Question 1: [26 Marks]

1.1. Consider MTN Group, a key player in South Africa’s telecommunications sector. As the company strives for growth and efficiency, understanding the synergy between strategic and operational plans is vital.

Required:

Compare the strategic plans and operational plans of MTN Group, a prominent South African telecommunications company. (4 marks)

1.2. You have successfully navigated a job interview for a management role at an emerging tech firm. Unexpectedly, the CEO, known for innovative thinking, asks you: “Why is workplace diversity important within an ever-changing business environment?”

Required:

Drawing from your textbook knowledge, provide a response to address the CEO’s question by explaining the four (4) key benefits of workplace diversity. (4 x 2 = 8 marks)

1.3. In the dynamic world of business management, where creativity meets strategy and teamwork drives success, leaders use different management styles to overcome challenges.

Given this context, you are required to consider the scenarios below and identify and explain the management style depicted in each case. (3+3 = 6 marks)

1.3.1. Scenario 1 – Social Media Strategy

At a digital marketing company, the manager encourages the social media team to independently develop a strategy for an upcoming product launch. Based on their expertise, team members are expected to decide on content, posting schedules, and engagement tactics. The manager provides guidance if there is a need for coordination among different platforms. (3 marks)
1.3.2. Scenario 2 – Employee Training Program

In an HR department, the manager involves employees from different roles in designing a new training program. The manager organises meetings where employees share their perspectives on the skills needed for their respective roles and what training modules would be most beneficial. The program is then developed based on this collaborative input. (3 marks)

Read the scenario below and answer Question 1.4 that follows.

Imagine a high school organising a competition called “Success Summit: A Path to
Academic Achievement” aimed at helping students excel in their matric exams, fostering a competitive yet supportive environment. *Fictitious scenario

1.4. Apply the four (4) main business management activities to the “Success Summit: A Path to Academic Achievement” competition scenario. Provide a brief explanation of how each activity is relevant to the successful organisation and execution of the competition, helping students excel in their matric exams. (4 x 2 = 8 marks)

Question 2: [30 Marks]

Read the extract below and answer the question that follows:

Note to students: In order to answer the question, you need to do further research into Taco Bell’s restaurant company.

Taco Bell, a beloved fast-food chain established in 1962, is renowned for its affordable and flavorful Mexican-inspired dishes. With over 7,200 locations in the U.S. and 1,000+ worldwide, it caters to 40 million customers weekly.

Taco Bell’s continued success and popularity are a testament to its ability to cater to diverse tastes and provide convenient options for its customers. With its innovative menu and user-friendly services, Taco Bell is sure to keep delighting fans for years to come.

Required:

Suppose that Taco Bell is contemplating an entry into the South African fast-food market. Using Porter’s five (5) forces model, analyse the level of competition within the fast-food industry.

Incorporate the provided information along with additional research to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the competitive landscape. (5 x 6 = 30 marks)

Question 3: [19 Marks] Refer to the below image and answer Question 3.1 that follows.

3.1. Considering the transformation model, list the elements involved in making the sandwich illustrated in the provided picture. You are also required to provide an illustrative example for each factor element. (3+3+1=7 marks)

Read the scenario below and answer Questions 3.2 and 3.3 that follow.

You are a team member responsible for checking product quality in a manufacturing company. Your role is crucial in ensuring that the actual performance of the products matches the expected quality standards.
*Fictitious scenario

3.2. Explain how you would apply the five (5) steps of controlling to maintain the desired product quality and align with the company’s objectives.

3.3. List the two (2) strategies you, as the team leader, should employ to outperform competitors and establish a competitive advantage in the market. (1+1=2 marks)

Question 4 [25 Marks] Read the scenario below and answer Questions 4.1 and 4.2 that follow.

Imagine you are the owner of a medium-sized e-commerce business specialising in selling handmade jewellery. Lately, you have been finding it challenging to manage the increasing volume of online orders and to keep up with website maintenance. Considering these challenges, you are contemplating outsourcing some tasks to improve operational efficiency and customer experience.
*Fictitious scenario

4.1. Given your role as the owner of the handmade jewellery e-commerce business, you are required to outline the seven (7) stages you would follow to assess and potentially implement outsourcing for managing online orders and website maintenance. (7 x 3 = 21 marks)

4.2. “No business can ever say that it has achieved perfection. There is always something more that can be done in terms of improving processes” (Rau, 2016).

With this statement in mind, explain how the e-commerce business can foster a culture of continuous improvement that involves all employees. (4 marks)

Answers to Above Questions on MTN Case Study

Answer 1: Effective planning is essential in managing an organisation in an efficient way. The planning needs to be carried out at the strategic level as well as operation level which is followed by their proper execution in order to achieve organisational goals. In case of MTN group, it has both strategic and operational plans, and a comparative analysis of both the operational plans and strategic plans of the organisation is performed as follows: