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UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
Cambridge International Diploma in Management
Higher Professional Level
4182/01
4258/01
Core Module
Valid between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2004
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
You should read the assignment carefully
It is important to complete the Assignment Cover Sheet when you have finished your work. You must
complete the details and sign the declaration to confirm that the assignment is all your own work and your
tutor must sign to verify that it is your own work.
The length of the assignment must be between 3000 and 4000 words.
This document consists of 2 printed pages.
IB04 01_4182_CORE/2RP
 UCLES 2004
[Turn over
2
Higher Professional Module 4182/4258
Financial Management – Core Module
Title: Improving Departmental Financial Management
The assignment should be prepared in the form of a professional consultancy document that could be
presented to the senior management of the organisation that the candidate works for. Candidates should
not answer each section separately but rather present a coherent report encompassing all of the tasks given
below.
Candidates are expected to draw on appropriate research, breadth of academic reading, application of
theory to practice and presentation skills. The report should use the number of words as given on the front
cover and have any necessary supplementary information attached in appendices.
1.
Describe how you manage finances within your department, including the use of budgets and how
these are set. Illustrate how your financial management process fits into the overall planning process
for the organisation. Review the way you manage finances within your department and evaluate the
current position against budgetary plans. Prepare a report on the comparison between actual and
budgeted expenditure, identifying variations and their significance.
Summarise your findings.
2.
Using this information, prepare a department budget for the next accounting period containing at
least a Profit and Loss account, cash flow statement and balance sheet. You should adhere to the
common assumptions and protocols of your organisation and justify all your financial statements.
3.
Identify a capital investment that would help your department to work more effectively. Research the
costs of the investment and, using a range of costing models, project the return on the investment.
4.
Write a report to your manager summarising the current financial situation and present your proposed
budget for the future. Describe your capital investment appraisal and make recommendations for
investment or otherwise.
You must include in your assignment all documentation, notes and materials generated from each
stage as shown above.
You are not expected to include confidential information on your organisation, its personnel or
performance.
University of Cambridge International Examinations is part of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) which is
itself a department of the University of Cambridge.
 UCLES 2004
4182/01 (Core) 2004
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
Cambridge International Diploma in Management
Higher Professional Level
INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
4184/01
4260/01
Core Module
Valid between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2004
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
You should read the assignment carefully
It is important to complete the Assignment Cover Sheet when you have finished your work. You must
complete the details and sign the declaration to confirm that the assignment is all your own work and your
tutor must sign to verify that it is your own work.
The length of the assignment must be between 3000 and 4000 words.
This document consists of 3 printed pages.
IB04 01_4184_CORE/2RP
 UCLES 2004
[Turn over
2
Higher Professional Diploma Module 4184/4260
Information Systems Management - Core Module
Title: Information as a Business Resource
The assignment should be prepared in the form of a professional consultancy document that could be
presented to the senior management of the organisation that the candidate works for. Candidates should
not answer each section separately but rather present a coherent report encompassing all of the tasks given
below.
Candidates are expected to draw on appropriate research, breadth of academic reading, application of
theory to practice and presentation skills. The report should use the number of words as given on the front
cover and have any necessary supplementary information attached in appendices.
1.
Within all organisations, the management of information is important. Using your own department or
a project you are working on, identify the following:
•
The information requirement
•
The sources of this information and how it should be gathered
•
How information is recorded and stored.
•
How information sources and systems are evaluated
Summarise your finding, including a description of the following:
•
How information technology is currently used in the information gathering, evaluation and
storage process
•
How the information management system operates.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the current information systems in meeting business objectives.
2.
Using a range of sources, both internal and external to the organisation, research other relevant
information systems that are IT-based.
From your evaluation and research, identify improvements that could be made to the current
information management system. Include comments on the information flow through the system, the
IT components that are involved and the operation of the system. Describe the benefits to be gained
from the improvements suggested.
3.
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis on your suggested improvements to the management information
system.
 UCLES 2004
4184/01 (Core) 2004
3
4.
Write a summary report describing how the organisation is dependent on an effective management
information system, the effectiveness of the current system, options for change that you have
identified and any recommendations for improvement to the present system or the way it is operated.
You must include in your assignment all documentation, notes and materials generated from each
stage as shown above, as well as the summaries required.
You are not expected to include confidential material on your organisation, its personnel or
performance.
University of Cambridge International Examinations is part of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) which is
itself a department of the University of Cambridge.
 UCLES 2004
4184/01 (Core) 2004
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
Cambridge International Diploma in Management
Higher Professional Level
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
4186/01
4262/01
Core Module
Valid between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2004
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
You should read the assignment carefully
It is important to complete the Assignment Cover Sheet when you have finished your work. You must
complete the details and sign the declaration to confirm that the assignment is all your own work and your
tutor must sign to verify that it is your own work.
The length of the assignment must be between 3000 and 4000 words.
This document consists of 2 printed pages.
IB04 01_4186_CORE/2RP
 UCLES 2004
[Turn over
2
Higher Professional Diploma Module 4186/4262
Strategic Management – Core Module
Title: Managing Strategically
The assignment should be prepared in the form of a professional consultancy document that could be
presented to the senior management of the organisation that the candidate works for. Candidates should
not answer each section separately but rather present a coherent report encompassing all of the tasks given
below.
Candidates are expected to draw on appropriate research, breadth of academic reading, application of
theory to practice and presentation skills. The report should use the number of words as given on the front
cover and have any necessary supplementary information attached in appendices.
1.
Identify a strategic change that has taken place in your organisation during the last two years. Using
a range of sources, collect information on the background to the strategic change, the key changes
made and the desired outcomes. Summarise these.
2.
Identify and analyse the internal and external forces for the strategic change that has taken place and
the options that were available. Critically evaluate these options and comment on the strategy
adopted.
3.
Using a range of information sources, identify the progress being made towards the original strategic
plan, including the reactions of relevant people to the strategic change. Make a note of those parts of
the plan that are working well and those that are working less well.
4.
From your research and your knowledge of emerging internal and external influences, make
suggestions for changes to the strategy, paying particular attention to the role of managers in
implementing the plan. Include an implementation plan and evaluation criteria. Present your
recommendations in the form of a formal written proposal to your manager.
You must include in your assignment all documentation, notes and materials generated from each
stage.
You are not expected to include confidential information on your organisation, its personnel or
performance.
Your proposal does not have to be accepted and implemented for the assignment to be valid.
University of Cambridge International Examinations is part of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) which is
itself a department of the University of Cambridge.
 UCLES 2004
4186/01 (Core) 2004
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
Cambridge International Diploma in Management
Higher Professional Level
MARKETING STRATEGY
4192/01
4268/01
Optional Module
Valid between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2004
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
You should read the assignment carefully
It is important to complete the Assignment Cover Sheet when you have finished your work. You must
complete the details and sign the declaration to confirm that the assignment is all your own work and your
tutor must sign to verify that it is your own work.
The length of the assignment must be between 3000 and 4000 words.
This document consists of 2 printed pages.
IB04 01_4192_B/2RP
 UCLES 2004
[Turn over
2
Higher Professional Diploma Module 4192/4268
Marketing Strategy – Optional Module
Title: Learning from Others
The assignment should be prepared in the form of a professional consultancy document that could be
presented to the senior management of the organisation that the candidate works for. Candidates should
not answer each section separately but rather present a coherent report encompassing all of the tasks given
below.
Candidates are expected to draw on appropriate research, breadth of academic reading, application of
theory to practice and presentation skills. The report should use the number of words as given on the front
cover and have any necessary supplementary information attached in appendices.
1.
Identify an organisation that you consider is successful in marketing its products or services. Using a
range of information sources, study its marketing strategy, identifying what makes it successful.
Identify how the marketing strategy links to the organisational strategic objectives.
2.
Compare your findings with the marketing strategy of your own organisation, identifying strengths and
weaknesses for each approach.
3.
Conduct a market analysis for your organisation’s products or services and list the options for
successful marketing. Using your findings and the research from the other organisation, carry out a
risk analysis of these options and identify the most suitable marketing strategy.
4.
Share your findings with others and seek their feedback. Incorporate any valid suggestions.
5.
Using all the information obtained so far, devise a marketing strategy that is linked to your strategic
objectives and present this as a proposal to your manager. In your report, you should fully justify your
recommendations, including key learning points from the other organisation studied.
You must include in your assignment all documentation, notes and materials generated from each
stage.
You are not expected to include confidential information on your organisation, its personnel or
performance.
Your proposal does not have to be accepted and implemented for the assignment to be valid.
University of Cambridge International Examinations is part of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) which is
itself a department of the University of Cambridge.
 UCLES 2004
4192/01 (Core) 2004