ICSE Question Paper 2008
Subject: Commercial Application
Section I is compulsory.
Attempt any four questions from Section II
SECTION I (40 Marks)
Attempt all questions from this Section
Q1: Give one difference each between:
a. A Primary Market and a Secondary Market. 2
b. A Consumer product and an Industrial product. 2
c. Money cost and Real cost. 2
d. Skimming pricing and Penetrating pricing. 2
e. A Profit and Loss Account and a Balance sheet. 2
Q 2 :
a. What does a pay-in-slip contain? 2
b. Name the basic principles of accounting. 2
c. What is meant by HRM? 2
d. Explain replacement cost. 2
e. The Central Bank is the lender of the last resort.Explain. 2
Q 3:
a. Name the main elements of Public Relations. 2
b. Explain two basic differences between sales and the selling process. 2
c. Give the four components of a promotional mix. 2
d. What is meant by Gate Hiring in recruitment? 2
e. Why was EXIM bank setup in India? 2
Q 4 : Give two reasons either for or against each of the following:
a. Accounts should disclose all material information (with reference to the concept of accounting). 2
b. Pricing is fundamental to all marketing efforts. 2
c. Selection is a negative process. 2
d. Public relations is propaganda. 2
e. Advertising is a social waste. 2
SECTION B (60 Marks)
Attempt any four questions from this Section
Q 5 :
a. Explain the reasons for the rapid growth of public relations. 5
b. Discuss various stages of marketing. 5
c. Explain the benefits of Training. 5
Q 6 :
a. What is Direct Selling? Explain any two methods. 5
b. What qualities would you seek in a person to appoint him/her as a salesperson? Explain. 5
c. Explain the purpose of preparing Final Accounts 5
Q 7 :
a. What is crossing of a cheque? What are the different types of crossing?[5]
b. Explain with an example for each, the meaning of fixed costs and variable costs. 5
c. Give any five points of difference between Marketing and Sales. 5
Q 8 : Write short notes on:
a. The importance of a cheque. 5
b. The role of trade unions in Indian firms. 5
c. Primary functions of commercial banks. 5
Q 9 :
CASE STUDY:
Mr. Saxena was a young officer in an industrial bank at Chennai. He was approached by Mr. Mehrotra, owner of a small textile plant, for a loan to renovate his plant. Saxena gave him a loan of Rs.5,00,000. The bank's branch manager, who saw no future in textiles, was shocked at the loan transaction. He told Saxena to stay close to Mehrotra until the money was paid back. Saxena stuck so closethat he became Mehrotra's financial adviser. The loan was repaid but Saxena became Mehrotra's partner and resigned his bank job. Within three years Saxena set up another textile plant and after two decades his textile unit became the second fastest growing textile company in the country. Saxena's management style was characterized by an emphasis on innovation and tight control. To hisemployees Saxena was a friendly and a highly visible boss. He always walked around the plant and called the vast number of his workers by their first names.He preferred to lead by example rather than telling people how to do their jobs.However, Saxena had a severe heart attack and died.
a. What is an Industrial Bank? What type of loans can you get from commercial banks? 5
b. Mr. Saxena's wife took over the business and she wanted to appoint a manager. Suggest a source to recruit the manager.Give reasons why you selected such a source. 5
c. Innovation is possible only if business enterprises motivate the employees and spend a lot of money on Research and Development. Do you agree? Give reasons. 5
Q 10 :
CASE STUDY:
Nokia, a leading mobile phones company has a supervisor, Mr. Agarwal, at theLucknow Branch. His workers respond well to his leadership and try to come upto his expectations. However, Agarwal takes a tough stand when workers areunable to meet their targets. In the past Agarwal punished two workers for notbeing able to reach their targets and this lead to big resentment. The workers feltthat they should have been consulted in determining work targets. Later Mr.Agarwal realized this and arranged for a special training progmmme for theemployees to achieve targets, since then he has a good relationship with hisemployees.
a. Name and explain the type of training that you would suggest to improve erformance. 5
b. Mr. Agarwal likes to promote some of the employees as 'Supervisors'. Suggest a method of Performance Appraisal to select the candidates for promotion. Explain. 5
c. Explain the various elements of Public Relations that Agarwal should infuse in his employees in order to persuade them to reach their targets. 5