OM0018-Technology Management

Spring-2016

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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-

Ø  Performance Assessment Methods

Ø  Alliance Versus Rivalry

Ø  Integrating Technology and Strategic Plans.

Ø  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:

Ø  Conducting receipt and shipment of goods faster

Ø  Tracking movement of inventory effectively

Ø  Saving the shopper’s time

Ø  Predicting the demand of a product

Ø  Avoiding an out-of-stock situation

Ø  Boosting sales

Ø  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:

Ø  Sometimes the tags do not function properly.

Ø  Accurate reading of rates on some items can be in doubt.

Ø  Reading through liquid or metal creates problems.

Ø  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