1. Prologue
2. Paper 3: Management Section: Why awesome?
3. Management Section: Study material
4. Minimum Topics to be prepared
5. 150+ Mock Questions previous exams
   1. Coordination
   2. Leadership
   3. Workdivision-Line-Staff-CEO-Hierarchy
   4. POSDCORB & allied topics
   5. Communication
   6. Organizations
   7. Delegation Decentralization
   8. Motivation and Morale
   9. Personnel Management
   10. Recruitment
   11. Training
   12. Performance appraisal
   13. Promotion
   14. Salary
   15. Career planning, Manpower planning
   16. HRM related
   17. Job Analysis-Evaluation-Enlargement
   18. HR audit
   19. HR: Conflict resolution/ Union
   20. TQM-MBO-OD-Change mgmt

Prologue

RBI Mains (Phase-2)  Paper 1 English Papers + Strategy	Click Me
RBI Mains Paper 2 Economic and Social Issues	Click Me
RBI Mains Paper 3 Finance and management papers	Click Me

ProloguePaper 3: Management Section: Why awesome?

Third paper is Finance and Management worth 100 marks. Structure of the paper is

section 1	finance related	write 3 qs x 20 marks each =60
section 2	management related	write 2 qs x 20 marks each= 40 marks
	total	100 marks

This section II: Management (worth 40 marks) is one of the most scoring portion in the RBI phase 2 exam, because:

1. Syllabus is very limited. If you prepare a note listing only phrases and keywords for each topic, it can be summarized in approx. 25-30 pages.
2. Questions are straightforward, almost always lifted from IGNOU’s BA, MA term-end exams.
3. I’ve compiled all relevant questions from previous RBI exams + IGNOU’s exams since 2007. Total 150+ mock questions are given in this article, if you prepare them all, there is nothing new under the sun to surprise you. (the number “150” only for shock value otherwise same question is rephrased and asked repeated so actually its just around 50 question-topics worth half page’s keywords note for each=25-30 pages worth points you’ve to memorize.)

But scoring section also poses unique challenge:

1. Very easy topics hence candidates take it casually.
2. Example, “What are the barriers to communication?”- people read this topic only once and think “ok I’ve understood”. then no revision= in the exam he can write barely 5-6 points, while some other candidate will write 10-12 points because he revised often= he gets more marks and you are out of race.
3. Success boils down to how many points can you recall during the exam and reproduce them on a piece of paper before the time runs out. Therefore revision + answerwriting=essential.

Anyways how to prepare the management section for paper III?

Management Section: Study material

Goto this link: download the zipfiles: https://files.secureserver.net/0f1cqIJk9hRJj2 If this link doenst work, reload the page 2-3 times OR try different browser.

IGNOU course	chapter number
IGNOU BA Course: EPA-01 Administrative Theory	20 to 36
IGNOU BA: Personnel Administration (EPA-04)	2, 8, 9, (15 to 21), then finally ch. 25
IGNOU MA: Human Resource Management (MPA-014)	1,(4 to 11), 15, 19, 22

Essential (Free) softwares

1. You’ll need 7-zip (for unzipping the files) click me. Reason for using 7zip, because it provides extreme level of compression.
2. Foxit PDF reader. (necessary prerequisite for using Mrunal’s autonotemaker) click me
3. Majority of these PDF files provides direct copying of text. => That means you can use Mrunal’s autonotemaker to quickly make notes and mindmaps out of it, just use mouse cursor to highlight a particular line /phrase and my software will copy its text in a separate file. for more instructions click me

Additional preparation:

You may go through Public Administration by M.Laxmikanth (TMH publication.)

And prepare following chapters. (Only if you’ve time and mood, otherwise no need because everything is given neatly in IGNOU books.)

• Chapter 2: Basic concepts and principles
• Chapter 4: Administrative behavior
• Chapter 5: Accountability and Control
• Chapter 7: Personnel Administration

Minimum Topics to be prepared

from the given IGNOU material:

1. Organizations: formal, informal. Their functions, problems
2. hierarchy, span of control, unit of command: advantages, problems
3. authority, responsibility
4. supervision, control, coordination. Why and how
5. centralization, decentralization, delegation. Advantages, problems.
6. line, staff, auxiliary agencies: their functions.
7. leadership: types, styles, qualities of a good leader.
8. decision making, obstacles to good decision making. programmed vs non-programmed decisions
9. communication, meaning, types, obstacles
10. motivation, morale, Maslow’s theory.
11. Personnel administration: function, features, importance
12. HRM: function, features, importance.
13. HR audit, assessment: why and how
14. Job classification, analysis, enlargement, enrichment. Why and how
15. Recruitment: types, processes, problems
16. Training: Types, importance
17. Promotion: principles, types (seniority, merit, merit-cum-seniority) their pros and cons
18. Performance appraisal
19. Salary: principles, components, allowances.
20. Disciplinary action, conflict resolution, workers’ participation in Management.
21. TQM, MBO and Change management. (use these points to enrich other answers.)
22. in the syllabus they also have a topic called “Corporate governance“. You’ll find its material in this zip file click me

150+ Mock Questions previous exams

These are from RBI exams, as well as IGNOU’s BA and MA exams. The list looks big only because same questions are rephrased and repeated.

Coordination, Control

1. Briefly describe the different techniques of coordination.
2. what do you understand by coordination? Give reasons for its necessity.
3. Discuss the various techniques followed to achieve coordination in organisations
4. ‘Span of control is essential for effective working’. Explain
5. Principle of Span of Control is an extension of the Principle of hierarchy. Discuss

Leadership

1. Describe the qualities required for a good leadership.
2. Describe the qualities of a good supervisor
3. Write a note on leadership styles
4. What are the sources of authority in an organization?
5. ‘Effective use of leadership qualities and functions is critical to an efficient organization’?Elaborate
6. what are the differences between autocratic, democratic and abdicative styles of leadership
7. Identify the skills required for a manager to be an effective leader.
8. Who is a successful leader? List out at least five important attributes of successful leadership. How do delegation and organisational culture play significant role in the leader’s success?
9. What do you mean by “leadership style”? How would you differentiate successful leadership from effective leadership?
10. Leaders are born, not made. Comment.
11. What are the major differences between autocratic, democratic and abdicative styles of leadership?

Workdivision-Line-Staff-CEO-Hierarchy

1. explain the terms authority and responsibility
2. Briefly evaluate the bases of work division
3. 4 Ps are the bases of work division in organisations. Discuss
4. Explain the basic features of Hierarchy in an organisation
5. Write a note on advantages and disadvantages of the principle of hierarchy in an organisation
6. Highlight the advantages and application of hierarchical principle in the organization.
7. Level Jumping paves the way for efficient functioning.
8. Briefly analyze the functions of the chief executive
9. Discuss the meaning and types of Chief executives
10. Staff and Line Agencies act as aid to the Chief Executive. Comment
11. Discuss the salient features of Auxiliary Agency
12. Discuss the features and functions of Staff Agencies.
13. Describe the salient features and functions of staff agencies.
14. The Chief Executive needs effective aides for functioning. Discuss.
15. Explain the different functions of the Chief Executive.

POSDCORB & allied topics

1. Write a note on types of decisions, and obstacles to good decision making.
2. Discuss the important types of planning
3. Discuss the types and techniques of planning.
4. Discuss the meaning and importance of administrative planning.
5. Responsibility Must Be Matched By Authority Responsibility must always be matched by authority if delegation is to work at all. Comment
6. Distinguish between Public Administration and Business Administration
7. Planning and Control are two sides of the same coin”. Do you agree? Why?
8. Planning is the basis of control; action is its essence; delegation is its key and information its guide. Discuss.
9. What is control? What are the essentials of a good control system?
10. What are the essentials of a good control system?
11. What are the behavioral implications of control?
12. What is directing? Explain the principles and techniques involved in directing.
13. Planning is the bridge between the present and the future. Discuss.

Communication

1. Explain the factors affecting communication within an organization.
2. Define communication. What are the different types of communication?
3. discuss the role of communication in an organisation. What are the barriers to effective communication?

Organizations

1. What do you understand by formal and informal organisations ? How do they supplement each other?
2. Briefly describe the characteristics and functions of Formal organisations.
3. Throw light on the features of Formal and Informal organisation
4. Formal and Informal Organisation have distinct characteristics” explain.
5. Throw light on the characteristics of formal organisations
6. ‘Organisation is a Cooperative system’. Discuss
7. List the characteristics of formal organisation.
8. Sound organisation is an essential prerequisite of efficient management explain
9. What is a Learning Organisation? Suggest a model framework for the same.
10. Explain “organisation structure’; What are the steps involved in designing the organisation structure
11. Explain the steps involved in the implementation of change in an organisation. What are the factors that create resistance to change?.
12. Sound organization is an essential prerequisite of efficient management.” Explain.

Delegation Decentralization, Decision making

1. Explain the meaning and significance of delegation in an organisation
2. Examine the merits and demerits of decentralisation
3. Analyse the factors affecting centralisation and decentralisation.
4. Explain the characteristics, types and principles of delegation.
5. Define delegation and highlight its needs.
6. Many a factor affect centralisation and decentralisation? Elucidate.
7. Assess the need of delegation in an organisation
8. Describe the main hindrances to delegation of authority?
9. what is delegation of authority? How can delegation be made effective
10. What are the advantages and disadvantages of decentralization?
11. Decentralisation is not necessarily good ; nor centralisation necessarily bad . Discuss.
12. Explain therms ” centralisation” and ” decentralisation”.
13. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of group decision making.
14. What is decision making? What is the role played by Management Information System in decision making?
15. Delegation of authority is not loss of power ; it is enhancement of power .” Examine this statement critically.
16. Explain the relevance of delegation of authority in making decentralisation effective.
17. Explain the terms authority and responsibility. What is delegation of authority? How can delegation be made effective?

Motivation and Morale

1. Explain the concept of morale factors that affect morale of the organization.
2. Discuss the types of morale in public service
3. What are the factors affecting morale?
4. Explain the methods of evaluation of moral.
5. Discuss Maslow’s Theory of Motivation
6. Explain the type of motivation and also analyse  the factors affecting motivation
7. Explain the meaning and types of motivation, bringing out the different types of motivation.
8. Positive’ and ‘negative’ motivation are two types of motivation, basically existing for public services. Discuss
9. What is meant by morale? How is it related to productivity? Explain the factors contributing to morale.

Personnel Management

1. Examine, in brief, the important functions of personnel administration
2. What are the features of bureaucracy? Discuss its merits and demerits
3. What do you understand by the term specialists? Throw light on the controversy arising between the role of Generalists and Specialists.
4. Suggest suitable ways to evolve an efficient personnel system
5. Highlight the meaning and nature of personnel administration.
6. ‘There are various factors, which directly or indirectly, influence the system of performance appraisal’. Elaborate.
7. Analyse the relations between Generalist vs Specialist administrator. Discuss the merits and demerits
8. Discuss different kinds/methods of recruitment existing for civil servants
9. What are the advantages of service classification

Recruitment

1. Throw light on the recruitment system in India and discuss the essentials of a good recruitment system.
2. Describe the important phases of the recruitment process.
3. Describe classification of services and its various types.
4. What are the types of recruitment?
5. State the essentials of a good recruitment system.
6. Briefly describe the various methods of testing merit of candidates for recruitment
7. Explain the relevance of recruitment procedure in an organization and describe the major steps in the process of recruitment.
8. Write a note in brief on important steps in recruitment process.
9. Describe the different methods of ascertaining merit.

Training

1. Highlight the objectives of training.
2. Highlight the various roles of training.
3. Write a note on the objectives, significance, process and strategies of capacity building
4. Write a note on Training Methods.
5. Define Training and discuss important training methods.
6. Explain redeployment and highlight its guiding principles and key issues
7. Write a note in brief, on redeployment in India with special reference to Voluntary Retirement Scheme and National Renewal Fund.

Performance appraisal

1. Describe the meaning of performance appraisal and the factors that explain influence the performance appraisal system.
2. Highlight the meaning and objectives of performance appraisal.
3. Highlight few traditional methods of performance appraisal.
4. What is the significance of Performance Appraisal? Evaluate its methods
5. Critically examine the various factors which directly or indirectly influence the system of performance appraisal
6. What is performance appraisal? What are its objectives?

Promotion

1. Discuss the meaning, importance and principles of promotion
2. What are the essentials of a good promotion policy?
3. Discuss the important methods of testing merit for promotion
4. Explain the meaning of promotion and discuss its principles.
5. Explain briefly the method of ‘efficiency rating’ for testing merit for Promotion

Salary

1. Explain the different types of incentive plans.
2. Discuss the important methods of pay fixation.
3. Describe the principles of pay fixation.
4. Analyze the methods of determining salary structure
5. Examine the methods and principles of pay  fixation
6. Highlight the important principles of remuneration.
7. Explain various types of employee benefits
8. What is Collective Bargaining? Discuss its objectives and process
9. Highlight the principles of pay fixation

Career planning, Manpower planning

1. Explain the importance of career development
2. Explain the meaning of career planning and development
3. Career planning and development is a continuous process. Explain in terms of various steps involved.
4. Define man power planning and highlight its important aspects
5. Describe the steps in career planning and development.
6. Elucidate the importance of career planning.
7. Explain the significance and functions of manpower planning in personnel administration.
8. What are the advantages and short comings of Manpower Planning?

HRM related

1. Discuss the similarities and dissimilarities between Personnel Management and Human Resource Management.
2. Manpower Planning is not an isolated exercise but an integral management function. Discuss.
3. Describe the Purposes of Assessing Human Resource Management effectiveness
4. Define human resource management and briefly discuss its objectives and scope.
5. Explain Human Resource Development and its characteristics and implications.
6. Assessing the effectiveness of human resource activities is vital to the success of organization. Elaborate
7. Define Strategic Human Resource Management and highlight its different approaches.
8. Discuss the various ways of assessing effectiveness of Human Resource Management.
9. What is 360-degree performance appraisal? Why is it so important today?
10. Management is the development of people ; not the direction of things Discuss

Job Analysis-Evaluation-Enlargement

1. Define Job Evaluation and explain its methods.
2. Elucidate the various methods of job evaluation.
3. Describe the important methods of job evaluation.
4. Explain the concept of job analysis and discuss the important methods of obtaining data for job analysis.
5. Define Job Design and throw light on the meaning and significance of Job Enlargement and Job Enrichment
6. Explain the concept of job analysis and discuss the important methods of obtaining data for job analysis.

HR audit

1. Explain the concept of human resource audit and throw light on the approaches to it.
2. The scope and subject areas of human resource audit are very wide’. Discuss.

HR: Conflict resolution/ Union

1. Write a note on Conflict Resolution.
2. What is Grouse ? Explain its causes and effects.
3. Analyse the problems regarding disciplinary proceedings.
4. Discuss the various causes and types of disciplinary action
5. Employees’ welfare is an important function of personnel administration.  Explain
6. Define grievance and describe its causes and grievance handling machinery.
7. Discuss the objectives of workers’ Participation in Management and refer to Institutional arrangements for workers’ participation in management in India.
8. Write a note on Conflict Resolution
9. Write a note on Institutional Arrangements for Workers Participation in Management in India.
10. briefly discuss the objectives and functions of employees’  union
11. Discuss various types of bargaining and bring to light the essentials and process of collective bargaining.

TQM-MBO-OD-Change mgmt

not directly part of syllabus but you can use it as fodder material to enrich other answers related to management.

1. Explain Organisational development
2. Write a note on Organisational Effectiveness.
3. Define Organisational Development and highlight its techniques.
4. Define Management By Objectives(MBO) and explain the steps involved in it
5. Write a note on Management by objectives.
6. Define management development and analyse its various approaches
7. Discuss the concept of Total Quality Management and bring to light its advantages.
8. What is total quality management and examine its advantages?
9. Distinguish between traditional management and TQM and discuss the advantages of TQM.
10. Define quality and explain the framework of implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) in the context of India
11. Critically examine major approaches to managing change in the organization