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Business Administration Comprehensive Exam Summary
Master Level
Peregrine Academic Services (PAS) provides assessment services for performing direct assessment of learning outcomes in a range of academic disciplines. The online exams are used to evaluate retained student knowledge in relation to the academic program’s learning outcomes.
This document outlines the Business Administration assessment service for the master (MBA, MS,
or MA) academic degree level.
The assessment service is designed for use by U.S.-based schools and programs.
PAS places a high priority on ensuring the validity and reliability of the assessment services. These practices begin at the design stage and continue through beta-testing, and with ongoing regularly scheduled quality reviews. A description of the approach used to ensure ongoing validity and reliability is provided at the end of this document.
The academic program manager selects topics that align with their learning outcomes and the program curriculum (usually 6-10 topics per exam).
The exams include 10 questions for each topic and each exam is unique as questions are selected at random from the test bank with 50-200 questions per topic.
This document provides information on:
Topics and sub-topics where applicable, and the subjects covered within each topic or sub-topic
Example questions
Assessment Service Validity and Reliability
The Topics and Sub-Topics are:
a. Macroeconomics
b. Microeconomics
- Global Dimensions of Business
a. Human Resource Management
b. Operations/Production Management
c. Organizational Behavior
Business Communications
Subjects:
Cross-Cultural Communications (Questions related to differences, challenges, and guidance for effective communication)
Nonverbal Communications (Questions related to nonverbal clues and impact on effectiveness)
Oral and Written Communications (Questions related to types of communications, good practices and techniques)
Organizational Communications (Questions related to vertical and horizontal communications, selecting the best methods of communication)
The Communication Process (Questions related to elements of the process, feedback and communication styles)
Example Questions:
Oral communication is better than written communication for.
A. conveying feelings and emotions B. providing opportunity to refer to earlier points
C. saving time
D. conveying facts and opinions
Correct Response: A
When a person manipulates information so that it will be received more favorable, she / he is.
A. using selective perception
B. using vertical communication
C. filtering information
D. communicating favorably
Correct Response: C
Business Ethics
Subjects:
Corporate Social Responsibility (Questions related to social reputation, corporate philanthropy, human rights, power, and ethics)
Discrimination (Questions related to racial and sexual discrimination)
Ethical Decision-Making (Questions related to external rewards, models of ethical decision-making, utilitarian reasoning, and business ethics)
Individual and Corporate Ethics and Culture (Questions related to developing an ethical corporate culture)
International Ethical Standards (Questions related to ethical issues for companies doing business overseas)
Stakeholder Relations (Questions related to how to engage stakeholders)
Example Questions:
Which of the following best describes the term corporate culture?
A. A function of many factors, including corporate policies on ethics, top management's leadership on
ethical issues, the influence of coworkers, and the opportunity for unethical behavior.
B. A set of values, beliefs, goals, norms, and ways of solving problems that members (employees) of an
organization share.
C. A set of values, beliefs, goals, norms, and ways of solving problems that the public shares. D. A function of many factors related to locus of control.
Correct Response: B
The use of bribery in international business is:
A. totally unacceptable.
B. acceptable in the United States.
C. a cost of conducting business in any country.
D. an acceptable business practice in many countries' cultures.
Correct Response: D
Business Integration and Strategic Management
Subjects:
- Business and Corporate-level Strategies (Questions related to localization strategy, international strategy, economic of scale, emergent strategies, and business-level vs. corporate-level strategies)
- Continuous Improvement (Questions related to quality management, Six Sigma, Just-in-time delivery, and sources of information regarding quality)
- Corporate Structure and Governance (Questions related to managers, strategic leadership, goals, leverage, and company officers)
- Managers and Management Structure (Questions related to competitive intelligence, managing people, learning, and functional managers)
- Marketing Strategy and Market Positioning (Questions related to global expansion, small-scale entry, and the marketing strategic in market positioning)
- Mission and Vision (Questions related to the purpose and use of mission and vision relative to corporate strategy)
- Shareholder Value and Return (Questions related to obligations to provide shareholder value and return on investment)
- Strategic Analysis Tools (Questions related to the SWOT analysis, feedback, and ability to meet financial obligations)
- Strategic Planning and Decision-Making (Questions related to steps in strategic planning and how to make company-level decisions)
Example Questions:
The resources and capabilities that lead to the formation of distinctive competencies are mostly created at
which level of the organization?
A. Business
B. Functional
C. Corporate
D. Global
Correct Response: B
Economies of scale are:
A. unit cost reductions associated with learning effects. B. unit cost reductions associated with superior customer responsiveness.
C. realized when output is as large as possible.
D. unit cost reductions associated with a large-scale output.
Correct Response: D
Business Leadership
Subjects:
Coaching and Mentoring (Questions related to mentoring, executive coaching, and mentoring techniques)
Leader Traits and Effectiveness (Questions related to leadership values, emotional intelligence, enthusiastic leader, and self-awareness in leaders)
Leadership Development (Questions related to education, succession planning, and feedback)
Leadership Styles and Approaches (Questions related to positional leadership, executive leaders, leadership competencies, and authority)
Power and Legitimacy (Questions related to sources of power, socialized power, and contingent reward and punishment behavior)
Example Questions:
Leadership effectiveness tends to be higher when the leader's intelligence is:
A. about the same as that of the average group member.
B. a little higher than that of the average group member.
C. considerably higher than that of the average group member. D. considerably lower than that of the average group member.
Correct Response: B
Creativity among leaders tends to be distributed:
A. along a continuum from low to high.
B. into being creative versus not creative.
C. between old and young leaders.
D. between planners versus implementers.
Correct Response: A
Sub-Topic: Microeconomics
Subjects:
- Elasticity (Questions related to calculating price elasticity, demand, and inelastic demand)
- Pricing (Questions related to equilibrium price, demand effects on price, and marginal utility)
- Supply and Demand (Questions related to supply/demand curves, equilibrium, and using supply/demand diagrams)
Example Questions:
As the price of good A rises, the demand for good B rises. Therefore, goods A and B are:
A. normal goods.
B. inferior goods.
C. substitutes.
D. complements.
Correct Response: C
The law of supply states that price and quantity supplied are:
A. inversely related, ceteris paribus.
B. directly related, ceteris paribus. C. not related.
D. fixed.
Correct Response: B
Global Dimensions of Business
Subjects:
Collusion and Anti-Trust (Questions related to dumping, explicitly collusion, anti-trust law, and anti-trust policy)
Global Regulation and Governance (Questions related to European Union, Group of Eight, the United Nations, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)
Global Structures and Strategies (Questions related to World Trade Organization, common markets, barriers for entrants, exporting, and industry-based considerations)
Multinational Corporations and Enterprises (Questions related to Trans National Corporations, firm internationalization, and understanding multinational corporations from a U.S. perspective)
Treaties and International Trade (Questions related to defining a global company, an international division, and knowledge management in a global firm)
Example Questions:
Which of the following are least likely to result in collusion?
A. High concentration ratio.
B. Heterogeneous products.
C. High entry barriers. D. High market commonality.
Correct Response: B
In some industries where pressures for globalization are relatively low, local firms may possess some skills
and assets that are transferable overseas, thus leading to a/an strategy.
A. Defender
B. Extender
C. Dodger
D. Contender
Correct Response: B
Legal Environment of Business
Subjects:
Business Entities and Structure (Questions related to corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, S-corporations, and general partnerships)
Common Law (Questions related to role of common law, double jeopardy, U.S. and English Common Law systems, and civil law systems)
Legal Agreements and Documents (Questions related to fiduciary duty, prosecution, civil proceedings, and the responsible corporate officer)
Regulation and Control (Questions related to FTC Act, sources of international law, state laws, and the Cyber Security Enhancement Act)
Tariffs and Taxes (Questions related to who imposes tariffs and taxes)
Tort and Liability (Questions related to trespass, negligence, punitive damages, privilege, libel, intentional torts, and invasion of privacy)
Trade Laws and Regulations (Questions related to regulating business ownership and international trade)
Example Questions:
When directors on a board serve for a fixed term but are not elected all at once it is known as a
board.
A. Cumulative
B. Staggered
C. Proxy
D. Inside
Correct Response: B
The is a program developed by the industrialized countries to assist developing nations by improving
their ability to export.
A. World Trade Organization
B. Developing Nations Schedule C. Harmonized Tariff Schedule
D. Generalized System of Preferences
Correct Response: D
Management
Sub-Topic: Human Resource Management
Subjects:
HR Affirmative Action (Questions related to Affirmative Action Programs and compliance with federal law)
Employee Turnover (Questions related to voluntary vs. involuntary turnover)
Equal Employment Opportunity (Questions related to EEO rules, employee rights, and employment agencies)
Human Resource Planning, Assessing, and Inventories (Questions related to employment forecasting, role of company goals in employment planning, job design, and job analysis)
Recruiting and Retention (Questions related to sources of employees, recruitment activities, retraining, and retention tracking)
Example Questions:
Which of the following statements about recruitment activities is true?
A. Recruiting and hiring are interchangeable terms.
B. Effective recruitment attracts individuals to the organization.
C. Recruiting has little effect on employee retention.
D. Recruiting involves sorting and ranking job applicants.
Correct Response: B
Which of the following statements about contingent employment is true?
A. Rehiring former or laid-off employees as contingent workers is an effective method of recruiting.
B. The growing reliance on contingent employment is often considered a positive trend for employees.
C. The commitment of rehired employees to do the best job possible tends to be very high. D. Conflict between permanent and temporary workers is seldom a problem.
Correct Response: A
Sub-Topic: Organizational Behavior
Subjects:
- Career Planning and Employee Development (Questions related to diversity, organizational design, and Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (KSAs))
- Division of Labor and Organization (Questions related to organizational levels, hierarchy, network organizations, and span of control)
- Employee Values, Motivations, and Characteristics (Questions related to understanding employee motivations and behaviors, verbal communications, employee attitudes, and knowledge transfer)
- International and Multinational Organizations (Questions related to multinational design, global mindsets, and worldwide perspectives)
- Organizational Culture, Ethics, and Values (Questions related to diversity, ethical dilemmas, developing culture, codes of conduct, and culture strategies)
- Organizational Design and Structure (Questions related to organic organization, mechanistic organization, bureaucracy, functional design, and determining the right design/structure)
- Organizational Strategies (Questions related to differentiation strategies, technological change, and network-designed strategies)
Example Questions:
The communication competency is linked to effective performance of all but which of the following skills?
A. active listening skill
B. questioning skill
C. liaison skill D. empathizing skill
Correct Response: C
The communication competency is linked to effective performance of which of the following skills?
A. liaison skill
B. monitoring skill
C. disseminating skill
D. questioning skill
Correct Response: D
Marketing
Subjects:
Market Segment (Questions related to types of segmentation and approaches to segmentation)
Marketing Defined (Questions related to how to define the target market, marketing strategies, and marketing decision-making)
Marketing Research (Questions related to focus groups, customer satisfaction surveys, marketing studies)
Marketing Strategy (Questions related to marketing management, planning for marketing, and how companies determine their marketing strategy)
Marketplace and Market Share (Questions related to generic vs. specific market, economics of scale, and product-market decision-making)
Types of Marketing (Questions related to positioning, marketing partners, marketing collaboration, and service marketing)
Example Questions:
Coordinating the flow of all goods, services and information among channel members, and throughout the
channel, is referred to as:
A. supply chain management
B. distribution channel
C. logistics
D. flow marketing.
Correct Response: C
strategies are incentives a manufacturer offers to its distribution partners such as dealers,
wholesalers, retailers, and the like to sell products to the end-users.
A. Pull marketing
B. Marketing
C. Promotion marketing
D. Push marketing
Correct Response: D
Assessment Service Validity and Reliability
Introduction
The programmatic assessment services provided by Peregrine Academic Services (PAS) are used to assess retained knowledge of students at various academic degree levels. Schools deploy these services to evaluate the effectiveness of their academic programs, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate program outcomes to external stakeholders.
PAS places a high priority on ensuring the validity and reliability of the assessment services. These practices begin at the design stage and continue through beta-testing, and with ongoing regularly scheduled quality reviews. The following outlines the approaches used to ensure ongoing validity and reliability.
Validity refers to the extent to which the test banks and the services measure the phenomena under
consideration.
Reliability refers to the extent to which the exam results are repeatable and therefore data sets can be
compared over time.
Design Features that Impact Validity and Reliability
The following features apply to all assessment services.
- Exam scoring is 100% objective using automated marking.
- Each exam viewed by a student is unique using a random selection of questions from the test bank in random topic order.
- Each exam has timed response periods for questions. When the user navigates away from the exam screen, the screen fades, a message appears informing the user that he/she has left the exam window and the questions are timed.
- Students are unable to copy/paste from the exam window.
- Abandoned exams are excluded from summary reports.
Ensuring Ongoing Validity and Reliability
Validity: To ensure test bank validity, the following measures were adopted when the initial test banks were created. The same principles are use with subsequent changes to the test banks.
The specific accreditation or certification requirements related to learning outcomes evaluation were used to determine the topics and subjects for the test banks.
Current teachings for each topic were considered regarding the foundational level of each test bank.
Exam questions were written and reviewed by academic professionals within each discipline. Similar subject matter experts are used with subsequent editing and for new questions.
Each topic has questions designated for 4-8 subjects per topic to help ensure appropriate breadth of coverage and allow for specific learning outcomes measurement.
- Exam responses are either correct or incorrect, with only one possible right choice. Scores are determined by summarizing the percent correct: per subject, per topic, and by total score.
Reliability: PAS contracted with external experts to design a comprehensive and statistically sound approach to
measuring assessment service reliability. The result is that each year, aReliability Report is generated
for each assessment service. The report generates data for several reliability metrics and the data for each are compared with acceptability criteria to determine which test questions should be modified or replaced. Subject matter experts in the field are then contracted to modify/replace the targeted questions. Hence, the assessment service is regularly reviewed and improved to ensure ongoing reliability.
Reliability is determined by measuringItem Difficulty,Item Discrimination, andQuestion
Interchangeability.
Item Difficulty refers to the percentage of students who answer questions correctly. Data are generated by topic and for each question. The target Item Difficulty is 60 percent correct with an acceptable range of 35– 80 percent.
Item Discrimination refers to how well a question distinguishes between those students with more knowledge (higher overall exam scores) from those with less knowledge. Two measures are used:
Discrimination Index andPoint-Biserial Correlation.
For a given question, the Discrimination Index compares the scores of students with high overall test scores with students with low overall test scores. The scale is -1 to +1, with higher values indicating that a given question better distinguishes between high and low performing students. A value of ≥ 0.20 is considered acceptable.
Point-Biserial Correlation is equal to Pearson's Correlation Coefficient between the scores on the entire exam and the scores on a specific question. A score of ≥ 0.10 is considered acceptable.
When assessing the quality of questions, both the Discrimination Index and the Point-Biserial Correlation Coefficient are reviewed.
Question Interchangeability refers to the ability to substitute a question in the test bank with another without significantly affecting the total score that an individual would receive on the exam. This is
determined using Cohen's Effect Sized calculated based on a two-tailedt-test comparing the total score for
all students who had that question in their exam versus the total score of the students who did not have that question in their exam. The scale is 0 - 1.0, and a score of < 0.20 is considered acceptable.
