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Management Consultancy And Research Methodology Question Paper

Management Consultancy And Research Methodology

Course:Higher Diploma In Business Management (Business Management)

Exam Year:2007

HIGHER DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
MODULE 1
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
This paper consists of THREE sections; A, B and C.
Answer FOUR questions as follows:
The TWO compulsory questions in section A.
Any ONE of the TWO questions in section B.
Any ONE of the TWO questions in section C.
The marks for each question are as indicated.
This paper consists of 4 printed pages
Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are printed as indicated and no questions are missing.
SECTION A (60 marks)
Answer Questions 1 and 2 which are compulsory.
1. Read the case below and then answer the questions that follow.
SWARA MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
Swara Management Consultants was established two years ago by three friends; Tom Onyango, Abednego Kamau, and Caroline Kamene. The firms shares an office in the Central Business District.

Tom Onyango is an MBA graduate, having completed his studies three years ago. He had a short stint as a lecturer in private colleges in town before teaming up with his colleagues to form the consultancy firm. He is propped to provide the main consulting services to clients.

Abednego Kamau was in high school together with Onyango, but did not advance to University. He took a short course in marketing and was subsequently employed as a sales executive in a multinational firm dealing in office equipment. He is tasked with the responsibility of soliciting for business for the firm.

Caroline Kamene was a fellow student with Tom at undergraduate school, having specialized in accounting in her B.Com degree. She did not pursue post graduate studies, but got employed in a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) as an accounts assistant. Apart from providing consultancy services, Caroline has the responsibility of maintaining the books of accounts of the firm.

The firm has not undertaken any meaningful consultancy work since inception. It has always been disqualified whenever it has bid for consultancy services that have been advertised mainly by the multinational institutions operating in the country, and the various NGO's. The trio are not quite sure of the reasons for their failure to secure the consultancies advertised despite their sticking to the format of proposal writing that Tom learnt at University.They have been able to subsist on some sub-contracting jobs thrown their way by a few established firms with whose management Caroline is familiar.

Two months ago, however, their break seems to have finally arrived. This was through a chance meeting that Abednego had with one of his former clients at one of the mushrooming Makuti entertainment joints. It was at this joint that Abednego met with Kurgat, who had been the purchasing and finance manager of a certain multinational firm, but who, as he informed Abednego, has since been appointed the Managing Director of the local subsidiary.

Mr. Kurgat was impressed to learn that his friend had taken the plunge into self-employment, and informed him that as luck would have it, his company wanted the services of a consultancy firm urgently. This was because the fortunes of the company had taken a turn for the worse, with the firm losing over 30% of its market share to rival firms. Additionally, morale of employees in the firm seems to be at an all time low, with staff turnover being at a very alarming level. It was partly for this reason that Mr. Kurgat had been appointed to his new position, in order to design and initiate measures for affecting the company turnaround. Mr. Kurgat needed a consultancy firm to among other things: (i) Carry out an in-depth study of the operational practices of the firm;
(ii) Conduct any necessary research to establish the root causes of the problems;
(iii) Advise the company on the way forward.

Mr. Kurgat gave Abednego an appointment for today, to come and thrash out the finer details of the consultancy agreement. Abednego and his two partners are too excited about the prospects, as they prepare to go and meet Mr. Kurgat and his assistants.
(a) Suggest the deficiencies in Swara Management Consultants that could have led to its failure to secure consultancy services advertised.(10 marks)
(b) Explain the nature of the consultancy services that Swara Management Consultants that could provide to Kurgat's company.(10 marks)>br> (c) Assuming that the firm secures the consultancy and needs to conduct a marketing research:
(i) describe the issues to consider in the sampling process that they would follow.(10 marks)
(ii) outline the likely research objectives of the study.(10 marks)

2. (a) There are certain stages which a counselling session should follow. Describe these stages.(8 marks).
(b) Explain the factors that make it difficult to interpret numerical data that is presented in tabular form.(12 marks)

SECTION B (20 marks)
Answer any ONE of the TWO questions.

3. (a) Christine Nafula, who recently graduated in management, wishes to establish her own management consultancy firm. Explain to her personal skills that make it easier for a consultant to manage client relationships well.(12 marks)
(b) There are certain factors that a management consultancy firm should consider before offering to submit a proposal for a consultancy assignment. Highlight these factors.(8 marks)

4. (a) Explain the range of consultancy activities in which management consultancy interventions may be involved.(8 marks)
(b) Highlight the tactics used by successful counsellors during counselling sessions.(12 marks)

SECTION C (20 marks)
Answer any ONE of the TWO questions.

5. (a) The first stage in research process is the exploration stage. Highlight the objectives of this stage.(10 marks)
(b) There are certain factors, other than the required modules, that can lead to quick elimination of a research proposal by the sponsor. Describe these factors.(10 marks)

6. (a) It is usually necessary to evaluate the secondary sources of information in research to ensure their relevance and usefulness. Explain the basis upon which such sources of information could be evaluated.(10 marks)
(b) Describe the procedure that should be followed in testing for statistical significance in hypothesis testing.(10 marks)

Management Consultancy And Research Methodology Question Paper

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