Shanghai University of Finance & Economics
--Webster University
Joint MBA Program
Entrance Examination -- English Test
Part One: Case Study ( 60 %)
1st Case Study (30%)
Directions: You are to read the following case and answer the questions
attached to it.
Jean Safari was investigating a serious error made by a Japanese worker at
the Japanese subsidiary of a US multinational. A component had been inserted
upside down and the entire batch had been pulled out of production to be
reworked. The cost of this was high.
Jean asked the Japanese plant director about which employee had made the
error. Had she been identified? What action was being taken against her? She
was amazed when the director claimed not to know. “The whole work group
has accepted responsibility,” he told her. “As to the specific woman responsible,
they have not told me, nor did I ask. Even the floor supervisor does not know
and if he did, he would not tell me either. ”
But if everyone is responsible then in effect no one is, Jean argued. They are
simply protecting each other’s bad work.
“This is not how we see it.” The plant manager was polite but firm. “I
understand the woman concerned was so upset when she went home. She
tried to resign. Two of her co-workers had to coax her back again. The group
knows that she is new and that they did not help her enough, or looks out for
her or see that she was properly trained. This is why the whole group has
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apologized. I have their letter here. They are willing to apologize to you
publicly.”
“No, no. I don’t want that,” said Jean. “I want to stop it happening again...” she
wondered what she should do.
Questions for discussion:
1. Should Jean insist on identifying the woman who made the error?
2. Should the woman be punished and leave the work group?
3. What do you think is the best solution to Jean’s dilemma?
2nd Case Study ( 30 %)
Directions: You are to read the following case and answer the questions
attached to it.
Chinese Internet video giant Tudou has announced that it is to combine its
service with that of rival Youku in a 100% stock-for-stock transaction to create
a new service, Youku Tudou Inc.
The deal has been approved by both companies’ boards of directors and is
now awaiting shareholder approval from the firms. Assuming that all
progresses without a hitch, Tudou says that the deal will be closed in the third
quarter of the year.
This news is massive as the two companies are the largest video websites in
China, making the deal akin to a merger between YouTube and VEVO.
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Tudou recently went public on a series of user numbers that revealed it is now
seeing more than 300 million visitors each month. One key driver of traffic is
microblog service Sina Weibo, which is likely to bring even more traffic thanks
to an agreement to integrate the video service.
Sina itself has become China’s second largest video site courtesy of the deal,
which is being heralded as the beginning of a period of consolidation in China’s
online video space.
Youku and Tudou are more notable for intense battles, both in webspace on
the courtroom, than camaraderie, which makes the coming together somewhat
of a surprise. Earlier this year, Youku lodged the latest round of legal suits,
accusing Tudou of losing it business following claims that Youku had misused
copyrighted material.
Questions for discussion:
1. How does Tudou combine its service with Youku?
2. Why is this deal considered as the beginning of a period of
consolidation in China’s online video space?
3. What kind of battle occurred earlier this year?
Part Two: English Writing ( 40%)
Directions: You should write about the following topic:
Some people believe that the range of technology available to
individuals is increasing the gap between the rich people and the poor
people. Others think this has an opposite effect. Discuss both views and
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give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your
own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 200 words.
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