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MBA Exam Questions through the Ages1950 -A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His costof production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?1960 - A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His costof production is 4/5 of the price, which makes for a cost of$80. What is his profit?1970 -A logger exchanges a set "L" of lumber for a set "M" ofmoney. The cardinality of set "M" is 100. Each element isworth one dollar. Make 100 dots representing the elements ofthe set "M". The set "C", the cost of production, contains 20fewer points than set "M". Represent the set "C" as a subsetof set "M" and answer the following question: What is thecardinality of the set "P" for profits?1980 -A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. Her costof production is $80 and her profit is $20. Your assignment:Underline the number 20.1990 -By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the loggermakes $20. What do you think of this way of making a living?Topic for class participation after answering the question: Howdid the forest birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut downthe trees? There are no wrong answers.1995- By laying off 40% of its loggers, a company improves its

stock price from $80 to $100. How much capital gain per sharedoes the CEO make by exercising his stock options at $80?Assume capital gains are no longer taxed, because thisencourages investment.2000- A company out-sources all of its loggers. The firmsaves on benefits, and when demand for its product is down,the logging work force can easily be cut back. The averagelogger employed by the company earned $50,000, had threeweeks vacation, a nice retirement plan, and medical insurance.

The contracted logger charges $50 an hour. Was outsourcing agood move?2004 - Explain how the relationship between the ethicalresponsibility of the logging businesses and that of theirindividual and collective members ultimately rides on theoriesof moral agency. Under what circumstances could lumberingwood be regarded as corporate social responsible behavior?

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Remember this!

Everything you Need to Know aboutthe Corporate World

1. Indecision is the key to flexibility.2. You can't tell which way the train wentby looking at the track.3. There is absolutely no substitute for agenuine lack of preparation.4. Happiness is merely the remission ofpain.5. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.6. Sometimes too much to drink is notenough.7. The facts, although interesting, are

irrelevant.8. The careful application of terror isalso a form of communication.9. Someone who thinks logically is a nicecontrast to the real world.10. Things are more like they are todaythan they ever were before.11. Anything worth fighting for is worthfighting dirty for.

12. Everything should be made as simpleas possible, but no simpler.13. Friends may come and go, but enemiesaccumulate.14. I have seen the truth and it makes nosense.15. Suicide is the most sincere form ofself-criticism.

A Dead Horse: Real-LifeReflections On Business Strategy

During your MBA course, you probablylearned that when you discover yourcompany is riding a dead horse, the best

strategy is to dismount as quickly aspossible. However, in real-life businesswe often try other strategies with deadhorses, including the following:

1. Buying a stronger whip.2. Changing riders.3. Saying things like "This is the way wealways have ridden this horse."

4. Appointing a committee to study thehorse.5. Arranging to visit other sites to seehow they ride dead horses.6. Increasing the standards to ride deadhorses.7. Appointing a tiger team to revive thedead horse.8. Creating a training session to increase

our riding ability.9. Comparing the state of dead horses intoday's environment.10. Change the requirements declaringthat "This horse is not dead."11. Hire contractors to ride the deadhorse.12. Harnessing several dead horses

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16. If you think there is good ineverybody, you haven't met everybody.17. All things being equal, fat people usemore soap.

18. If you can smile when things gowrong, you have someone in mind toblame.19. One seventh of your life is spent onMonday.20. Every time you make ends meet, theymove the ends.21. Not one shred of evidence supportsthe notion that life is serious.

22. The more you run over a dead cat,the flatter it gets.23. There is always one more imbecilethan you counted on.24. This is as bad as it can get, but don'tcount on it.25. Never wrestle a pig. You both getdirty and the pig likes it.26. The trouble with life is, you'rehalfway through it before you realize.

together for increased speed.13. Declaring that "No horse is too deadto beat."14. Providing additional funding to

increase the horse's performance.15. Do a CA Study to see if contractorscan ride it cheaper.16. Purchase a product to make deadhorses run faster.17. Declare the horse is "better, fasterand cheaper" dead.18. Form a quality circle to find uses fordead horses.

19. Revisit the performance requirementsfor horses.20. Say this horse was procured withcost as an independent variable.21. Promote the dead horse to asupervisory position.