Spring-2016

Get solved assignments at nominal price of Rs.125

each.
Mail us at: subjects4u@gmail.com or contact at
09882243490
Master of Business Administration- MBA Semester 4
OM0018-Technology Management
(Book ID: B1979)
Assignment (60 Marks)
Note: Answer all questions must be written within 300 to 400 words each.
Each Question carries 10 marks 6 X 10=60.
Q1. What do you mean by technology diffusion? How can you relate
globalisation with technology diffusion?
Answer. If the world is a global village, technology is the common thread that
connects all. We have already mentioned earlier that technology generally diffuses
from developed nations to developing nations. Technology transfer enables
developing countries to receive technology from developed nations. Globalisation
facilitates in faster diffusion of technology. This is because, when organisations from
the developed markets, such as Europe and North America, enter developing markets,
such as Africa and

Q2. Explain long-wave cycle. Point out its stages.

Answer. Note that improvement in productivity is an indicator of economic growth
and improvement in the standard of living of the people. New and innovative
technologies drive economic expansion in the long-term. This different stage of
economic expansion, spurred by economic growth, is known as long-wave cycle or
long economic cycle. In other words, long economic cycle refers to the different
stages, such as expansion, stagnation, and recession, through which economic
expansion takes place. After the

Q3. Write short notes on Performance Assessment Methods

Alliance Versus Rivalry

 Integrating Technology and Strategic Plans.

Value Creation.
Answer. Performance Assessment Methods: Change in technology paradigms
requires the accurate assessment of the performance of the existing systems and
resources. There is a need to assess the influence of the latest technology on the
overall performance of an organisation. Traditional performance assessment methods
are not always suitable for the changing needs of technological innovations.

Q4. What is Strategic Planning? Define points covered in Strategic Planning

Process.
Answer. The process, which defines the strategy and direction of an organisation, is
known as strategic planning. It makes decision on resource allocation of capital and
people to monitor the defined strategy. Strategic planning can be understood as the
overall planning that helps in the effective management of any process. It provides a
clear image of what you are doing and where are you going as an organisation. It also
assists the organisation in understanding, what it wants to achieve and how to go
about achieving it. In short, it is visionary, conceptual and directional in nature.

Q5. Define technological change? Provide examples in support of your

answer.
Answer. In simple words, technological change refers to the entire process of
invention, innovation, and diffusion of technology. Technological change is also termed
technological development, technological achievement, and technological
progress. Change in technology has immense impact on the quality of life of people,
organisational productivity, efficiency, environment, and government policies.

Q6. Case Study: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) at Walmart.

Walmart is an American multinational corporation that deals in the retail business with
large chains of discount stores and warehouse stores.
According to the Forbes Global 2000 list, it is the 18th largest public corporation in the
world. In the 1980s, when the whole world was fumbling with the idea of bar coding,
Walmart implemented it in reality. The company installed RFID readers at several
points such as at the back of the building, at the receiving docks, near the garbage
compactors, and between the backroom and the retail floor. The goods, which are
shipped to the stores with RFID tags, are recorded once at their arrival. Without
opening the packaging, they come to know what is inside it, just by waving the
scanner at the boxes. It is even possible to know the whereabouts of the goods, which
reduces loss during shipment. When goods are brought to the sales floor, the tags are
read again, and they are read finally in a box crusher.

The software records all the details related to the items sold and the number of cases
brought to the sales floor. Thus, it helps in generating information about the items
that exhaust in the shorter period from the shelves. A list of items is generated
automatically, which need to be taken away from the backroom to restock the store
shelves. Walmart has developed a handheld RFID reader to reduce the amount of
time spent at the backroom.
A retail link extranet has also been established with all the suppliers of Walmart to
share data from all RFID read points, so that within 30 minutes, suppliers come to
know about the movement and the location of their goods.
Walmart relies on this technology for managing inventory more effectively, reducing
errors at the time of data entry and lowering human labour cost at the distribution
centre.
RFID helps Walmart in the following ways:

Conducting receipt and shipment of goods faster

Tracking movement of inventory effectively
Saving the shoppers time
Predicting the demand of a product
Avoiding an out-of-stock situation
Boosting sales
Making the availability of the right product at the right time at the right place or
store

A few limitations of RFID are as follows:

Sometimes the tags do not function properly.

Accurate reading of rates on some items can be in doubt.
Reading through liquid or metal creates problems.
There is an increase in expenditure.

In spite of all the benefits of RFID, the customers of Walmart fear the possibility of
violating their privacy; however, Walmart tries that RFID tags do not collect any
additional data about customers.
Sanford C. Bernstein & co., a New York investment research house, estimates that
Walmart could save nearly $8.4 billion per year when RFID is fully deployed
throughout its supply chain and in stores. Thus, it is understandable why Walmart
focuses so aggressively on pursuing RFID technology.
Questions:
1. with the help of the case study, explain why technology management is
important for an organisation.
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of RFID? Relate to the
context of Walmart.

Answer. 1. The goods, which are shipped to the stores with RFID tags, are recorded
once at their arrival. Without opening the packaging, they come to know what is
inside it, just by waving the scanner at the boxes. It is even possible to know the
whereabouts of the goods, which reduces loss during shipment. When goods are
brought to the sales floor, the tags are read again, and they are read finally in a box

Spring-2016
Get solved assignments at nominal price of Rs.125
each.
Mail us at: subjects4u@gmail.com or contact at
09882243490