Question 2 (a) Swift Bank Uganda Ltd, one of the fastest growing banks in Uganda, has reviewed its working hours in order to improve its services. It has revised the opening time from 8:30 am to 8:00 am and closing time from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm. This will be effective from 1 January, 2019 in all its branches. The bank management has decided to notify the general public about these changes. You are the Public Relations Officer of Swift Bank Uganda Ltd.

Required:

Design a notice informing the general public about those adjustments, showing clearly when the change will be effected. (10 marks) (b) All business messages should always aim at fostering good will and enhancing relationships with customers, colleagues and other business contacts.

Required:

Mention four qualities of a well phrased business message. (4 marks) (c) In conferences and workshops, there must be a table for a rapporteur who is in charge of the proceedings.

Required:

Explain two duties of a rapporteur of a conference. (4 marks) (d) In most workshops, resolutions are made and some members may be assigned tasks to perform as follow-up activities.

Required:

Suggest any two reasons to explain the necessity of follow-up activities.

Question 3 Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: . Most people love shopping for mostly consumable items. The down side of this is that sometimes it leads to debt and monthly financial struggles. If you have trouble living within your means and staying out of debt, here are some tips on how to manage the difference. One important idea in economics is that of needs and wants. Needs are goods or services that are required. These include: food, clothing, shelter and health care. Wants are goods or services that are not necessary but which we desire or wish for. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself if you really need it. What will happen if you have not bought that specific item for two days? Knowing the difference between needs and wants will help keep you out of debt. Make a list of any or all your income from your job, side business, pension and anywhere else. Also list all your expenses from household to personal expenses. Knowing the differences between income and expense helps you to control your expenditures and plan better for the fixed expenses. Get a small booklet and write down your daily expenses. It helps you to be in control of your financial plans. A spending plan is very important and if you are not a fan of writing, there are online budgeting services that make the process easier. If you want to live within your means and attain your goals, you have to track where your money is going. Do not compete; we live in societies where we want to live like our neighbours, friends and co-workers or celebrity mentality and lifestyles. All these categories of people might drive nicer cars, build mansions or take expensive vacations and you want to do the same. Just imagine that person you are competing with might have saved for his expenses and is in control of his personal finances, or he might have financed his Lexus with a loan facility and you are struggling to keep up the pace, be realistic and live within your income. Keep emergency fund. If you do not have three to six months of expenses saved up, start saving now. When something goes wrong, you will not have to take out a loan to pay for it. Cut down on expenses. If you are still struggling to live within your means, take a hard look at your expenses. There is probably something you can cut out or at least cut down on. Ask yourself what those expenses you can cut down are.

For household items, endeavour to shop in bulk and measure quantities to be utilized on a daily basis. If all fails, please work hard to boost your income. If you cannot get a pay rise and you find yourself financially struggling to make ends meet, look around for better alternatives that can help you increase your income. Anybody can live within their means and still enjoy life. The trick is, think about what you really enjoy and find a way to get it for less. It is advisable to spend your money on income generating activities than consumption. Our lives depend on needs and wants, but spend wisely! Adapted from: Prosper Your Finances, 13 February, 2018. Required:

(a) Identify any six steps on how to avoid a financial crisis. (b) Explain three benefits of spending one's income wisely. (c) Explain why people: (i) struggle to keep up the pace and live within their means.

(ii) fail to make ends meet. (d) Give the difference between 'needs' and 'wants' as used in the passage. Question 4 (a) Metropole Financial Services Ltd has been fleeced of its money through illegal dealings between a former employee, NGANGA MAHAMAN and potential clients. In a bid to alert the public about this conman, the firm decided to publicly denounce that former employee.

Required:

As the human resource manager, design a press release on behalf of the company warning the public about any dealings with your former employee on matters concerning Metropole Financial Services Ltd.

(b) Many companies fail to operate after their clients have raised complaints about some irregularities in the services they offer. This may be a result of the poor public image portrayed by the company staff in the way they behave or treat their clients. Required: Suggest any four steps that can be taken by a company to protect its reputation. (4 marks) (c) Selecting a front desk officer for a business organisation should be done with a lot of caution.

Required:

Give four qualities of a good front desk officer. (4 marks) (d) Identify two forms of behaviour that may spoil a company's corporate image.

Question 5 (a) You are employed by a construction firm as Administrative assistant but you recently took on an evening course to pursue a certificate in management accountancy. The company does not provide study leave for employees and missing a day from work is considered to be absconding from duty attracting very serious penalties. It is clearly inevitable that you will be away from work for a week to write your examinations but would not wish to jeopardize your job.

Required: Write a letter to the managing director seeking for permission to be away from work for a week. (10 marks) (b) Organisations use different formats for a variety of written communication depending on the recipient and purpose.

Required: Distinguish between a request and apology letter.

(c) Courtesy is one of the principles which must be adhered to in business interactions and in all media of communication. Required: Mention four aspects of discourteous behaviour which may destroy a business relationship. (4 marks) (d) Oral media is very useful for managers and employees in their interaction at a workplace.

Required:

Give two reasons to explain why oral communication is considered to be more appropriate than written communication in some business scenarios. (2 marks)

Question 6 (a) The following notice has appeared in The Daily Newspaper. PUBLIC NOTICE The Institute of Corporate Accountants (ICA) Preamble The Institute of Corporate Accountants (ICA) in conjunction with the International Union of Accountants has organised a public lecture for all well meaning accountants in Uganda. THEME: REBUILDING PROFESSIONALISM. TOPICS: Communication in an organizational context. The Art of presentation. Business and Social Etiquette. Technology in Business. Ethics and corporate culture in Business. KEY PRESENTERS: Hon. Odoki Samson, Minister of Finance and Planning. Dr. Asea Katriah, Consultant in Ethics and Professionalism. VENUE: Star Group Hotel, Kalaga Township. WHEN: Monday 10 - Friday 14 December, 2018 For information contact: 0764 566793 0766 566793 http/www.ica.com Required: Design a five day programme for the public lecture paying special attention to the venue, activity and the organizers of the occasion. (10 marks)