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ARAB OPEN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF BUSINESS STUDIES T205B – SYSTEMS’ THINKING THEORY & PRACTICE
2017/2018 SEMESTER II
T205 B - TMA- Semester II - 2017– 2018
Question 01 (100 % marks)
(a) Read through the attached Case study “Toshiba’s Accounting Scandal”. As you read through the article create one spray diagram to summarize the case content respecting the conventions, and techniques. It is advised that students submit hand drawn diagrams as opposed to computer generated ones. Photocopies of diagrams should not be accepted. Reflect on your diagram in no more than 200 words. (15% marks).
(b) Based on what you learned in T205B concept file 04 section II “Control”, and based on the content of the article, and taking “Fixing corporate culture” as your goal draw one closed loop control model diagram to show the various inputs, and the transformation process, that can lead to reaching this goal. You need to show all the components of the control model diagram, the inputs’, processes, control (actuator, comparator, sensor), that can lead to goal achievement . Reflect on your diagram (15% marks)
(c) Using an essay format of no more than 2500 words, and based on what you learned in T205B concept file 04 section I “Organizations are They Rational”, readings 01 and 07, section III “Structure”, section IV development, section V culture and climate, and section VI “Decision Making” and based on the ideas put forth in the attached case study:
1- Discuss the concept of organizational goals and the three categories of goals, and assess the existence of goal displacement and pluralism at Toshiba. (Word Count 500; 15 Marks)
2- Discuss the management approach at Toshiba, and the extent of employees’ empowerment and teamwork. (Word Count 250, 05 Marks)
3- Discuss the concepts of organizational culture and climate and assess Toyota’s culture and climate. (Word count 400; 10 Marks)
4- Assess the extent to which Toyotas culture and climate and the unwritten rule of behaviors lead to the accounting scandal, (Word count 400; 15 Marks).
5- Discuss the different perspectives on decision making and assess how the decision-making process at Toshiba has affected the managers ability to resist pressures to inflate profits from top management (Word count 400; 15 Marks).
6- The investigation report mentioned that the interference of old generation of managers and their refusal to fully retire affected organizational culture and performance. Discuss the concept of organizational learning, and assess how the older managers’ attitude and power, can affect Toshibas ability to be a learning organization; justify your answers with evidence from the case (300 words; 10 Marks).
For this question you need to read the assigned article carefully and to reflect back on concept file 04 for the theoretical assessment.
(a) At this stage of the course you are expected to have developed good understanding of the purpose of drawing spray diagrams as part of applying the SUDA process for solving a messy situation. A spray diagram is the first type of diagrams drawn in the sensing phase of the SUDA process of mess analysis, in order to summarize the main ideas of a case, or the main components/elements of a situation. Please pay attention to the conventions and make sure that the central topic and other subtopics are relevant, and do make sense to the reader. Go back to T552 (Diagramming) the appendix to refresh your memory about the conventions.
(b) This is your first attempt at drawing control model diagram. The task should not be challenging though. Refer to Concept file 04 section II “Control”. You need to draw a control model diagram to show how the selected inputs can reach the stated goal. You also need to illustrate clear, relevant, and non-overlapping inputs, clear and accurate transformation process and an output which is consistent with the goal. You also need to specify which organizational entity is in charge of assuming the role of each of the elements/components of the control model (i.e. actuator, sensor, and comparator). The parties in charge of performing each task within the control mechanism should be clearly identified. It is very important that your diagram is specific rather than generic.
(c) Here you need to practice your analytical skills to assess what is required. Remember to start with a good introduction in which you define the assessed topic before moving on to explaining your plan for working on the TMA. In the body you should move on to assess the causes of the problems faced by Toyota and the impact of the organization’s structure, climate and decision making on its reaction to the problem. You also need to evaluate whether Toyota is a learning organization by relying on both theoretical principles and practical examples, and on the ideas presented in the assigned article.
B301 A: Making Sense of Strategy I
SPRING- Semester 2017 – 2018
The TMA is based on the concepts from Readings for Block 3-Reading 1
Question
Analyzing the external environment is a critical step in recognizing and understanding the opportunities and threats that organizations face.
Assuming that you are strategy specialist, take industry environment of your own country as the focal point Bahrain, Lebanon, Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan)
Required:
1-Critically analyze and discuss the impact of internet and digital technologies on each of the Five Competitive Forces. (1000 words)
2. Critically highlight and discuss four threats of entry to new entrants in small scale entrepreneurship in your country and suggest ways to overcome them. (500 words)
BE200 – Marketing Management
Tutor Marked Assessment
MG
Spring 2017
Case Study: How Fujitsu Services Uses Segmentation to Prioritize Sales Opportunities
In 2007, Fujitsu, a world leading IT Services Company, realized that it was spreading its attention too thinly across the U.K. market. It knew that there were existing and potential customers that were worth a more focused selling effort, but it was not sure where to apply the resources to get the most payback (profit).
Question 1: (20 Marks)
a. What is the mistake Fujitsu was doing before 2007 and what strategy did the company adopt to treat it? (10 Marks)
b. As Fujitsu marketing manager, give some recommendations about the way the company should develop its marketing campaign based on the elements of the marketing mix. (10 Marks)
Word count: 350 words
Question 2: (40 Marks)
a. Explain the three main marketing strategies applied by companies in order to gain competitive advantage in the current dynamic environment. (15 Marks)
b. How did Fujitsu apply segmentation among the marketing strategies explained in part (a) of question 2? (10 Marks)
c. Explain the Five steps used by Fujitsu to identify attractive companies within each industry. (15 Marks)
Word count: 350 words.
Question 3: (20 Marks)
Name and describe the elements of the company’s microenvironment factors illustrating the importance of each one. (20 Marks)
Word count: 300 words
Question 4: (20 Marks)
How did you decide on the college or university you are currently attending? Based on BE200 material and on your own experience describe the factors that influenced your decision and the decision-making process you followed.
Word count: 200 words
Grades deduction for:
TMA Presentation: (up to 5 marks)
Up to 5 marks should be deducted for poor presentation or poor organization of the TMA outline and discussion or TMA presented without PT3.
Proper referencing: (up to 5 marks)
Referencing should be both in-text referencing, plus a list of references at the end using Harvard style. Up to 5 marks should be deducted for poor referencing.
Use of E-Library: (up to 5 marks)
A minimum use of 2 articles from AOU e-library is required to support the discussions. Up to 5 marks should be deducted for no use or poor use of e-library.
Word count: (up to 5 marks)
The answers should be within the specified word count. A deviation of 10% is acceptable; if more, a deduction up to 5 marks will be applied.
Arab Open University Definitions of cheating and plagiarism
Plagiarism means copying from internet, from unreferenced sources, from other students’ TMAs or any other source. Penalties for plagiarism range from failure in the TMA or the course, to expulsion from the university.
According to the Arab Open University By-laws, “the following acts represent cases of cheating and plagiarism:
• Verbatim copying of printed material and submitting them as part of TMAs without proper academic acknowledgement and documentation.
• Verbatim copying of material from the Internet, including tables and graphics.
• Copying other students’ notes or reports.
• Using paid or unpaid material prepared for the student by individuals or firms.
• Utilization of, or proceeding to utilize, contraband materials or devices in examinations.”
Penalty on plagiarism: The following is the standard plagiarism penalty applied across branches as per Article 11 of the university by-laws was revisited and modified to be more explicit with regard to plagiarism on TMAs. Penalties include the following:
1) Awarding of zero for a TMA wherein more than 20% of the content is plagiarized.
2) Documentation of warning in student record.
3) Failure in the course to dismissal from the University.
B301 B: Making Sense of Strategy II
SPRING Semester 2017– 2018
Please Note that this particular TMA is meant to respond to recommendations given by EE to encourage and develop greater critical analytical skills especially at level 6, by encouraging the students to read more widely; the greater use of comparative case studies; and encouraging part-time students to reflect on the application of the theories discussed to their own workplace.
The TMA is based on the concepts from Readings for Block 3-Readings 12 &13
Question
Determinants of national competitive advantage create the national environment in which companies are born and learn how to compete.
Assuming that you are strategy and policy expert for your own country Bahrain, Lebanon, Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan) you are:
Required:
1. To critically analyze and discuss FOUR different policies with each of the four determinants of national competitive advantage that will attract Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and protect domestic firms in your country. (1000 words)
2. To suggest and critically discuss FOUR strategies that can enhance the capacity of firms in your country to create more employment (500 words)
1. BE210 (BE210/4)
The TMA Questions
Jazeera Airways
Jazeera Airways K.S.C.P. (the “Ultimate Parent Company”) was incorporated by Amiri Decree on 3 March 2004 as a Kuwaiti Public Shareholding Company under the laws of Kuwait and is engaged in the business of air transportation and commercial passenger services under a license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
You can download the 2016 annual report for Jazeera Airways directly from the following web page:
Instructions:
Use the annual report to answer the following questions:
1- What are the consolidated financial statements of Jazeera Airways K.S.C.P. (“the Ultimate Parent Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively “the Group”)?
[10 marks]
2- What is the basis of preparation of the consolidated financial statements 2016?
[5 marks]
3- List five objects of the Ultimate Parent Company?
[5 marks]
4- What are the subsidiaries of the Ultimate Parent Company?
[5 marks]
5- Go through the “INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS” and answer the following questions:
a. Who is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements?
b. What is the name of the independent auditors?
c. What is the basis for opinion of the independent auditor, and determine the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements?
[15 marks]
6- What are the total assets of Jazeera Airways at December 31, 2016 and at December 31, 2015? Write Jazeera airways’ accounting equation at December 31, 2016 & December 31, 2015, by filling “Assets=Liabilities + Stockholders’ Equity”.
[10 marks]
7- Identify Revenue for the years 2016 and 2015. Did Revenue increase or decrease in 2016 compared with 2015? Comment.
[15 marks]
8- Identify Net Profit (Net Income) for the years 2016 and 2015. Did Net Profit increase or decrease in 2016 compared with 2015. Based on this, was the year 2016 better or worse than the year 2015? Comment.
[15 marks]
9- Compute Jazeera airways’ current ratio at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Did the company’s ability to pay current debts improve or deteriorate or did it remain the same. Comment briefly on your findings.
[10 marks]
10- Compute the debt ratio for Jazeera airways as of December 31 2016 and December 31, 2015. Comment on your answer.
[10 marks]
End of TMA Questions
A150: Voices and Texts
TMA: Spring 2017– 2018
Identity and Expression
This assignment relates to Book 1 , Voices and Texts of Authority Chapter. 2 ‘Canons and Classics in Literature and Music’ and write your essay in about 1200 words.
Question
John Donne has been called ‘the most electrifying poet in the English language’ by the popular modern historian Simon Schama (2009). How far this comment supports Donne’s canonical status?
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