assignmentssolution@gmail.com

Get Assignments and Projects prepared by experts at a very nominal fee.

More than 8 years in assisting assignments and projects/dissertation/thesis of MBA,BBA,BCA,MCA,PhD and others-

Contact us at : Email : assignmentssolution@gmail.com

Help for : SMU, IIBM,IMT, NMIMS, NIBM ,KSBM, KAIZAN, ISBM, SYMBIOSIS, NIMS, IGNOU, XAVIER, XIBMS, ISM, PSBM, NSBM, NIRM, ISBM, ISMRC, ICMIND, UPES and many others.

Help in : Assignments, projects, M.Phil,Ph.D disseration & thesis,case studies

Courses,MBA,BBA,PhD,MPhil,EMBA,MIB,DMS,MMS,BMS,GDS etc

Contact us at : Email : assignmentssolution@gmail.com



Tuesday, 6 June 2017

IIBM Exam papers/IIBM Case Studies: Contact us for answers at assignmentssolution@gmail.com

IIBM Institute of Business Management    5
IIBM Institute of Business Management
Examination Paper    MM.100
Front Office Operations
Section A: Objective Type & Short Questions (30 Marks)
?  This section consists of Multiple Choice and Short Note type Questions.
?  Answer all the questions.
?  Part one carries 1 mark each and Part two carries 5 marks each.
Part One:
Multiple Choices:
1.  To create a professional image and to make guest comfortable about the staff members is a factor
of______
a.  Personal presentation    
b.  An attentive manner
c.  Social skills
d.  Use of guest?s names
2  A small booklet which has the guest?s name, room number and room rate is_______
a.  Credit card         
b.  Key card
c.  Bedroom book
d.  Room status board
3.  Clear is a sign of_______
a.  Room left
b.  Room occupied
c.  Room vacant and ready
d.  Room vacant but not ready
4.  Which of the following is not a part of „Property Management System??
a.  General ledger    
b.  Registration
c.  Night audit
d.  Computer terminal
5.  Arrange the following as procedure for payment by credit card:
i.  Ask the client to sign the audit roll (retain the card)
ii.  Obtain the card from the client
iii.  Check that the signatures on the card and the voucher agree.
Examination Paper of Hotel Management
IIBM Institute of Business Management    6
iv.  Swipe the card through the machine.
a.  i, ii, iii, iv        
b.  ii, iv, i, iii
c.   ii, iii ,i, iv
d.   iv, ii, iii, i
6.  When the interest and desire is converted into booking or enquiry it is a result of:
a.  Interest        
b.  Attention
c.  Action
d.  Desire
7.  Providing an individual „PIN? number to the customer by the hotel authority is a feature of:
a.  Voice mail        
b.  Message waiting facility
c.  Fax
d.  Access to hotel services
8.      Cheques help in controlling frauds in the hotels.
a.  Crossing cheques      
b.  Cheque authorization
c.  Foreign cheques
d.  Blank cheques
9.  Which of the following is not included in the task performed mainly at the reception?
a.  Filing        
b.  Duplicating
c.  Word processing
d.  Reservation
10.      Chart is very time consuming to be up-dated and its errors results in lower
occupancy.
a.  Density chart      
b.  Density reservation chart
c.  Stop-go chart
d.  Conventional chart
Part Two:
1.   Differentiate between the organizational structure of „Small and Medium sized hotels?.
2.  State the main ways in which fire can be prevented in a hotel.
3.  List the main methods of „Non-verbal communication?.
Examination Paper of Hotel Management
IIBM Institute of Business Management    7
4.  Write a short note on „Inside Availability?.
Section B: Caselets (40 Marks)
?  This section consists of Caselets.
?  Answer all the questions.
?  Each Caselet carries 20 marks.
?  Detailed information should form the part of your answer (Word limit 150 to 200 Words)
Caselet 1
The Benson Hotel, a mid-sized independent property required new leadership. Mike Schwartz, Vicepresident of operations, pondered his next move as he reviewed last month?s financial statements. The
Benson was an eighty-five-room three-star property with a full-service restaurant, lounge, banquet and
health  club facilities.  The rapidly  changing  marketplace  and  new  competition from  well-established
franchises had made Mike?s job and the Benson?s position more tenuous. Mike decided to commission
a consultant?s report on the property. He called up his longtime friend Jim Burke, who had worked for
major chains across the country and was now a hospitality consultant.
“Jim, how are you old buddy?” Mike asked.
“I am doing very well Mike. This  consulting work has run me off my feet. What can I do for you?”
Jim Asked.
“Well Jim, I need an independent review of the Benson. We?re holding our own but these franchise
guys with their management contracts are really getting aggressive,” Mike said.
“Yes, I know what you mean Mike. I have just completed a marketing study for a new building across
town. These guys have some great programs. You have to try and stay ahead of them,” said Jim.
Mike asked, “Do you think you could visit the property and have some lunch next week? I would like
to  start  with  an  employee  survey  and  some  site  work.  You?ll  be  working  alongside  my  general
manager, Sean Waters. Sean?s been with us for about two years. Jim, I have some concerns about this
guy and I?d like to have a fresh set of eyes look at what?s going on at the Benson. Okay?”
Jim hesitated, “Okay Mike. How about next Thursday 10:00 a.m.? I?ll meet you in the lobby.”
“Wonderful, Jim. We?ll see you then.”
Sean waters had been recruited by Mike as a rising star. Sean?s background led Mike to believe he
possessed a true spirit for hospitality, especially in the food service area. Sean had worked his way up
in  reputable  full  –  service  properties  and  restaurants  while  completing  an  undergraduate  degree  in
hospitability.  So,  what  had  gone  so  wrong  at  the  Benson  for  Mike  to  feel  he  needed  to  bring  in  a
consultant to figure it out? Three months later Mike had an interim report on his desk.
Physical Plant Priorities
The following is a review of specific areas of the Benson Hotel that require attention.
Sales Office-  Located just off the lobby, this space is open to the public and is well below standards
for  this  level  of  property.  The  property  has  worked  hard  to  attract  the  corporate  market.  A  well renovated business center shared with a working sales area would enhance this area gently.
Banquet  Servery-  Located  on  the  lower  level  from  the  main  kitchen,  this  area  seems  more  of  a
storage area; in fact this could serve as a limited holding area for banquet service. There is no counte r
space and no secure shelving to store dishes, glassware, or cutlery. Floors and walls are in need of
refinishing. Guests have gained access to this area on occasion.
Exterior Garbage Area-  The main compactor located in the rear parking lot of the hotel  should be
enclosed.  It  is  unsightly  to  guests  and  can  be  viewed  from  the  road  by  surrounding  residences.  A
END OF SECTION A
Examination Paper of Hotel Management
IIBM Institute of Business Management    8
possible solution would be to pour a concrete slab allowing for drainage and build an enclosure on
three sides to ensure access for pick-up.
Access  for persons with disabilities  –Presently, the Benson has no access or rooms for guests with
disabilities. At least two units should be converted for this purpose. The main reconfigurations are the
bathrooms and doorways. On a few occasions guests with disabilities were observed leaving the hotel
for  other  properties  in  the  area  that  had  such  facilities.  It  is  a  good  marketing  initiative  and  may
become necessary to maintain the rating of the property.
Lobby- The lobby chairs and broadloom should be upgraded to reflect the marketplace and reputation
of the property.
Back Office Computer–  There is presently  no stand-  alone back office computer. The computers on
the  property  are  dated  and  solely  devoted  to  a  property  management  system  that  is  not  Windows
based. The following functions could be served with a back office computer.
?  Inventory analysis
?  Database marketing
?  Effective and professional word processing
Parking Lot –The rear parking lot is of particular concern; it does not reflect a three-star property.
Human Resources
The  Benson  Hotel  like  many  others  before  it,  had  over  the  years  placed  people  in  positions  of
authority  with  little  or  no  training  to  support  their  efforts.  This  was  true  in  the  following  revenue
centers.
Dining Room – During high season the dining room enjoys record covers on many nights. However,
there was one very stressful situation observed. The staffing was mixed with senior staff followed by
poorly  trained  “warm  bodies”.  The  situation  was  made  worse  by  the  supervisor,  Rachel,  who  was
perceived  by  the  staff  as  unfair,  unapproachable,  and  often  playing  favorites  with  her  friends  and
family. Rachel, in all fairness, has had no training and was clearly not the person for the job. She
repeatedly  showed  disrespect  for  her  fellow  workers  and  kitchen  staff.  Unfairness  was  clearly
displayed  in  the  allotment  of  high-gratuity-paying  work  such  as  banquets  and  bus  tours.  Rachel
played favorites. She would schedule herself and friends to serve high-gratuity events. If you were not
her favorite, you were relegated to breakfast shifts or similar low-gratuity work. An example is the
new girl, Donna, who Rachel hired this summer. Rachel is already giving preferential shifts to Donna
over  Isabel,  who  has  been  at  the  Benson  for  more  than  five  years.  Rachel  based  her  decision  on
Isabel?s poor performance, which Rachel said other employees would agree with. This was not the
case when fellow workers were asked. Rachel had also threatened to lay off Isabel in the slow months
instead  of  Donna  or  Rachel?s  daughter  Lucy.  This  was  clearly  an  old  management  style  and
unacceptable in any operation. Rachel is also resentful that the kitchen receives 25 percent of group
meal gratuities. In her opinion they do not deserve it. This feeling has permeated among her  allies,
instilling an “us against them” animosity between the kitchen and service staff.
Kitchen Operation –  The kitchen staff is competent, but leadership is seriously lacking in this area.
James, the interim kitchen supervisor, has difficulty coping with the restricted responsibilities placed
on him and often projects these feelings onto fellow staff. This attitude also has a further negative
effect on Rachel and her staff in the dining area. Chief Wilhelm left three months ago and left little
incentive  for  James  to  perform  his  duties  as  sous-chef.   James  is  somewhat  adrift,  constantly
complaining that he is doing a chef?s job and receiving cook?s pay.
Management  controls  and  reporting  such  as  inventory  are  inaccurate  at  best,  with  related  reports
poorly presented. Production and food handling require improvement from a quality and sanitation
point of view. It seems that many foods taken out for preparation or serving then are left out in a hot
kitchen  to  deteriorate  or  go  to  waste.  Scheduling  of  kitchen  employees  does  not  seem  to  relate  to
business  peaks  and  valleys.  This  has  resulted  in  calling  in  casual  kitchen  staff  on  short  notice,
resulting in paid-outs over the counter. One such employee is Gerald, the dishwasher who is Lucy?s
boyfriend. Rachel on occasion has taken it upon herself to call Gerald in for dishwashing duty when
clearly it is James?s responsibility to make the call. This situation provides an opportunity for Rachel
Examination Paper of Hotel Management
IIBM Institute of Business Management    9
to extend her influence beyond the realm of her authority and has led to increased friction between
Rachel and James.
Employee Audit
This part of Jim?s report was a detailed employee  audit interviewing employees on issues from the
parking lot all the way up to the general manager. It provided Mike with some food for thought. Jim?s
opening comments was: “if I had to make only one general statement about the relationship between
the employer and employees at this time, I would have to say that it is limping along at a slow, steady
pace. Most of the employees appear satisfied with the type of work they are doing and they speak
well for the company.” Under the section “Lack of Credibility  on the part of the General Manager,”
Mike?s worst fears were confirmed. Jim?s report continued, “As far as the remainder of the employees
are concerned, they do what they have to and then ignore the general manager. His level of credibility
with these employees is zero. One employee was very philosophical about it when she said “At least
we know what we have to deal with, and we are learning how to deal with him. If they get rid of him
we could get someone worse.” Supporting comments from employees included:
?  The general manager is always right.
?  The morale of the employees varies with the moods of the general manager
?  The general manager intimidates some employees.
?  The general manager tries to impress the upper management by pitching in to help when they are
here, but when they are not here he doesn?t lift a finger.
Jim summed up this section of his report to Mike like this: “This is a case of employees working well
in spite of the general manager rather than because of him. The main problem with this situatio n is
that a reputable company such as the Benson Hotel cannot support the actions of a general manager
with  this  type  of  comportment  and  still  maintain  a  workable  relationship  with  its  employees.  My
opinion at this point is that something has to change.”
Questions:
1.  Do you feel it was necessary for mike to commission a consultant?s report on the Benson? Why
or why not? How would you have approached the situation?
2.  Identify and propose solutions for the supervisory challenges in the kitchen and dining areas of
the „Benson Hotel?.
Caselet 2
The Rainbow Golf resort had something to celebrate. The 120- unit golf resort consisting of villas and
condominiums had recently been “re-branded” from a franchise to an independent property. The new
owner, Ken Okura, was reviewing the present organizational structure of the Rainbow along with the
files of key personnel presently running the operation. During the transition period Ken had recruited
his own team including a Vice-President of operations, Director of sales and marketing and Director
of Food and Beverage to restructure the organization; however, he still had a few key areas to fill in.
In the past, each member of the resort?s management team had staked out his or her own turf with
little internal communication. As a case in point, ken often noticed Shirley, the accountant, regularly
directing the front desk on policies and procedures. All this happened under the watch of Jeremy, the
resort?s Rooms Division Manager, who didn?t seem to take notice of such actions. Ken thought that
this overlap of authority surely must confuse the front desk staff.
The  transition  period  had  provided  Ken  with  a  window  of  opportunity  to  evaluate  the  line  and
supervisory staff. Ken had retained Ted Barrow, a human resources  consultant; his report?s findings
were quite a surprise to Ken. Ted?s report began with the following staff concerns:
?  The management does not work together. There is no teamwork, only “flexing” for power. Managers
are out to protect their turf. This attitude pervades the resort.
Examination Paper of Hotel Management
IIBM Institute of Business Management    10
?  There  is  no  apparent  overall  direction  for  the  resort.   If  there  is,  it  is  not  being  communicated
throughout the organization.
?  There is no general manager or controller on site. The feeling is that if these people were around,
conflict among the department heads could be avoided.
?  There is insufficient training. Employees are thrown into their jobs without being ready to perform
them properly. They should have proper preparation before they have to deal with guests.
?  Some departments (front desk in particular) are terribly understaffed. This causes service problems as
well as high staff turnover.
?  The staff morale is low. Employees work in separate departments and get caught in a rut. There is no
overall team spirit. It?s more like “every man for himself.”
?  There is little or no awareness of how other departments operate. This knowledge is necessary to help
us understand how we impact each other.
?  Many  people  are  currently  unhappy.  The  labor  pool  is  small,  and if they  leave  it  will  be  tough  to
replace them. Management should work to keep the staff happy.
?  There seems to be a consensus that staff members want to be able to provide good service, but too
many constraints are placed on them to be able to do so.
?  It is difficult to know who to go if someone has a problem with his or her manager. There should be
someone  designated  as  the  resort  manager  so  that  employees  have  someone  to  communicate  with
should the need to do so arise.
Ken  assembled  his  new  team  to  map  out  strategies  to  address  the  operational  challenges  and
employee concerns.
Questions:
1.  Identify and describe four short-term operational strategies Ken should implement immediately at
the Rainbow Golf Resort.
2.  Which form of top-down communication would be most suitable for the Rainbow Golf Resort to
achieve its objectives?
Section C: Applied Theory (30 Marks)
?  This section consists of Applied Theory Questions.
?  Answer all the questions.
?  Each question carries 10 marks.
?  Detailed information should form the part of your answer (Word limit 200 to 250 Words)
1.  Explain how the hotel receptionist can contribute to customer satisfaction?
2.  Discuss the methods of payments in a hotel.
3.  Discuss about the main principles of “Hotel Billing”.
S-2-300813
END OF SECTION B
B
END OF SECTION C

No comments:

Post a Comment