NMIMS Semester 3 June 2026 Business Management Assignments
Corporate Finance
Q1 A mid-sized Indian manufacturing firm is experiencing declining profitability despite steady revenue growth. The CFO attributes this to escalating operational costs and inefficient asset utilization, compounded by a recent spike in short-term liabilities. The company is considering introducing automated inventory management and tighter receivables policies, but also faces pressure from suppliers demanding shorter payment cycles. The management team must ensure operational efficiency while maintaining liquidity, without compromising on the firm’s ongoing investment in quality improvements and expanding production capacity. Drawing on working capital management concepts, how should the firm apply cash flow forecasting, inventory control, and receivables management strategies to optimize liquidity and operational efficiency in this scenario? What specific actions would you recommend to balance short-term obligations and strategic growth initiatives?
Q2 (A) An Indian manufacturing firm is evaluating the purchase of a machine costing Rs.24,00,000 with the following expected operational data for 5 years: depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over 5 years with zero salvage value. The machine will generate incremental cash inflows as per the table below. However, it requires an additional working capital investment of Rs.4,50,000 at the end of Year 1, recoverable fully at the end of Year 5. The firm’s cost of capital is 10% p.a. and corporate tax rate is 30%. Using the time value of money, determine whether the investment should be undertaken by calculating the Net Present Value (NPV) of all cash flows (including working capital impacts and tax shields on depreciation). Table: Year | Incremental Cash Inflows (before tax & depreciation) (Rs.): 1 | 7,00,000; 2 | 8,00,000; 3 | 9,80,000; 4 | 9,00,000; 5 | 8,50,000. Show all intermediate calculations in your answer.
Q2 (B) A firm has the following market values and component costs:
Component Market Value (Rs. lakh) Cost (Before Taxes)
Equity Share Capital Rs. 1050 15%
Preference Share Capital Rs. 150 10%
Long-term Secured Debt Rs. 750 9%
Short-term Unsecured Debt Rs. 100 11%
Corporate tax rate is 25%. The company is considering two alternative financing scenarios for a major expansion: Scenario A – increase secured debt by Rs. 250 lakh replacing an equal amount of equity; Scenario B – raise preference share capital by Rs. 100 lakh, reducing unsecured debt and equity equally. Assuming the respective costs remain unchanged and all weights are on the new market value proportions, calculate the WACC for each scenario and determine which scenario yields a lower WACC. Show all steps including tax adjustments and market value re-weighting.
Research Methodology
Q1 Rohit is tasked with comparing the effectiveness of various employee retention strategies as part of his research project. While conducting the literature review, he comes across contradictory studies – some find strong links between flexible work and retention, others see minimal impact. Rohit’s challenge is to objectively synthesise contrasting viewpoints and maintain balanced reporting while avoiding bias or publication bias. Apply the frameworks for critical literature review and ethical reporting to show how Rohit should handle contradictory findings. What steps can he take to ensure objectivity and present a comprehensive synthesis that upholds research integrity?
Q2 (A) A non-profit organization is conducting a field study to understand community participation dynamics during public health awareness events. The research director is torn between participant observation, which offers an insider’s view but risks researcher bias, and nonparticipant observation, which provides objectivity but may limit access to nuanced social contexts. Senior staff are also concerned about ethical integrity and the need for reliable data to influence policy recommendations. Each method presents unique advantages and dilemmas related to trust, data richness, and impartiality. Evaluate the appropriateness of participant versus nonparticipant observation in achieving the organization’s research goals. Critique both approaches by discussing how ethical, methodological, and practical concerns influence the reliability and depth of findings, and recommend the most suitable method with clear justification.
Q2 (B) A market research agency is hired to evaluate consumer perceptions of a new grocery store chain. The client suggests relying solely on brief paper-based surveys at the checkout counters, due to the ease of distribution and lack of digital infrastructure in the area. The agency, however, worries about manual data entry errors, low engagement, and incomplete responses. The client insists this is the most practical approach given budget constraints. Critique the client’s preference for exclusive use of paper-based questionnaires in this situation. What trade-offs must be considered between cost, data integrity, and research effectiveness? Justify an improved approach, considering the constraints, that maximizes both efficiency and data quality.
Supply Chain Management
Q1 A multinational electronics retailer operates 50 stores across India and currently manages inventory separately at each location. After noticing excessive safety stock and rising warehousing costs, management is considering shifting to a centralized distribution strategy using regional distribution centers. However, executives are concerned about higher transportation costs and longer delivery times to remote stores. Apply the concept of inventory aggregation to recommend how the retailer should redesign its inventory network. Suggest three specific actions the company should take and justify how these actions will reduce safety stock while maintaining service levels.
Q2 (A) A major Indian retail company is planning transportation for the upcoming festive season, needing to serve both urban and rural markets while balancing speed, cost, and reliability. The firm is considering a mix of air, road, and rail transport along with GPS-enabled route optimization, but faces challenges such as uneven infrastructure, high fuel costs, and last-mile delivery issues in remote areas. Recommend a suitable multimodal transportation strategy for the festive season. Recommend three specific points and evaluate your choice based on cost, speed, reliability, or infrastructure considerations.
Q2 (B) A large FMCG company in India has introduced cloud systems, IoT sensors, and AI analytics in its supply chain. While these technologies have improved inventory visibility and responsiveness, the company has also faced data breaches and supplier concerns regarding data sharing. The leadership team is divided on whether to accelerate digital adoption or proceed more cautiously. Evaluate the available options that would allow the company to move forward with digitalization while minimizing the risk of data breaches. Provide three specific points to justify your recommendation.
Consumer Behaviour
Q1. A well-known luxury car company is developing a new flagship vehicle targeting affluent professionals who view their possessions as symbols of success and identity. The marketing team wants the car to become an extension of the owner’s self-image and to personify sophistication, innovation, and status. They seek ways to infuse the brand’s personality into every customer touchpoint from product design to digital content in order to foster emotional attachment and drive premium positioning. Explain how the concepts of extended self and brand personification can be used in the design and communication of the new vehicle to emotionally engage this customer segment. Suggest suitable marketing actions.
Q2 (A). An established luxury car manufacturer notices a decline in sales among younger consumers, despite high product quality and a prestigious brand image. Internal research reveals that the brand’s advertising and showroom layouts highlight tradition and exclusivity, but do not resonate with the values and selective attention of the new generation, who prioritize innovation and sustainability. Complicating matters, repositioning risks alienating loyal customers expecting continuity. Using the concept of perceptual selection (expectations and motives), explain why younger consumers may not respond to the brand’s current marketing messages. Suggest suitable marketing improvements.
Q2 (B). A consumer packaged goods company launches a new organic snack line using traditional marketing (health/safety benefits). Despite initial trials, brand loyalty is low. Motivational research reveals deeper desires: buyers want to feel connected to a community of health-conscious individuals (affiliation) and gain respect for their choices (esteem). In a strategic meeting, executives debate whether to shift toward a purpose-driven branding focused on customer community and recognition, or to continue emphasizing rational product benefits. Explain how a purpose-driven branding approach based on these psychogenic needs could help build stronger consumer loyalty.
Organisational Theory, Structure and Design
Q1. A fast-growing consumer goods company has recently restructured to become less hierarchical and more decentralized, empowering team leaders to make operational and strategic decisions. However, this shift has resulted in increased coalition-building and political maneuvering, as individual managers form alliances to gain support for competing product launches and resource access. Senior management is struggling to ensure these coalitions remain constructive and aligned with company values. Apply the relevant political strategies and leadership models to guide how senior management should foster constructive politics while curbing destructive behaviors in this decentralized environment. What mechanisms can be put in place to encourage healthy coalition-building and discourage unethical political tactics?
Q2 (A). An established Indian manufacturing company, long oriented toward cost leadership in domestic markets, is considering substantial investments in electric vehicle (EV) technology. This strategic shift is motivated by global sustainability trends, strict environmental regulations, and government initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat. Shareholders are concerned about high initial costs and uncertain market demand, while management believes early adoption will provide a competitive advantage. Evaluate the risks and opportunities involved in reallocating resources toward EV technology under the current Indian strategic management context.
Q2 (B). EcoTech, a medium-sized engineering firm, has traditionally thrived using a strong classical approach, clear hierarchy, rigid procedures, and standardized roles. However, recent staff surveys reflect declining engagement and innovation, while new entrants outpace EcoTech in adapting to changing market needs. The CEO considers pivoting towards a more modern systems-based management style, but senior managers are concerned about losing control and creating confusion. Evaluate the merits and drawbacks of shifting from a classical to a modern, systems-based approach in EcoTech’s context.
Information Systems for Management
Q1. ShopSwift is a fast-growing Indian e-commerce startup based in Bengaluru, processing over 50,000 orders daily. One Monday morning, customers began receiving emails from ShopSwift asking them to re-verify their payment details by clicking a link, emails that ShopSwift never sent. A quick investigation revealed that a disgruntled ex-employee still had active login credentials to ShopSwift’s customer database. Over the weekend, he had accessed 2 lakh customer records, including names, addresses, and masked credit card details, and sold the data to a phishing group. Further investigation revealed that ShopSwift had no multi-factor authentication in place, no policy for revoking access when employees left, and no intrusion detection system to flag unusual login activity. The incident has now drawn the attention of CERT-In, which has mandated a response within 6 hours under India’s cybersecurity reporting guidelines.
Identify three key IS security vulnerabilities in the ShopSwift case and recommend one practical solution for each to prevent such an incident from recurring.
Q2 (A). QuickKart is a Pune-based e-commerce startup that has grown rapidly by selling a mix of physical products and digital goods including e-books, online course subscriptions, and software licenses to tier 1 and tier 2 cities in India. With 8 lakh registered users and a growing mobile-first customer base, QuickKart is now facing a critical strategic decision. Customer data shows that 60% of new users access QuickKart via regional language interfaces, yet the platform currently operates only in English. Meanwhile, the digital goods segment is growing at 3x the rate of physical product sales, with zero delivery cost and significantly higher margins. Based on the information provided, should QuickKart prioritise expanding its digital goods catalogue or building a vernacular language interface? Justify your recommendation by evaluating the business value, customer impact, and growth potential of each option.
Q2 (B). MediTrack is a fast-growing Hyderabad-based health-tech startup that digitises patient records and appointment scheduling for 500+ clinics across India. Over the past year, the company scaled rapidly, onboarding new clinics, hiring remotely, and migrating all data to a cloud platform to manage growth. Three months ago, a ransomware attack encrypted MediTrack’s entire patient database. Operations came to a standstill for 72 hours, clinics could not access patient histories, appointments were cancelled, and the company received a ransom demand of Rs.50 lakhs. A post-incident audit revealed that MediTrack had no IS security policy governing employee device usage, no data encryption on its cloud platform, and no data backup or recovery plan in place. Explain how MediTrack’s failure to align its IS security practices with its growth strategy led to the ransomware crisis. Recommend three strategic measures the CTO should present to the board to ensure IS security becomes an organisational priority going forward.
