T5 JUNE 2010 Examination is nearing

By now you should have started to panic.......but don't worry, there is still hope. It is never too late to start studying, as long as you can realize that you have to put in the effort and start moving in the correct direction

1. Start reviewing the past year papers, since the examiner has already used up most of the areas for the examination

2. Do not be stressed about what some lecturers might have told you about the paper, it is not difficult

3. Do not need to write in essays - you can write in point format (just refer to the past year papers answer by the examiner) & read the examiner article in March 2010 which indicates that list of points is what is expected by the examiner

4. Increase your review of questions from June 2004 - 2007 that has yet repeat

5. The names part - your examiner will most likely use a name that has yet to come out, so it would be wise for you to cover the names from the names list

Review of what had come out so far - not the similar questions that have repeated already, now focus on the ones that have yet to repeat - something is bound to repeat. Your examiner has yet asked the internal controls questions to the level that is required, since I suppose she is more of a management lecturer rather than an auditing examiner, I suppose that it should be time for some questions to be asked about internal controls for sales, wages or purchases in more detail

JUNE 2004 CAT T5 Examination

1 Organisations can be described as open systems, interacting with a variety of different stakeholders in an ever changing environment.

Required:

(a) Explain what you understand by the term ‘stakeholders’. (2 marks)

(b) Identify and describe three key stakeholders of an organisation and briefly explain their relationship with the organisation. (6 marks)

(c) Identify and briefly explain the key external environmental influences which might impact on any organisation and its stakeholders. (6 marks)

(d) Give examples of how any two of the influences you have described in part (c) might impact on your organisation, or an organisation with which you are familiar. (6 marks)

(20 marks)

2 You have been asked to undertake a review of how the purchasing of stationery and computer consumables is undertaken within your organisation, or one with which you are familiar, with a view to controlling the process more effectively.

Required:

(a) Identify and explain the key stages in the purchasing cycle that you might expect to see when undertaking this review. (8 marks)

(b) Make recommendations to your manager about the type of controls which could be implemented at three of the stages you have identified above. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

3 Effective team working is an increasingly important aspect of organisational life.

Required:

(a) Outline the key characteristics/features of effective teams. (8 marks)

(b) Identify and explain the key stages of group development as identified by Tuckman. Your explanation should include reference to the role of the group leader at each stage. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

4 You have been asked by your manager to write instructions for a new member of staff who is taking up their first appointment since leaving college.

Required:

(a) Write a memo to the new member of staff which identifies and explains how to use three different approaches to personal work planning. (10 marks)

(b) Explain the main techniques and tools the new member of staff could use to help them manage their time as effectively as possible. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

5 The International Labour Organisation estimates that each year, more than two million people die of work related accidents and illnesses.

Required:

(a) Outline the role of training in raising awareness of health and safety issues. (8 marks)

(b) Describe the respective roles and responsibilities of senior management, the supervisor and the individual in promoting health and safety within the organisation. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

DEC 2004 CAT T5 Examination

1 The accounting function is one of several key functions within an organisation, all of which integrate to ensure that the organisation is able to deliver its products or services as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Required:

(a) Explain the purpose of the accounting function within an organisation and identify and briefly describe how it interacts with ANY TWO OTHER functional areas. (8 marks)

(b) Identify and describe the key factors which might affect the type of accounting system used within an organisation. (6 marks)

(c) Explain how you would expect the accounting function to be affected if the organisation has its operations in a number of different countries. (6 marks)

(20 marks)

2 Effective management control systems are an essential feature of all organisations.

Required:

(a) Identify and briefly describe the features of a good internal control system. (8 marks)

(b) Outline the major limitations of internal control systems. (4 marks)

(c) Explain how the limitations of internal controls identified in part (b) above might be overcome, using examples. (8 marks)

(20 marks)

3 An understanding of organisational culture is important because it can explain much of what happens in organisations and can also provide insights into how organisational effectiveness might be improved.

Required:

(a) Explain what you understand by the term ‘organisation culture’. (4 marks)

(b) Charles Handy’s classification identifies four distinct cultural types. Identify these four types and fully explain any two of these. (10 marks)

(c) Identify and describe any two factors which might influence the development of an organisation’s culture. (6 marks)

(20 marks)

4 Ineffective communication is frequently cited as being a major contributor to poor performance within organisations.

Required:

(a) Distinguish between formal and informal methods of communication used within organisations. (8 marks)

(b) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of formal communications. (6 marks)

(c) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of informal communications. (6 marks)

(20 marks)

5 All employees, at whatever level, have a responsibility not only for their own safety in the workplace, but also for those around them.

Required:

(a) Identify and describe typical activities in which accidents might happen or where there may be risk or potential danger to employees. (10 marks)

(b) What advice would you give to a new employee to enable them to minimise their exposure to safety hazards and risks in the workplace, thereby ensuring as safe a working environment as possible? (10 marks)

(20 marks)

June 2005 CAT T5 Examination

1 Organisation structures are the framework for getting work done efficiently and effectively. Businesses are organised and structured in a variety of different ways and as well as ‘tall’ or ‘flat’ structures, a matrix structure is adopted by some organisations.

Required:

(a) What do you understand by the term ‘matrix structure’? (4 marks)

(b) Identify and briefly explain four key advantages of a matrix structure. (8 marks)

(c) Identify and briefly explain four key disadvantages of a matrix structure. (8 marks)

(20 marks)

2 Legislation requires that the accounts of a public limited company must be audited.

Required:

(a) Explain the role of an external auditor. (3 marks)

(b) What is the purpose of the external auditor’s report and what would you expect to be included in it?

(8 marks)

(c) What are the three main differences between the internal and the external auditor? (9 marks)

(20 marks)

3 Henri Fayol was a key contributor to the classical view of management and identified five functions of management which apply to any organisation. These are planning, organising, commanding, coordinating and controlling.

Required:

(a) What are the key characteristics of the classical view of management? (10 marks)

(b) Fully explain what is involved in any two of Fayol’s five functions. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

4 Conflict in organisations is often considered to be inevitable and can have positive as well as negative outcomes.

Required:

(a) Identify and explain the key sources of conflict in organisations. (12 marks)

(b) Explain the win-win approach to resolving conflict and contrast this approach with win-lose and lose-lose approaches. (8 marks)

(20 marks)

5 Data in the workplace is potentially at risk of security breaches. It can be damaged, lost or stolen in the same way that equipment and valuables can.

Required:

(a) Outline and briefly explain the potential risks to data held in organisations, including data that is held or transmitted electronically. (10 marks)

(b) Identify ways in which the risks to data identified in (a) can be reduced or avoided. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

DEC 2005 CAT T5 Examination

1 Planning is an important business process and can be critical to an organisation’s success.

Required:

(a) Give two reasons why business planning is important to managers in organisations. (4 marks)

(b) Explain two main differences between strategic planning and tactical planning. (4 marks)

(c) Identify and briefly describe four elements that you might expect to see in an organisation’s human resource plan. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

2 All business and accounting systems require formal controls if they are to be useful and effective within an organisation: the payroll system is one example.

Required:

(a) Explain the purpose of a payroll system. (2 marks)

(b) What information relating to individual employees would you expect to be held on a payroll file? (6 marks)

(c) Identify and explain four key controls relating to wages and salaries. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

3 Delegation of authority is the process whereby a superior devolves to the subordinate part of his or her own authority to make decisions.

Required:

(a) Give three reasons why a manager or supervisor might delegate some of their authority to their subordinates.

(6 marks)

(b) What factors should a manager or supervisor take into account when deciding whether or not to delegate?

(6 marks)

(c) Briefly give four reasons why many managers and supervisors are reluctant to delegate. (8 marks)

(20 marks)

4 One of the main purposes of an effective appraisal system is to improve individual and organisational performance.

Required:

(a) Identify the four key stages of the appraisal interview process. (4 marks)

(b) Provide a full explanation of the kind of activities and actions you would expect to take place at any two of the stages you have identified in part (a) above. (8 marks)

(c) Identify and explain two potential disadvantages of an appraisal scheme. (8 marks)

(20 marks)

5 Security aims to prevent others from illegally accessing, stealing and damaging the property of an organisation and/or the people who work in it.

Required:

(a) Identify and explain the three basic principles of effective security. (12 marks)

(b) Provide two examples of who or what might be particularly at risk in a business organisation. (4 marks)

(c) Provide two examples of particular locations within an organisation that might be at risk. (4 marks)

(20 marks)

JUNE 2006 CAT T5 Examination

1 Every organisation interacts with its external environment.

Required:

(a) Identify four external environmental influences which can affect any organisation. (8 marks)

(b) Explain fully, with the use of examples, how any two of those external influences identified in part (a) above, might affect your own organisation, or one with which you are familiar. (12 marks) (20 marks)

2 Management information is used for a wide variety of purposes. Three main functions of management where management information can be useful are planning, control and decision-making. Required:

(a) Explain how management information can assist in each of the three areas identified above. (12 marks)

(b) Identify and describe four key internal sources of management information. (8 marks)

(20 marks)

3 Robert Blake and Jane Mouton carried out research (The Ohio State Leadership Studies) into managerial behaviour and developed a grid to explain their findings.

Required:

(a) What are the two essential dimensions of Blake and Mouton’s managerial grid? (4 marks)

(b) Identify and explain any two of the styles of management shown in the grid. (10 marks)

(c) Identify and briefly explain two practical applications of the grid. (6 marks)

(20 marks)

4 Communication underpins everything you do at work. Effective communication is a two way process and is often shown as a cycle.

Required:

(a) Explain, with the aid of a diagram, the communication process/cycle. (8 marks)

(b) Identify four barriers to effective communication. (4 marks)

(c) Identify four ways in which management could improve communication in an organisation. (8 marks)

(20 marks)

5 The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has never accepted that disease and injury are an inevitable part of working life.

Required:

(a) Identify four reasons why health and safety should be important to all organisations. (4 marks)

(b) What responsibilities do individuals have to ensure a healthy and safe working environment? (8 marks)

(c) What responsibilities do organisations have to ensure a healthy and safe working environment? (8 marks)

(20 marks)

DEC 2006 CAT T5 Examination

1 Many accounting systems are now computerised. Computerised accounting systems have a number of advantages over manual systems, but there are also a number of disadvantages.

Required:

(a) Identify four advantages of computerised accounting systems. (10 marks)

(b) Identify four disadvantages of computerised accounting systems. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

2 Every organisation is likely to be exposed to the risk of fraud.

Required:

(a) Identify four common types of fraud. (8 marks)

(b) Explain the consequences of the types of fraud identified in part (a) above. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

3 Motivation is a very important element in the management of individuals and can be a useful tool for improving productivity.

Required:

(a) Explain Abraham Maslow’s theory of motivation. (10 marks)

(b) Give five major practical limitations of Maslow’s theory. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

4 Training is the systematic development of the attitude, knowledge, skill and behaviour pattern required by an individual in order to perform a given task or job effectively.

Required:

(a) Explain five benefits of training for an organisation. (10 marks)

(b) Explain five benefits of training for individual employees. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

5 An effective health and safety policy is an important part of maintaining the health and safety standards promoted by the International Labour Organisation.

Required:

(a) Identify the five key elements that you would expect to see in a health and safety policy. (10 marks)

(b) Identify five steps an organisation can take to ensure that its health and safety policy is effective.

(10 marks)

(20 marks)

June 2007 CAT T5 Examination

1 Many different types of activity are carried out in a typical organisation. Many of these activities can be grouped into broad functional areas within the organisation structure.

Required:

(a) Identify and fully explain any two broad functional areas within an organisation. (10 marks)

(b) Briefly explain any five factors which might influence the way in which an organisation is structured. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

2 An integrated system links together the different elements of an accounting package such as sales, purchases and stock.

Required:

(a) Explain four potential benefits of an integrated system. (10 marks)

(b) Identify and briefly explain five key outputs from a computerised sales ledger system. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

3 There are different levels of management in most organisations. The supervisor is the first level of management.

Required:

(a) Explain four key features of supervision. (8 marks)

(b) With reference to appropriate theories, identify and fully explain three key differences between management and leadership. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

4 Interpersonal skills are skills used in the interactions and relationships between two or more people. Required:

(a) State and briefly explain five examples of interpersonal skills. (10 marks)

(b) State and briefly explain five examples of where interpersonal skills are important in an organisation.

(10 marks)

(20 marks)

5 A safe and healthy working environment is an important part of maintaining the health and safety standards promoted by the International Labour Organisation.

Required:

(a) Give five examples of costs that might be incurred by an organisation as a consequence of accidents or illness within the workplace. (10 marks)

(b) Identify and briefly explain five key factors which can contribute to a safe and healthy working environment. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

Dec 2007 CAT T5 Examination

1 The accounting function is part of the broader business system and does not operate in isolation. Accounting systems must be adequate to fulfil a range of objectives.

Required:

(a) Identify FOUR key purposes of an accounting system. (8 marks)

(b) Identify and explain, with the use of examples, any TWO organisational factors that might influence the accounting systems of a business. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

2 Control systems make sure that the organisation drives its plans forward and achieves its objectives. An effective control system will promote corrective actions where necessary and also help to detect and deter fraud or prevent inefficiency.

Required:

(a) List EIGHT types of internal controls that can be used by an organisation. (8 marks)

(b) Fully explain any THREE of the types of controls identified in part (a) above. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

3 Team working allows tasks to be shared amongst a number of individuals so that they get done faster and more effectively and with a greater range of skills and knowledge than by individuals working alone.

Required:

(a) Fully explain any TWO different approaches to the organisation of teamwork. (8 marks)

(b) Describe any FOUR of the team roles identified by Belbin and explain their contribution to the team.

(12 marks)

(20 marks)

4 There are several different schools of learning theory which help to describe and understand how people learn.

Required:

(a) Using the work of either Honey and Mumford or Kolb, explain the FOUR key elements of the experiential learning cycle. Your explanation should include a fully labelled diagram. (10 marks)

(b) Identify and fully explain any TWO of the learning styles classified by Honey and Mumford. (10 marks) (20 marks)

5 Security aims to prevent others from taking away or doing damage to things that belong to your organisation and/or the people who work within it.

Required:

(a) Identify and explain any FOUR vulnerable points found on business premises and within systems. (8 marks)

(b) Give FOUR examples of security procedures that should be in place in an organisation and explain how the contents of each might protect the organisation from potential security risks. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

June 2008 CAT T5 Examination

Organisations operate within a regulatory framework set by government which is very broad in scope and deals with a range of specific issues.

Required:

(a) Explain four principal aims of the government regulation of business. (8 marks)

(b) Identify and explain, with the use of examples, any four key areas in which an organisation is affected by government legislation and regulation. (12 marks)

(20 marks)

2 Cash is a significant asset for many businesses and the control of cash is of prime importance.

Required:

(a) Outline three key objectives for the control of cash in any cash system. (6 marks)

(b) Identify any two types of cash system and in each case recommend three forms of control that should be included in a detailed control procedure. (14 marks)

(20 marks)

3 A leader is someone who exercises influence over other people. There are many different leadership models and theories which try to explain the process of leadership.

Required:

(a) Outline three classifications of the theories, or ‘schools’ of leadership. (9 marks)

(b) Explain the Hersey and Blanchard situational leadership model. Your explanation should include a description of the four leadership styles identified within the model. (11 marks)

(20 marks)

4 The effective employee needs to know exactly what their job entails and needs to be very familiar with the work methods and practices of their organisation.

Required:

(a) Explain the purpose of a job description and outline any four sections that might be included within it.

(10 marks)

(b) Identify and briefly explain five factors that affect the work methods and practices employed in an organisation. (10 marks) (20 marks)

5 Required:

(a) Explain why emergency procedures are important and outline four key areas that you would expect to see included in an organisation’s emergency procedures. (10 marks)

(b) Explain why accident reporting procedures are important and outline three important steps that you would expect to see included in an organisation’s accident reporting procedures. (10 marks) (20 marks)

Dec 2008 CAT T5 examination

1 (a) Explain the role of coordination in an organisation’s strategic planning process. (12 marks)

(b) Identify and briefly explain four key stages in human resource planning. (8 marks)

(20 marks)

2 (a) Explain three different types of comparison that managers might make when reviewing reports on business or functional performance. (12 marks)

(b) Outline the information you would expect to be included in EITHER a production and material control report OR a marketing and distribution report. (8 marks)

(20 marks)

3 (a) Explain McGregor’s concept of Theory X and Theory Y regarding human nature and behaviour at work.

(12 marks)

(b) Briefly explain William Ouchi’s concept of the Theory Z organisation and give three of its key characteristics.

(8 marks)

(20 marks)

4 Work planning is an important part of a manager’s day-to-day work, as well as making an important contribution to how individuals can organise themselves effectively.

Required:

(a) Describe the steps a manager should take when planning the work of a department. (8 marks)

(b) Explain how you would use any four planning aids to help you to organise your personal workload effectively.

(12 marks)

(20 marks)

5 (a) Explain five key components of an effective health and safety policy. (10 marks)

(b) List the steps a health and safety manager should take in order to design and implement an effective risk management programme. (10 marks)

(20 marks)

June 2009 CAT T5 Examination

Explain the purpose of business planning and outline the objectives and key decisions relevant to the three levels of planning within an organisation. (14 marks)

2 Explain the differences between internal and external audit. (14 marks)

3 Explain the five functions of management identified by Henri Fayol. (14 marks)

4 Conflict often arises between individuals and teams within organisations. Outline four potential sources of conflict and explain the circumstances in which this might become destructive.

(14 marks)

5 (a) Outline the role and responsibilities of both senior managers and first line supervisors in promoting health and safety in the workplace. (14 marks)

(b) List six things that individual employees should do in order to contribute to and promote a healthy, safe and secure work environment. (6 marks)

(20 marks)

Dec 2009 CAT T5 Examination

1 (a) Organisations are often referred to as ‘open systems’.

Briefly explain the term ‘an open system’. (4 marks)

(b) Explain, with the use of examples, how you would undertake an analysis of the organisation’s external environment. (10 marks) (14 marks)

2 Explain the three key prerequisites for fraud to occur and outline how each of them might be prevented. (14 marks)

3 Describe the five basic components of an organisation identified by Henry Mintzberg.

(14 marks)

4 Explain why training and development are important to both the individual and also to the organisation. (14 marks)

5 The key principles of security in the workplace are delay, checking and alarm.

(a) Explain what each of these mean and explain how you would prevent any breaches of security. (9 marks)

(b) Outline, with the use of examples, what topics you would expect to see included in an organisation’s security procedures manual. (11 marks)

(20 marks)