SECTION C – READING AND COMPREHENSION

Here are the answers to Section C:

SECTION C – READING AND COMPREHENSION

21. Correctly label the boxes marked A, B, C and D in the product life cycle (PLC) diagram.

    • A: Introduction
    • B: Growth
    • C: Maturity
    • D: Decline

22. At what stage of the PLC does consumer awareness increase and profitability improve.

    • Growth stage

23. At what stage of the PLC does competition intensify and companies often focus on differentiation or cost cutting strategies?

    • Maturity stage

24. What happens at the decline stage of the PLC?

    • At the decline stage, sales and profits fall significantly due to factors like changing consumer preferences, new technologies, or increased competition. Companies may choose to discontinue the product or reduce marketing efforts to maximize remaining profits.

25. Outline two (2) advantages of oral communications.

    • Oral communication allows for immediate feedback and clarification, enabling quick resolution of misunderstandings.
    • It conveys non-verbal cues such as tone of voice and body language, which can enhance understanding and build rapport.

26. Define the role of social responsibility in managing operations?

    • Social responsibility in managing operations involves making decisions and implementing practices that consider the ethical, environmental, and societal impact of production processes, aiming to benefit stakeholders beyond just shareholders.

27. Describe the goal of knowledge management in human resource planning?

    • The goal of knowledge management in human resource planning is to identify, capture, store, and share critical organizational knowledge and expertise to ensure its availability when needed, facilitate learning, and support strategic talent development and succession planning.