Assignment
Course: Business Administration (ICH 631)
Coverage: Week 2 – Week 12
Instruction: Each student should answer one Question.
QUESTION ONE
Evolution of Business Administration + Planning)
Case Study: The Transformation of CAMTEL
CAMTEL, Cameroon’s national telecommunications company, has evolved from a rigid public-
sector organization into a more competitive enterprise facing private-sector rivals. Historically,
CAMTEL relied heavily on bureaucratic administrative procedures rooted in classical
administrative thinking. However, recent market pressures have forced management to adopt
strategic planning tools such as SWOT and PESTLE analyses to redefine organizational goals.
Despite these efforts, middle managers struggle to align operational plans with corporate
strategies, resulting in inefficiencies and slow decision-making.
Required:
a) Using classical, behavioral, and contemporary administrative theories, explain how
CAMTEL’s administrative evolution reflects changes in business administration thinking.
b) Analyze the role of planning in helping CAMTEL transition from a bureaucratic organization to
a competitive enterprise.
c) Assess how poor integration between strategic and operational planning can undermine
organizational performance.
QUESTION TWO
Case Study: Organizational Restructuring at a Multinational Bank
A multinational bank operating in Cameroon recently shifted from a functional structure to a
matrix structure to improve coordination across departments and regions. While top
management argues that the new structure enhances flexibility and innovation, employees
complain about role ambiguity, dual authority, and reporting conflicts.
Performance levels have become inconsistent across branches.
Required:
a) Explain the principles of organizational structure and design relevant to this case.
b) Compare the functional and matrix structures, highlighting their advantages and limitations.
c) Evaluate the extent to which organizational design can influence efficiency, accountability,
and employee performance.
QUESTION THREE
Case Study: Human Resource Challenges in a Manufacturing Firm
A medium-sized manufacturing firm in Douala has experienced high employee turnover despite
competitive wages. Internal assessments reveal weak recruitment practices, limited training
opportunities, and inconsistent performance appraisal systems. Management is concerned
about declining productivity and rising recruitment costs.
Required:
a) Discuss the role of Human Resource Management in effective business administration.
b) Analyze how recruitment, training, and performance appraisal practices can influence
employee retention.
c) Propose HR strategies that could improve employee commitment and organizational
performance.
QUESTION FOUR
Case Study: Leadership Crisis in a Public Hospital
A public hospital in Cameroon is facing declining staff morale and frequent conflicts between
management and employees. The hospital director relies on an authoritarian leadership style,
arguing that strict control is necessary due to limited resources and high patient volumes.
However, employees complain of poor communication, lack of motivation, and absence of
participatory decision-making.
Required:
a) Using leadership theories (trait, behavioral, contingency, and transformational), analyze the
leadership challenges in the hospital.
b) Examine how leadership style affects employee motivation and organizational outcomes.
c) Recommend an appropriate leadership approach for improving performance and morale in
the hospital.
QUESTION FIVE
Case Study: Strategic Decision-Making Failure in a Retail Chain
A retail chain operating in several Cameroonian cities expanded rapidly without conducting
adequate market analysis. Decisions were largely based on intuition rather than structured
decision-making models. As a result, several outlets recorded losses due to poor location
choices and inefficient inventory management.
Required:
a) Distinguish between programmed and non-programmed decisions in the context of this
case.
b) Analyze how the use of decision-making models and tools could have improved outcomes.
c) Discuss the role of cognitive biases in strategic decision failures.
QUESTION SIX
Case Study: Budget Implementation Breakdown in a Service Organization
A large service organization prepares detailed annual budgets, yet budget implementation often
fails due to poor communication between finance managers and departmental heads.
Employees complain that financial decisions are imposed without consultation, leading to
resistance and inefficiencies.
Required:
a) Explain the importance of effective communication in business administration.
b) Analyze how communication failures can undermine financial planning and budgeting.
c) Propose strategies for improving communication to enhance financial performance and
accountability.
QUESTION SEVEN
Case Study: Organizational Restructuring at a Multinational Bank
A multinational bank operating in Cameroon recently shifted from a functional structure to a
matrix structure to improve coordination across departments and regions. While top
management argues that the new structure enhances flexibility and innovation, employees
complain about role ambiguity, dual authority, and reporting conflicts.
Performance levels have become inconsistent across branches.
Required:
a) Explain the principles of organizational structure and design relevant to this case.
b) Compare the functional and matrix structures, highlighting their advantages and limitations.
c) Evaluate the extent to which organizational design can influence efficiency, accountability,
and employee performance.
QUESTION EIGHT
Case Study: Strategic Planning Failure in a Cooperative Society
A large agricultural cooperative in the North West Region of Cameroon prepares annual plans
but continues to record declining productivity and member dissatisfaction. Planning is largely
done by top management without consulting cooperative members or field officers. As a result,
planned activities often fail during implementation.
Required:
a) Explain the concept of business administration and its relevance to cooperative
organizations.
b) Analyze the weaknesses in the cooperative’s planning process.
c) Recommend how participatory planning could improve organizational performance.
QUESTION NINE
Case Study: Role Confusion in a Private University
A newly established private university in Cameroon has experienced rapid growth in student
enrollment. However, staff complain of unclear reporting lines, overlapping responsibilities, and
conflicting instructions from multiple administrators. Academic and administrative performance
has suffered as a result.
Required:
a) Discuss the importance of clear organizational structure in business administration.
b) Identify structural problems evident in the university.
c) Propose an appropriate organizational structure that would improve coordination and
accountability.
QUESTION TEN
Case Study: Ineffective Performance Appraisal in a Logistics Company
A logistics company operating in Douala conducts annual performance appraisals, but
employees view the process as biased and meaningless. Appraisal results are rarely linked to
training, promotion, or rewards. Consequently, employee morale and job satisfaction have
declined.
Required:
a) Explain the role of performance appraisal in Human Resource Management.
b) Analyze how ineffective appraisal practices affect employee motivation and satisfaction.
c) Recommend improvements to make the appraisal system more effective and credible.
QUESTION ELEVEN
Case Study: Leadership and Decision Conflict in a Family-Owned Hotel
A family-owned hotel in Limbe is experiencing declining service quality and customer
complaints. Decision-making is centralized in the owner, who rarely consults professional
managers. Employees feel excluded from decisions and lack motivation to improve service
delivery.
Required:
a) Using leadership theories, analyze the leadership challenges in the hotel.
b) Examine how centralized decision-making affects employee performance.
c) Recommend leadership and decision-making approaches that could improve service quality.
QUESTION TWELVE
Case Study: Ethical and Operational Challenges in a Manufacturing Firm
A Cameroonian manufacturing firm exporting to international markets has been accused of
unethical labor practices and environmental pollution. Internally, poor communication between
management and factory workers has led to frequent disputes and production delays.
International partners have threatened to terminate contracts unless improvements are made.
Required:
a) Discuss the role of communication in resolving organizational conflict.
b) Analyze the importance of ethical practices and corporate social responsibility in global
business.
c) Propose operational and administrative measures the firm could adopt to restore its
reputation and competitiveness.