National College of Ireland

National College of Ireland

BA (H) in Accounting/HRM/ Financial Services 1

Introduction to Business
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Semester 2 Examinations – 2007/2008 16
1st May 2008
. 21
2.00pm - 4.00pm
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______________________________________________________________________
L O
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WIntroduction to Business
D O
C I Larry Murphy
N Rosalind Beere

Candidates must answer THREE questions out of five (Answer one Question from Section
1 (Compulsory) and answer any two Questions from Section 2).

Duration of exam: 2 hours

Attachments: none

You should answer only the required number of questions.

If you answer more than the required number of questions you should cancel (put a line
through) the question(s) you do not want marked.
If you do not cancel extra questions, the examiner will mark the questions in the order
presented in your answer book until the required number of questions have been
marked.

1
 Section 1 – Answer either Question 1A or 1B

1A (a) Identify and briefly describe the main characteristics and role of a manager and in
contrast discuss the main characteristics and role of an entrepreneur. (40 marks)
National College of Ireland

(b) Discuss the factors which contribute to the success of a business particularly in the
early years of trading with reference to an entrepreneurial case you have studied.
(60 marks)
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1
1B .2
(a) Identify and briefly describe the main functions of management. (40 marks)
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(b) Explain the way in which these management functions are related to each other.
(60 marks) AD
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Section 2 – Answer any two Questions from this section
NC
2 (a) How do managers create a marketing strategy? Discuss using each of the
following terms: (60 marks)
• Understanding the External Environment
• Defining the Target Market
• Creating a Competitive Advantage
• Developing a Marketing Mix

(b) Discuss what is meant by The Product Life Cycle? (40 marks)

3. (a) Discuss the term production and operations management (POM), or simply
operations management. (40 marks)

(b) Discuss Production management in terms of the challenges faced by the service
industry. (60 marks)

4. (a) List and explain the specific functions of Management Accounting. (50 marks)

(b) What differentiates it from Financial Accounting (50 marks)

2
 5 (a) Define the term Human Resource Management and drawing on the internal
influences on the individual firm, discuss the strategic importance of HRM. (60 marks)

(b) Discuss the impact of legislation on Human Resource Management in Ireland (40
National College of Ireland
marks).

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