NMIMS SEM 1 SEPTEMBER 2024 ASSIGNMENTS
Financial Accounting & Analysis
Q1. Company ABC, a manufacturing company, is preparing its cash flow statement forthe fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. The company experienced various cash inflows and outflows during the year from its operating, investing, and financing activities. Based on the provided data, calculate the net cash provided by operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities for Company ABC for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. Additionally, determine the net increase or decrease incash and cash equivalents for the period.
Category Amount (₹)
Net Income ₹500,000
Depreciation Expense ₹100,000
Increase in Accounts Receivable ₹50,000
Decrease in Inventory (₹30,000)
Increase in Accounts Payable ₹20,000
Purchase of Property, Plant, and (₹200,000)
Equipment
Proceeds from Issuance of 3,00,000
Long-term Debt
Repayment of Long-term Debt (₹150,000)
Payment of Dividends (₹50,000)
Beginning Cash and Cash Equivalents ₹400,000
Instructions:
Calculate the net cash provided by operating activities using the indirect method.
Determine the net cash used in investing activities.
Determine the net cash provided by financing activities.
Calculate the net increase or decrease in cash and cash equivalents.
Provide the final cash flow statement for Company ABC for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, showing the net cash provided by (or used in) each category and the net increase or decrease in cash and cash equivalents.
Note: Assume all transactions are cash transactions unless otherwise specified and use the indirect method for operating activities.
Q2. DEF Pvt. Ltd. is considering introducing a new product line. Conduct a cost- volume- profit (CVP) analysis on hypothetical data (per unit basis) to determine the breakeven point and assess the profitability of the new product. Discuss the implications of your analysis on the company’s decision-making process. (You can present the answer with the help of hypothetical data if required)
Q3.(A) Compare and contrast ratio analysis with other techniques of financial analysis. Provide examples of situations where each technique would be most appropriate and discuss the insights, they offer to stakeholders in assessing a company’s financial performance and position.
(B) You are a newly appointed financial analyst at a manufacturing company, tasked with preparing the balance sheet for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. As part of your role, you need to identify and explain the basic concepts underlying the preparation of the balance sheet. Additionally, you are required to discuss the key components of a balance sheet and their role in portraying the financial position of a company.
Business Economics
Q1. With the help of the concept of production function. Briefly explain the Law of Variable Proportions and Law of Returns to Scale. Elaborate your answer by citing real world examples.
Q2. Countries are making every effort to cut back on their usage of petroleum products, particularly gasoline, in light of the rising cost of crude oil. Results from this will only become apparent over time. To cut down on the usage of private automobiles, the majority of nations are working to increase public transportation systems’ popularity. For the reasonably developed countries, the income elasticity of spending on private vehicles has been calculated to be approximately 2.5. Some nations, like India, are highly irritated that despite fare reductions, there is no movement towards public transportation. The following describes the user profile of the public transportation system:
They belong to the middle and low income categories with income elasticity less than one and the absolute value of price elasticity also less than one With the above given statement, you are required to suggest your point logically as to why the public transport is not becoming popular and why the use of private vehicles is only continuing to increase. You can build your answer by keeping income elasticity in mind and analysing it.
Q3a. A corporation in the USA that works in the telecommunications industry is called SNDL. Their intention is to join the Indian telecom industry. Prior to entering the Indian market, they would like to examine the market structure. They are doing this in order to determine how much price power they may have in the Indian telecom market. If you were giving them advice on the same thing, how would you go about comprehending the structure of the market? Explain which test or technique you would choose for determining the market concentration.
Q3b. ABC Ltd sought to determine the nature of the relationship between goods A and B, specifically if they are complementary or substitutes. Regarding the price and quantity requested for commodities A and B, the following information was available. The price of A remained unchanged, but the price of B dropped from Rs 240 to Rs 200, which increased the demand for A from 3500 to 4000 units. Determine the cross-elasticity of demand between goods A and B, and then provide a commentary on the relationship between the two goods based on the results.
Information Systems for Managers
1. GNJ Jewellers has now its several branches across different cities in India. The Jewellers started from very small shop in Mumbai and expanded their business in several years across India. Initially when they started, they have appointed different personnels to keep a track of jewelleries sold, orders given and inventory required. With the expansion of business in different cities, GNJ Jewellers are now finding it difficult to manage/ track the details at global level and to get an overview of Jewellery details across all stores of various cities. They contacted a solution providing firm to get solution of the same and were told to shift their business to Cloud wherein, all the operations of different stores can be monitored/detailed out very easily. Discuss how migrating to Cloud will help GNJ Jewellers to smoothen up the process of monitoring/tracking details from one location for other stores across various cities. Also, discuss which types of cloud and cloud service will be suitable for their organization.
2. Mantra Edutech has started its educational institute which provides certification courses related to various IT skill-based programs. They have setup their educational setup in offline mode in New Delhi. The institute has several departments such as admission, finance, academics, examination, HR etc. Mantra Edutech is finding it difficult to manage the operations of its institute manually, hence they need to automate the activities of all the departments. Discuss , how technology can help them in integrating and automating the activities of all the departments. Also, highlight 5 key benefits.
3. Xrbian Technology Solutions is new IT Company with the motive of providing solutions to different Organisations by catering to their specific product requirements. The company has been assigned a project development task that is relatively straightforward, with clear requirements. As a new venture, this organization is not fully aware of the different vulnerabilities and threats. Considering the above scenario, discuss and suggest various options for the following:
a) What can be the various threats and vulnerabilities that Xrbian Technology Solutions may face ? What security measures can Xrbian Technology Solutions adopt to respond to these threats and vulnerabilities ?
b) Discuss various software Development Life Cycle models Xrbian Technology Solutions can use for development of the Project. Support your answer with examples. State any assumptions made (for the project and the company).
Management Theory and Practice
Q1. Dr. Rohit Mahajan, a promising young researcher, has secured a prestigious research grant. However, claiming the funds requires navigating a complex bureaucratic maze within the university administration. Long forms, unclear procedures, and seemingly endless approvals threaten to delay his crucial project. In light of this case, what principles of bureaucratic managements must Rohit consider? Please elaborate on the relevant principles of bureaucratic management.
Q2. The Marketing Manager, Alex, is implementing a complex communication policy with lengthy approval processes for emails and documents. This coincides with a new CEO who rarely interacts with lower-level employees, creating a sense of isolation and lack of transparency.
How do these communication barriers affect employee morale, engagement, and productivity? How can these communication barriers be fixed to improve communication flow?
Q3. Mohit, a store manager at a university cafeteria, faces two challenges. First, he needs to order enough food items like sandwiches and salads to meet daily demand, which fluctuates based on class schedules. Second, a new student group has requested for a specialized vegan menu option.
Mohit has two decisions to deal with. First, how much of each standard food item he should order. Second, whether he should implement the new vegan menu option.
a. Which of the above two decisions fall under the programmed or non-programmed categories? Explain your answer.
b. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each decision in this situation?
Marketing Management
Case Study: E-JOSH Technologies
E-JOSH Technologies is a startup company founded in 2020 by a group of tech enthusiasts with a vision to revolutionize the education sector through innovative digital solutions. E-JOSH Technologies primarily targets students, teachers, and parents in the K-12 education sector. The company’s products and services are designed to cater to the diverse needs of these groups, providing personalized and interactive learning experiences.
E-JOSH Technologies offers a range of products and services designed to enhance the learning experience for students, teachers, and parents. These products are built on the foundation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to provide personalized and interactive learning opportunities. Some of the key features of products include:
AI-Powered Learning Platform: The core product of E-JOSH Technologies is its AI-powered learning platform. This platform offers a wide range of educational content, including interactive lessons, quizzes, and virtual classrooms. The AI technology used in the platform analyzes the learning patterns and preferences of each user to provide personalized recommendations and feedback, helping students learn more effectively.
Mobile App: E-JOSH Technologies also offers a mobile app version of its learning platform, allowing users to access educational content on-the-go. The app is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for students to navigate and engage with the content.
Teacher Dashboard: For teachers, E-JOSH Technologies provides a teacher dashboard that allows them to track the progress of their students, assign tasks and quizzes, and communicate with students and parents. The dashboard is designed to streamline the teaching process and enhance collaboration between teachers, students, and parents.
Parent Portal: The parent portal provides parents with insights into their child’s learning progress, including their performance in quizzes and assignments. Parents can also communicate with teachers through the portal, enabling them to be more involved in their child’s education.
E-JOSH Technologies operates on a subscription-based model, offering different tiers of access to its platform based on the user’s needs. The platform provides a wide range of educational content, including interactive lessons, quizzes, and virtual classrooms, all designed to enhance the learning experience and improve academic performance.
The marketing team at E-JOSH Technologies focuses on traditional marketing strategies to reach a wider audience. The operations team ensures the smooth functioning of the platform, managing content updates, user accounts, and technical support. They also work closely with the technology team to implement new features and improvements based on user feedback. The finance team is responsible for managing the company’s finances, including budgeting, financial planning, and revenue analysis. They also oversee the billing process and ensure that subscription fees are collected on time. The technology team is at the core of E-JOSH Technologies, responsible for developing and maintaining the AI-powered learning platform. They continuously work on improving the platform’s functionality, security, and user experience.
One of the major challenges facing E-JOSH Technologies is the competitive nature of the EdTech industry. There are several well-established players in the market offering similar products, making it challenging for E-JOSH Technologies to differentiate itself and attract new users.
E-JOSH Technologies has shown great potential to disrupt the education sector with its innovative AI-powered learning platform.
(You can make valid assumptions wherever applicable while answering the questions)
Q1. Explain various marketing management orientations and their alignment with E-JOSH Technologies.
Q2. What are the key geographic, demographic, psychographic, and behavioral characteristics of the segments that E-JOSH Technologies targets?
Q3 a) How can E-JOSH Technologies leverage digital marketing channels?
Q3 b) Which positioning strategy could be most appropriate for E-JOSH Technologies, explain with reasons.
Organisational Behaviour
1. Think about a person with whom you may have worked, who happens to be very different from you, such as someone of the opposite gender who also is a member of a different racial group and/ or from a different region or country. In what ways was this experience challenging for you? In what ways did these differences prove to be beneficial? What insight do you believe the field of OB can give you with respect to this experience?
2. A friend who runs a small media company has approached you for advice. He believes that the attitude of his employees seems to be getting very negative with each passing day. Performance seems to declining and attrition is on the rise, especially with new hires. At the exit interviews, a few employees reported that they felt dissatisfied with the working environment, had long working hours and unsupportive managers. The work seemed monotonous and no appreciation by managers is ever given. New employees have been found taking up jobs with this company’s competitors. Which major attitudes are a cause of concern in the given situation? How can this organization deal with the same?
3. You have recently started heading a very big hospital that has a lot of nursing staff. Upon joining as the director, the management has informed you that this hospital faces a peculiar crisis. This crisis is related to very poor moral and motivation among the nursing staff. Upon further research you are given to understand that the nursing staff has very high absenteeism and turnover and low patient care feedback. Not just the patients, but the doctors are also unhappy with the services of the nursing staff. You are now responsible to diagnose the main issues here and help improve the situation. As you go ahead and speak with a few nurses you find three main problems. The first problem is that the nursing staff believes that no one in the organisation appreciates their work or encourages them in any way. The second major issue is that the nurses feel that their counterparts in other hospitals are paid much better than them. The third problem is that they feel bored with the routine jobs and roles that have been assigned to them since many years.
a) What theories of motivation can be applied in context to the first two issues faced by the nurses?
b) Explain the ways in which each of the three issues mentioned in case can be addressed.