TQM is relevant for PQR Ltd because TQM is designed to achieve customer satisfaction. The key to TQM is for everyone to have well defined customers - an extension of the word, beyond the customers of the company, to anyone to whom an individual provides a service.
Quality has to be managed in TQM, it will not just happen on its own. TQM aims at getting quality right the first time.
Staff recruitment - especially additional personnel may be needed to meet the requirements of TQM.
Training and development is also part and parcel of TQM, which requires that employees and suppliers be trained to know what is expected of them. Management should also encourage education and self-improvement at every level.
Implementing TQM
There is no one best way to implement TQM; each organization has to implement it in the manner that suits it the most.
Many firms start with an awareness program to educate both managers and other employees on what TQM means and how it will affect their jobs. This involves encouraging managers to attend seminar and discussions on TQM, read about TQM and visit other firm already practicing TQM.
The next step is a customer survey to find out their expectations about the firm and identify areas where these expectations aren’t being met.
The results of the survey will form the starting point of implementing a quality program.
Implementation will be done step-by-step beginning with departments of greatest weakness.
The process of TQM
1. Analysis of customers’ needs. They may need quality products efficient services etc.
Needs assessment may be carried out through a market survey using interviews and the questionnaire.
2. Assessment of the degree to which these needs are being met.
3. Establishment of the gap between the current state and the desired.
4. Establishment of quality standards capable of satisfying customers’ needs.
5. Putting in place programmes necessary to meet the standards. These programmes may include training and development, incorporating quality objectives into strategic plans, forming quality teams (quality circles) and rewards for quality improvement.
Elements of companies that follow TQM
- There is absolute commitment by the chief executive and all senior managers to doing what is needed to change the culture. Alongside this is total commitment to the program at every level.
- Quality is everybody’s responsibility and it is customer driven not organization driven.
- There is customer satisfaction.
- There is real commitment to a continuous improvement of all processes.
- Communication is excellent and multi-way.
- Attention is focused first on the process and second on results.
- There is an absence of strict control systems.
Kavungya answered the question on April 24, 2021 at 07:56
-
With reference to the measurement of portfolio risk, distinguish between Portfolio theory and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).
(Solved)
With reference to the measurement of portfolio risk, distinguish between Portfolio theory and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).
Date posted:
April 23, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Karim plc and Roshan plc are quoted companies. The following figures are from their current balance sheets:
Both companies earn an annual profit, before charging debenture...
(Solved)
Karim plc and Roshan plc are quoted companies. The following figures are from their current balance sheets:
Both companies earn an annual profit, before charging debenture interest of Sh.500,000 which is expected to
remain constant for the indefinite future. The profits of both companies, before charging debenture interest,
are generally regarded as being subject to identical levels of risk. It is the policy of both companies to
distribute all available profits as dividends at the end of each year.
The current market value of Karim Ltd.‟s ordinary shares is Sh.3.00 per share cum div. An
annual dividend is due to be paid in the very near future.
Roshan Ltd. has just made annual dividend and interest payments both on its ordinary shares and on its
debentures. The current market value of the ordinary shares is Sh.1.40 per share and of the debentures,
Sh.50.00 percent.
Mr. Hashim owns 50,000 ordinary shares in Roshan Ltd. He is wondering whether he could increase his
annual income, without incurring any extra risk, by selling his shares in Roshan Ltd and buying some of the
ordinary shares of Karim Ltd. Mr. Hashim is able to borrow money at an annual compound rate of interest
of 12%.
You are required:
(a) to estimate the cost of ordinary share capital and the weighted average cost of capital of Karim Ltd
and Roshan Ltd;
(b) to explain briefly why both the cost of ordinary share capital and weighted average cost of capital of
Karim Ltd differ from those of Roshan Ltd;
(d) to prepare calculations to demonstrate to Mr. Hashim how he might improve his position in the way
he has suggested, stating clearly any reservations you have about the scheme; and
(d) to discuss the implications of your answers to (a), (b) and (c) above for the determination of a
company‟s optimal financial structure in practice.
Date posted:
April 23, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
The following data have been developed for the Ujasiri Company Limited:
The yield to maturity on Treasury Bills is 0.066 and is expected to remain at...
(Solved)
The following data have been developed for the Ujasiri Company Limited:
The yield to maturity on Treasury Bills is 0.066 and is expected to remain at this point for the
foreseeable future.
Required:
(a) The equation of the Security Market Line.
(b) The required return for the Ujasiri Company Limited.
(c) Is the Company correctly priced, underpriced or overpriced in the market? Explain.
Date posted:
April 23, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Rodfin plc is considering investing in one of two short-term portfolios of four short-term financial
investments in diverse industries. The correlation between the returns of the...
(Solved)
Rodfin plc is considering investing in one of two short-term portfolios of four short-term financial
investments in diverse industries. The correlation between the returns of the individual components of these
investments is believed to be negligible.
The managers of Rodfin are not sure of how to estimate the risk of these portfolios, as it has been
suggested to them that either portfolio theory or the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) will give the same
measure of risk. The market return is estimated to be 12.5% and the risk free rate 5.5%.
Required:
(a) Discuss whether or not portfolio theory and CAPM give the same portfolio risk measure.
(b) Using the above data estimate the risk and return of the two portfolios and recommend which one
should be selected.
Date posted:
April 23, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
XYZ company Limited is considering a major investment in a new productive process. The total
cost of the investment has been estimated at Sh.2,000,000 but if...
(Solved)
XYZ company Limited is considering a major investment in a new productive process. The total
cost of the investment has been estimated at Sh.2,000,000 but if this were increased to Sh.3,000,000,
productive capacity would be substantially increased. Because of the nature of the process, once the
basic plant has been established, to increase capacity at some future date is exceptionally costly. One
of the problem facing management is that the demand for process output is very uncertain.
However, the market research and finance departments have been able to produce the following
estimate:
Required:
Compute the expected NPV of each of the project and state the one to be chosen.
Date posted:
April 23, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Outline the major causes of public projects failure.
(Solved)
Outline the major causes of public projects failure.
Date posted:
April 23, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
The following data have been provided with respect to three shares traded on the Nairobi
Stock Exchange (NSE).
...
(Solved)
The following data have been provided with respect to three shares traded on the Nairobi
Stock Exchange (NSE).
Share A Share B Share C
Risk free rate of return 0.120 0.120 0.120
Beta coefficient 1.340 1.000 0.750
Return on the NSE index 0.185 0.185 0.185
Required:
(i) What is the beta coefficient?
(ii) Interpret the beta coefficient of shares A, B and C.
(iii) Using the Capital Asset Pricing Model, compute the expected return
on shares A, B and C.
(iv) Can the beta coefficient be less than zero? Explain
Date posted:
April 23, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
You have been provided with the following information about a project, which XYZ Ltd. is planning to undertake soon.
Required:
(a) Calculate the project?s net investment.
(b) Using...
(Solved)
You have been provided with the following information about a project, which XYZ Ltd. is planning to undertake soon.
Required:
(a) Calculate the project‟s net investment.
(b) Using the net present value method, show whether or not the project should be undertaken by the company.
(c) Suppose in addition to the information given above you are provided with the following cash
flows certainty equivalents:
Year 0: 1.00
Year 1: 0.90
Year 2: 0.80
Year 3: 0.60
Year 4: 0.50
Year 5: 0.40
Does your conclusion about the acceptability of the project in part (c) above change? Explain.
Date posted:
April 22, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Explain briefly what is meant by foreign currency options and give examples of the advantages and disadvantages of exchange traded foreign currency options to the...
(Solved)
Explain briefly what is meant by foreign currency options and give examples of the advantages and disadvantages of exchange traded foreign currency options to the financial manager.
Date posted:
April 22, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
You are required to discuss whether a multinational company should hedge translation exposure by incurring transaction exposure.
(Solved)
You are required to discuss whether a multinational company should hedge translation exposure by incurring transaction exposure.
Date posted:
April 22, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
A company operating in a country having the dollar as its unit of currency has today invoiced sales to the
United Kingdom in sterling, payment being...
(Solved)
A company operating in a country having the dollar as its unit of currency has today invoiced sales to the
United Kingdom in sterling, payment being due three months from the date of invoice. The invoice
amount is £3,000,000 which, at today's spot rate of 1.5985 is equivalent to USD4,795,500.
It is expected that the exchange rate will decline by about 5% over the three month period and in
order to protect the dollar proceeds from the sale, the company proposes taking appropriate
action through either the foreign exchange market or the money market.
The USD/£ three-months forward exchange rate is quoted as 1.5858-1.5873. the three-months
borrowing rate for Eurosterling is 15.0% and the deposit rate quoted by the company's own
bankers is currently 9.5%.
You are required to
Explain the alternative courses of action available to the company, with relevant calculations to four
decimal places, and to advise which course of action should be adopted.
Date posted:
April 22, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Fidden is a medium-sized UK company with export and import trade with the USA. The following transactions are due with the next six months. Transactions...
(Solved)
Fidden is a medium-sized UK company with export and import trade with the USA. The following transactions are due with the next six months. Transactions are in the currency specified.
Purchases of components, cash payment due in three months: £116,000
Sales of finished goods, cash receipt due in three months: USD 197,000
Purchase of finished goods for resale, cash payment due in six months: USD 447,000
Sale of finished goods, cash receipt due in six months: USD 154,000
Assume that it is now December with three months to expiry of the March contract and that the option
price is not payable until the end of the option period, or when the option is exercised.
You are required:
(i) to calculate the net sterling receipts/payments that Fidden might expect for both its three and
six month transactions if the company hedges foreign exchange risk on:
the forward foreign exchange market; the money market.
(ii) If the actual spot rate in six months time was with hindsight exactly the present six months forward
rate, calculate whether Fidden would have been better to hedge through foreign currency
options rather than the forward market or money market.
(iii) to explain briefly what you consider to be the main advantage of foreign currency options.
Date posted:
April 22, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Ceder Ltd has details of two machines which could fulfill the company's future production
plans. Only one of these machines will be purchased.
The standard model costs...
(Solved)
Ceder Ltd has details of two machines which could fulfill the company's future production
plans. Only one of these machines will be purchased.
The standard model costs Sh.50,000, and the deluxe Sh.88,000, payable immediately. Both
machines would require the input of Sh.10,000 working capital throughout their working lives, and both
machines have no expected scrap value at the end of their expected working lives of four years for the
standard machine and six years for the deluxe machine.
The forecast pre-tax operating net cash flows associated with the two machines are:
The de-luxe machine has only recently been introduced to the market and has not been fully tested in
operating conditions. Because of the higher risk involved, the appropriate discount rate for the de-luxe
machine is believed to be 14% per year, 2% higher than the discount rate for the standard machine.
The company is proposing to finance the purchase of either machine with a term loan at a fixed interest
rate of 11% per year.
Taxation at 35% is payable on operating cash flows one year in arrears, and capital allowances are available
at 25% per year on a reducing balance basis.
You are required:
(a) to calculate for both the standard and the de-luxe machine:
(i) pay-back period;
(ii) net present value
Recommend, with reasons, which of the two machines Ceder Ltd should purchase.
(Relevant calculations must be shown)
(b) If Ceder Ltd were offered the opportunity to lease the standard model machine over a four year
period at a rental of Sh.15,000 per year, not including maintenance costs, evaluate whether the
company should lease or purchase the machine.
Date posted:
April 22, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Justify and criticize the usual assumption made in financial management literature that the objective of a
company is to maximize the wealth of its shareholders. (Do...
(Solved)
Justify and criticize the usual assumption made in financial management literature that the objective of a
company is to maximize the wealth of its shareholders. (Do not consider how this wealth is to be measured).
Date posted:
April 21, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Discuss how government actions can influence the tasks of the financial manager and explain how these actions can affect the attainment of financial objectives.
(Solved)
Discuss how government actions can influence the tasks of the financial manager and explain how these actions can affect the attainment of financial objectives.
Date posted:
April 21, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Maltec plc is a company that has diversified into five different industries in five different countries. The investments are each approximately equal in value. The...
(Solved)
Maltec plc is a company that has diversified into five different industries in five different countries. The investments are each approximately equal in value. The company's objective is to reduce risk
through diversification, and it believes that the return on any investment is not correlated with the return on any other investment. The estimated risk and return (in present value terms) of the five investments are shown below:
Required:
(a) Estimate the risk and return of the portfolio of five investments, and briefly explain the significance of your results.
(b) Discuss the validity to investors of Maltec's objective of risk reduction through international
diversification.
Date posted:
April 21, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Outline the potential problems in the achievement of synergies.
(Solved)
Outline the potential problems in the achievement of synergies.
Date posted:
April 20, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Explain the possible synergies that might occur in mergers and acquisitions.
(Solved)
Explain the possible synergies that might occur in mergers and acquisitions.
Date posted:
April 20, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
Briefly discuss the meaning and importance of the terms 'delta', 'theta' and 'vega' (also known as
kappa or lamba) in option pricing.
(Solved)
Briefly discuss the meaning and importance of the terms 'delta', 'theta' and 'vega' (also known as
kappa or lamba) in option pricing.
Date posted:
April 20, 2021
.
Answers (1)
-
The managers of Strayer plc are investigating a potential Sh.25 million investment. The investment would be a diversification away from existing mainstream activities and into...
(Solved)
The managers of Strayer plc are investigating a potential Sh.25 million investment. The investment would be a diversification away from existing mainstream activities and into the printing industry. Sh.6 million of the investment would be financed by internal funds, Sh.10 million by a rights issue and Sh.9 million by long term loans. The investment is expected to generate pre-tax net cash flows of approximately Sh.5 million per year, for a period of ten years. The residual value at the end of year ten is forecast to be Sh.5 million after tax. As the investment is in an area that the government wishes to develop, a subsidized loan of Sh.4 million out of the total Sh.9 million is available. This will cost 2% below the company's normal cost of long-term debt finance, which is 8%.
Strayer's equity beta is 0.85, and its financial gearing is 60% equity, 40% debt by value. The average
equity beta in the printing industry is 1.2, and average gearing 50% equity, 50% debt by market value.
The risk free rate is 5.5% per annum and the market return 12% per annum.
Issue costs are estimated to be 1% for debt financing (excluding the subsidized loan), and 4% for
equity financing. These costs are not tax allowable.
The corporate tax rate is 30%.
Required:
(a) Estimate the Adjusted Present Value (APV) of the proposed investment.
(b) Comment upon the circumstances under which APV might be a better method of evaluating a
capital investment than Net Present Value (NPV).
Date posted:
April 20, 2021
.
Answers (1)