxx Industry which had implemented TQM, wants to change from its traditional performance measure based on cost accounting information to performance measured against the result delivered to customers. In TQM, measuring performance requires a conceptual framework. a) Discuss the criteria Maxx Industry should follow for measuring and evaluating performance under TQM framework. b) Explain the four perspectives based on which Strategic Performance Measurement (SPM) is measured. Operations and Supply chain strategies 1. Mr. Ranga is a store manager at Pmart Ltd one of the leading retail firm. To penetrate the market, he was using a low-price strategy. Due to competition, he also plans to use technology in the supply chain to reduce the cost. In such a scenario, every business requires some competitive edge to sustain in the market. Discuss different supply chain drivers with Mr. Ranga that ultimately helps Mega Mart to enable the entire supply chain. 2. Your artisanal ice cream company produces small batches of unique flavours sold in local shops. A large supermarket chain wants to carry your top five flavours nationwide, requiring a consistent and high volume of production. Considering your current small-batch production process, how would you adapt to fulfill this order? Would you switch to a mass production or continuous production process, or choose another method? Explain your decision, taking into account factors such as maintaining product quality, scaling up production, cost efficiency, and logistical challenges in distributing your ice cream across a national market. Nikaa Ltd is leading e commerce company sells beauty, wellness and fashion products through its

NMIMS Semester 3 DECEMBER 2024 Business Management Assignments Organisational Theory, Structure and Design 1. Analyze the utility of a line structure in an organisation. Explain which types of companies would prefer this structure. Evaluate the pros and cons of this structure. Give examples as required. 2. It is said that there is no magic formula for choosing the correct organizational structure. However, its suitability should be determined based on certain features. Evaluate the importance of each feature and add suitable examples wherever needed. 3. The external environment of a business is measured by a system called the PESTLE analysis which gives a holistic overview of all the associated contextual aspects influencing it. In the above context, explain with the help of suitable examples: a. Evaluate the different relevant concepts of the external environment that help in strategy building. b. Discuss the systems or approaches through which information can be collected regarding the external environment. Cost and management accounting Q1. ABC Ltd., has given the following budgeted and actual sales figures:             Budgeted        Actual             Quantity          Sale Price        Value   Quantity          Sales Price       Value                         Rs.       Rs.                  Rs.       Rs. Product A        500      60        30,000 600      65        39,000 Product B        700      40        28,000 650      38        24,700 The cost per unit of product A and B was Rs. 55 and Rs. 32 respectively. Compute variances to explain difference between budgeted and actual profit. Q2. Discuss the role of management accounting in shaping strategic decisions within an organization. Provide examples of how management accounting practices can influence long-term planning and sustainability. Q3. (a) Analyze the differences between standard costing and budgetary control. How do these tools help in managing operational performance within an organization? Q3 (b) Evaluate the importance of understanding cost behaviours in decision-making. How can misinterpretation of cost behaviours impact a company’s financial decisions? Consumer behavior Q1. The latest kid in the e-commerce space is tastes 2 plate [t2pis the app name] and their website is  https://tastes2plate.com/home. This site is doing intercity food delivery and is currently available in Kolkata, Patna, Lucknow, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Jaipur, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kochi and Goa. It wants to launch its services in Pune and Ahmedabad in the next months. Explain how can they persuade citizens of Pune and Ahmedabad to order food from other cities using the principles of “Persuading Customers” under Buyer Behaviour. Q2. Herd mentality, also known as mob mentality or crowd mentality, is a psychological phenomenon  that  significantly  impacts  human behavior.  Analyze  how  are  herd  or  mob mentality connected to consumer behaviour. Support this with an example of your choice. Q3. Answer the following a) Panchamrit, Dr. Vaidya’s and Zingavita have recently introduced “Chywanprash Gummies” similar to the Gummy Vitamins introduced a long time back for Multivitamins. These are targeted to children. Explain which principle of changing consumer attitude has been used in the creation of Chywanprash Gummies. b) How do celebrities add value to product positioning? Explain in detail by taking an example of any product whose purchase and use by you or your family was influenced by celebrity endorsement.. Digital marketing DunX Perfumes: Luxury Perfume Makers for Men The Company DunX is a burgeoning luxury perfume brand based in India, focusing on creating exclusive, high-end fragrances for men. With a commitment to quality and sophistication, DunX aims to redefine the luxury perfume market by offering products that resonate with the refined tastes of its discerning customers. The Context In a rapidly evolving market, DunX has chosen to forgo traditional media channels such as television, radio, and print. Instead, the company plans to focus exclusively on digital marketing to reach and engage its target audience. This strategic decision is rooted in the belief that the digital landscape offers a more direct and personalized way to connect with potential customers. However, not everyone in the management team is aligned with this decision. Some members, with a more traditional mindset, believe in the effectiveness of offline marketing methods such as billboards, print ads, and in-store promotions. They argue that these channels offer tangible benefits that should not be overlooked, especially for a luxury brand like DunX. The Brand DunX positions itself as a brand that embodies sophistication, style, and exclusivity. The company’s fragrances are crafted for men who appreciate the finer things in life and seek to express their individuality through their choice of scent. DunX’s brand identity is built around the idea of luxury and elegance, with a commitment to providing a premium experience in every aspect of the customer journey. The USP of the Brand DunX’s unique selling proposition (USP) lies in its ability to blend tradition with modernity. The brand’s perfumes are crafted using the finest ingredients, combining timeless elegance with  contemporary appeal.  By  leveraging  digital  marketing,  DunX aims  to  create  an immersive online experience that mirrors the luxury and exclusivity of its products. The Target Audience DunX’s target audience comprises fashion-forward, classy men who belong to the upper- middle  class  and  above.  These  individuals  live  in  metro  cities  like  Mumbai,  Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, and they have a keen appreciation for luxury products. The target audience is tech-savvy, active on social media, and seeks brands that align with their sophisticated lifestyle. The Challenges As a new entrant in the luxury market, DunX faces the challenge of standing out in a crowded space. The brand must craft a digital marketing strategy that not only resonates with its target audience but also sets it apart from competitors.In addition to external market challenges, the internal alignment on marketing strategy poses a significant hurdle. You must navigate differing opinions within the management team, some of whom are skeptical about relying solely on digital marketing. Balancing these perspectives while driving an effective marketing strategy will be crucial to DunX’s success. In addition to external market challenges, the internal alignment on marketing strategy poses a significant hurdle. You must navigate differing opinions within the management team, some of whom are skeptical about relying solely on digital marketing. Balancing these perspectives  while driving  an 

NMIMS Semester 3 December 2024 Banking & Finance Assignment Marketing of Financial Services Q1. A Finance Head (CFO) of Finance Company is deeply analyzing the criticalities of outside Market environment from Customer point of view. While analyzing Consumer Choices for Financial Services, how CFO & his team can demarcate the ‘Non- Controllable’ Consumer Choices in rendering of Financial Services? Kindly elaborate. Q2. A 60-year-old senior citizen, recently retired from a GM position at an MNC, has received a substantial retirement corpus. Seeking to ensure a comfortable and secure post- retirement life, he approaches an investment planning firm for guidance. What guidelines should the Firm’s Investment Advisor follow in developing a retirement plan for this individual? Q3. a) In case if a NBFC is being set up at Town place and planning to render core financial services to young & mid age Crowd (50% population) what they can enlist as most  Distinct  Characteristics  of  Financial  Services?  Elaborate  any  4  to  5  Distinct Financial Services. Q3. b) How a Bank Manager foresee their Customers Important Choices while availing different types of Banking Services? Explain Paradigm as Internal Factors. Retail banking Q1. The Retail Banking segment has become extremely competitive and hence it has become challenging for Retail banks to setup strategies to establish their presence, and grow in the market by reaching to as many customers as possible. Discuss the various Corporate level marketing strategies deployed for the same. Also discuss the need and relevance of distribution management Q2. The banking transactions has seen a drastic shift in the payment mechanism especially post covid. Discuss the relevance of a payment system in the context of the retail banking scenario by enlisting the various payment systems. Explain any three such payment systems in detail. Q3. Retail banks have faced a long-standing challenge in the form of repayment defaults which may convert to non-performing assets (NPAs) in many cases. Thus banks need to critically evaluate their lending process. Discuss the following aspect of Credit provision in Retail banking a. Discuss the basic lending principles followed by retail banks. b. Discuss the components of the credit score and the importance of the CIBIL score. Cost & Management Accounting Q1. ABC Ltd., has given the following budgeted and actual sales figures:             Budgeted        Actual             Quantity          Sale Price        Value   Quantity          Sales Price       Value                         Rs.       Rs.                  Rs.       Rs. Product A        500      60        30,000 600      65        39,000 Product B        700      40        28,000 650      38        24,700 The cost per unit of product A and B was Rs. 55 and Rs. 32 respectively. Compute variances to explain difference between budgeted and actual profit. Q2. Discuss the role of management accounting in shaping strategic decisions within an organization. Provide examples of how management accounting practices can influence long-term planning and sustainability. Q3. (a) Analyze the differences between standard costing and budgetary control. How do these tools help in managing operational performance within an organization? Q3 (b) Evaluate the importance of understanding cost behaviours in decision-making. How can misinterpretation of cost behaviours impact a company’s financial decisions? Commercial Banking System & Role of RBI 1. Capital formation is important for economic growth of any country. It helps in making a particular country self-sufficient in such a way that it does not have to be dependent on other nations for foreign investments. Explain the different factors affecting capital formation. 2. Commercial banks are life-line of any economy. They play a very important role in development of trade & commerce in the country. Describe different functions of Commercial banks and do SWOT analysis of Commercial Banks. 3. One of the critical source of income of commercial banks is interest income which bank earns from interest on loans and advances to the customer. Advances may be classified as fund based and non-fund based. In today’s scenario of increasing Non Performing Assets (NPA) of the bank, banks are focusing more on non-fund based loans. a) Discuss any three fund based loans and its advantages. b) Discuss any three non-fund based loans and its advantages. Corporate Finance 1. ABC Limited has equity with a market value of Rs. 20 Lacs and debt with a market value of Rs. 15 Lacs. The Balance sheet of the company showed the Capital Structure as under: Capital Structure         BV Share Capital  10,00,000 Debentures      5,00,000 Bank Loan      8,00,000 Cost of debt is 9%. The risk-free rate is 8% and the market rate is 18%. The beta of the company is 0.15. The firm pays no taxes. What is ABC Limited’s debt to equity ratio? What is ABC Limited’s weighted average cost of capital based on Market value as well as Book value? Answer up to 2 decimal places. ABC Limited is in growing stage and soon the company will be under 35% tax bracket, in such a scenario the company is thinking to raise the debt up to 70%. Under these conditions, what will be the new DE ratio and the new cost of capital of the company? What is the impact of change in DE ratio as above on the Company and why? 2. XYZ Ltd. is evaluating a new project proposal with a cash outlay of Rs. 80,000. Cash inflows are 25,000 , 28,200 , 32,000, 12,000, 15,000. The project is being funded entirely by a bank loan raised at an interest rate of 9% p.a. Currently there is no tax applicability to the firm. Evaluate the project using NPV and IRR methodologies. The Board of Directors want a minimum of 12% as its rate of return on the project. Will the company take up the project? How will the situation be different if the company is subject to a tax of 25%? 3a. Maya bought a house of value Rs. 65,00,000. She got a loan of 80% of the value of the house from the bank. The bank offered her a loan for 10 years @ 8.5% interest payable annually. Calculate the equated annual payment to be made by her and draw up her annual

NMIMS Semester 3 December 2023 Retail Management Assignments Consumer behavior Q1. A study in 2021 by People Research on India’s Consumer Economy (PRICE) in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India on Digital Payments has estimated that around 61% of Indian households will be doing digital payments by 2025 if the enabling environment for that is created. The break-up of the households across 3 broad income groups viz. Rich, Middle Class and Poor for digital payments is as under: Class No. of Households in Millions expected to do Digital Payments by 2025 % Share Rich 36.0 23.6% Middle Class 61.0 40.2% Poor 55.0 36.2% Total 152.0 100.0% It is obvious that the Poor Class is going to be much bigger in Digital Payments compared to the Rich and almost similar in share compared to the Middle Class, though their average ticket size is going to be smaller. It is also clear that in order the realise the potential number of 55 million Households the poor will need the highest support and hand-holding From a consumer buying perspective what are the things think the Government Authorities along with banks and financial institutions do to enable a faster adoption of Digital Payments across the poorer and economically backward sections of the society. (10 Marks) Q2. Age has 2 broad categories – chronological age and Subjective Age which is different from chronological age. Subjective Age has 4 dimensions. Analyse how the 4 dimensions of Age will impact the purchase choices for consumers buying cosmetics and ready-to-wear clothes. (10 marks) Q3. Answer the following a) A company in USA has developed a Gluten Meter which is device that measure the gluten content in the food a consumer wants to consume. Gluten is a group of proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and their derivatives. It’s what gives dough its elasticity and helps baked goods maintain their shape. While gluten is responsible for the desirable texture of many baked products, it can aggravate diabetes and obesity. Since India has the highest number of diabetics in the world this American wants to understand the attitude of people towards Gluten and Gluten Meters. How will they be able to understand the attitude of the consumer to this. b) How will you use hemispheric laterization to influence consumers to buy a particular brand of a lifestyle home theatre system like Bose. (5 Marks) Sales management Q.1 Assume you are a sales manager. You will be opening a new branch for which you intend to promote one of the existing salespersons as a branch sales manager. What criteria or qualities would you look for in selecting a person for the position of branch sales manager? (10 Marks) Q.2 Take any product/service of your own choice & explain the Personal Selling process. (10 Marks) Q.3 Read the case & answer the questions based on the case: Krishna Kumar, the marketing manager of MM Marketing Company was thinking how to go about designing sales territories, assigning salespeople to the territories and setting sales quotas, particularly as the product was new. The new product, called Swishflow fan was a unique kind of a table fan with attractive air-conditioner like looks. Considering the initial production capacity of 1,00,000 numbers in the first year, Krishna Kumar decided to market the product in and around Mumbai, where the marketing and sales office was located. The target consumers were household as well as commercial organizations, who could use this product as table-fan and wall-mounted fan. Krishna Kumar thought that the territory design should include geographical areas with high market potential for achieving the sales budget of 1,00,000 numbers in the first year and a growth of 25 % per year for subsequent four years. He calculated a sales force size of seven numbers, and decided to launch the product initially in major metros and cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Krishna Kumar was of the view that sales quotas should consider sales volume, selling expense, and also number of sales calls per day, in order to have a proper control on salespeople. He wondered how to design sales territories, what criteria should he consider while assigning salespersons to territories, and how to design the sales quotas considering the factors mentioned above. Questions: a) If you were Krishna Kumar, how would you design the sales territory? (5 Marks) b) Suggest a suitable selling strategy for the new launch

NMIMS Semester 3 December 2024 ITSM Assignments Cloud Computing 1. You are invited by the Government of Wakanda to advise on deployment of cloud for their e-governance services. The Government is very keen to reduce the total cost of ownership and increase scalability of its e-governance infrastructure. As such, it is evaluating the use of cloud and the right choice for the deployment model. You have been asked to provide a brief report explaining pros and cons of each cloud deployment model for e-governance systems in Botswana. 2. You are the VP of IT at Ramgarh Cooperative Bank (RCB), which has been acquired by BiggBank, one of India’s largest banks. Historically, the Management of RCB has been very conservative regarding their IT Dept., which has been regarded as a Support Function & Cost Center. Hence, RCB’s IT Assets, including several critical Legacy Banking Apps are completely On-Premise. As part of the acquisition, the CIO of BiggBank has asked you to prepare a Cloudification Strategy document. This needs to address (almost) complete migration of all On-Premise Assets to the Cloud and as well, address App Modernization / App of the Legacy Banking Apps. This Cloudification Strategy document needs to answer the following questions… Which Cloud Services do you intend to use – i.e., IaaS, PaaS and/or SaaS? Which Cloud Service Provider do you feel would be the best fit – i.e., AWS, Azure, or Google App Engine? Prepare an Approach Document to serve as the basis of an Executive Meeting with the BiggBank CIO to discuss this initiative. You may get more details by visiting the web site of these CSPs or you can make your own assumptions. 3. The Top Management of Hippocrates Pharma is meeting to discuss their plan for a new Production Planning Software. The COO, Mr. Unnithan, and the CFO, Ms. Sinha, are of the strong opinion that the company should develop and implement Customized, On-Premise Production Planning Software to be developed by the Company’s long-term IT Service Provider. This is because Mr. Unnithan feels that the company’s products and processes are unique and need a customized solution. On the other hand, both Ms. Naidu, Head of Sales and Mr. Sandhu, CIO are keen to move to a popular SaaS-based ERP Product and use their Production Planning Module. Mr. Sandhu also intends to use other modules in this ERP for other Departments. The debate is getting heated as Mr. Unnithan also recalled past IT system implementation failures. a. What arguments can Mr. Unnithan  make  in  favor  of  in-house  Custom  On-Premise Production Planning Software? b. What arguments can Mr. Sandhu make in favor of a SaaS-based Production Planning Module? E-Business 1. As the owner of a popular online gaming platform, you are currently exploring various revenue models to diversify and enhance your income streams. Explain the different types of revenue models applicable to e-businesses. Additionally, identify which revenue models are most suitable for the popular online gaming platform. Address the potential challenges associated with each revenue model and how they may influence the success of the gaming platform. 2. In an online gifting business, acquiring customer data is essential for understanding your target audience and improving your marketing strategies. Enlist the various methods for collecting customer data online and provide concise explanations for passive (at least 2) and active (at least 2) data collection techniques used by online gifting apps. Additionally, discuss the ethical considerations associated with each data collection method used by online gifting companies. 3. Case study on cloud kitchen business Imagine you have been hired by a cloud kitchen restaurant business to enhance their operational productivity as an operations consultant. To improve their operations, you decide to introduce the concepts of e-SCM (electronic supply chain management) and e- CRM (electronic customer relationship management) to the management team, explaining their potential benefits a. Explain how implementing e-SCM can help the cloud kitchen manage its supply chain more efficiently and effectively, while implementing e-CRM can help the business better understand and serve its customers. b. Describe how the cloud kitchen restaurant can integrate e-SCM and e-CRM to create a more efficient and customer-centric business model. Fundamentals of Big Data & Business Analytics 1. Consider a hypothetical scenario in the financial industry where a retail bank is looking to enhance its customer segmentation strategies using big data analytics. Discuss how the concepts of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics can be applied to analyze customer transaction data and improve marketing campaigns. Provide specific examples of analytical techniques and potential business outcomes. 2. Imagine a healthcare organization aiming to reduce readmission rates for patients with chronic diseases. Explain how big data analytics can help identify high-risk patients, predict readmission likelihood, and prescribe personalized interventions to improve patient outcomes. Illustrate the application of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics in addressing this healthcare challenge. 3 a) A leading consumer goods company wants to optimize its supply chain operations to reduce inventory costs and improve product availability. Describe how descriptive analytics can be used to analyze historical sales data and identify demand patterns. Provide examples of data visualization techniques that can aid in understanding supply chain dynamics and optimizing inventory levels. b) In the transportation  sector,  a  logistics  company  is  seeking  to  enhance  route optimization and fleet management using big data analytics. Discuss how descriptive analytics can be applied to analyze transportation data, such as vehicle GPS coordinates and delivery times. Additionally, explain the role of predictive analytics in forecasting traffic patterns and optimizing delivery routes for efficiency and cost savings. IT Infrastructure Management 1. Would you consider implementing ITIL as a framework to enhance the efficiency of IT service delivery in your organization? Outline the crucial factors that would influence your decision to either adopt or reject this approach. 2. Explain the key elements of a virtualization platform at the enterprise level. If you were responsible for training your team on how to implement and manage these components, what specific aspects would you focus on during the training? 3. You are the

NMIMS Semester 3 April 2024 Supply Chain Assignments Operations and Supply chain strategies 1. Mr. Goyal holds the position of supply chain manager at OLB Ltd., a company currently shifting its focus towards manufacturing E scooters. Responding to customer demand, the company is in the process of building the largest manufacturing facility for E scooters in India. In this rapidly changing market, the company expects to encounter fierce competition from various other firms. Your task is to Analyze and suggest a different level of strategies that can be implemented within the company to enhance overall business profitability. 2. Twiggy is an Indian online food delivery platform that allows users to order food semiconductor is from nearby restaurants and have it delivered to their doorstep. Online food ordering and delivery platform Twiggy’s losses rose by 80 percent in the 2022-23 financial year. Is online delivery future of India? Is online food delivery maturing or declining? Explain existing situation of online food delivery with respected to industry life cycle. 3. Pedanta Ltd started manufacturing of semiconductor in Indian Market. The requirement of huge in the global market and Pedanta Ltd invested huge amount of money on machinery. Government is encouraging companies to develop, manufacture and assemble products in India and incentivize dedicated investments into manufacturing. a. You are appointed as supply chain consultant in the Firm. Suggest important supply chain drivers that helps Pedanta Ltd to become Global brand. b. Enumerate the competitive dimensions required to ensure a productive worldwide Operations and Supply Chain. Procurement management Q.1 ProcureLink Enterprises is a medium-sized procurement and supply chain management company that operates in various industries. The company recognizes the potential benefits of adopting e-procurement strategies to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and streamline procurement processes. However, it is facing challenges in understanding the evolution of e-procurement, establishing effective pricing and business strategies,implementing online catalogues, and leveraging online auctions. Describe the evolution of e-procurement, including its various stages and technological advancements and explain how understanding this evolution can guide ProcureLink Enterprises in developing a robust e-procurement strategy. Also, recommend pricing models and business strategies that ProcureLink Enterprises can adopt to ensure competitiveness and profitability in the eprocurement marketplace. Q.2 MetroBuild Infrastructures is a construction company specializing in large-scale infrastructure projects. The company often engages in contracts with government agencies to build roads, bridges, and public facilities. MetroBuild is challenged with determining appropriate pricing strategies, managing government influences on pricing, and addressing the complexities of contract cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances. Evaluate the factors that MetroBuild should consider when determining pricing for its infrastructure contracts and propose strategies for MetroBuild to manage and negotiate government influences on pricing while maintaining a fair and mutually beneficial partnership. Also, suggest a contingency plan and contractual clauses that MetroBuild should include to mitigate risks associated with contract cancellations and unexpected project disruptions. Q.3 GlobalTronics Ltd. is a multinational electronics company that sources components and materials from various countries for its manufacturing operations. The company is committed to upholding ethical standards and complying with relevant laws in its procurement practices. However, the purchasing team is faced with complex decisions related to international buying ethics, the legal authority of purchasing managers, and contract law. a) Explain the legal authority and responsibilities of a purchasing manager and discuss the importance of ethical considerations in global sourcing decisions for GlobalTronics. Now suppose GlobalTronics wants to source a wide range of products from suppliers around the world and distribute them to various markets. The company is looking to enhance its global sourcing strategies by improving supplier evaluation methods. b) Describe different methods of global sourcing that Globaltronics can adopt to procure products from international suppliers and outline the factors that they should consider when evaluating potential global suppliers. Total Quality management Q1. What would be your objectives for implementing Quality Circle in your work area? Discuss the composition of your Quality Circle team. Q2. Explain the statement with proper examples “The quality of a product influences the cost of the product”. Q3. Performance measurement is one of the most essential factors of the total quality initiatives of an organization. It is concerned with managing the result and minimizing the overall variation in products or process. a. In your opinion what should be the objectives of an efficient measurement system? b. Discuss Strategic Performance Measurement Enterprise resource planning Read the case study – ‘SynGenta Pharma experiences ERP troubles’ and answer the following questions: https://adhocfilesngasce.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/academics/1697870452rFTlm.pdf 1. Explain the reasons for SynGenta Pharma moving from the legacy system to the new ERP environment. Was the timing of this decision correct? 2. Analyze the reasons for the failure of the ERP implementation from a risk management perspective. 3. Keeping the above case as a reference, a. Compare and contrast between On-Premise vs. On-cloud ERP deployment. b. Integration of Supply Chain Management (SCM) with the ERP. Warehouse Management 1. Discuss Different Product Movement activities considering example of an Ecommerce warehouse. 2. Form a safety charter for employees of a warehouse to create awareness about Occupational safety and health considering points such as Fire safety, working at heights etc. 3. You are the warehouse manager of a pharmaceutical distribution center responsible for storing and distributing a wide range of medical products. The warehouse has been facing challenges in meeting increasing demand, maintaining temperature- sensitive products, and ensuring accurate order fulfillment. The management is considering investing in robotics and automation to improve warehouse efficiency and ensure product integrity. Your task is to analyze the situation and propose a plan for implementing robotics and automation in the pharmaceutical warehouse. a. Conduct a thorough analysis of the current pharmaceutical warehouse operations. Identify the key pain points and inefficiencies that arise from manual material handling, order picking, and inventory management processes. Discuss the impact of these challenges on order processing times, inventory accuracy, and compliance with regulatory requirements. b. Develop a comprehensive plan for implementing robotics and automation technologies in the pharmaceutical warehouse to enhance operational efficiency and maintain product integrity. Propose specific robotic solutions for various