ACCA AK Business and Technology (BT) Core 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Tuckman's model, which stage of group development involves conflict and disagreement as members establish their roles?
- Forming
- Storming (Correct answer)
- Norming
- Performing
Correct answer: Storming
Storming is the second stage of Tuckman's model, characterised by conflict, power struggles, and disagreements as team members challenge each other and resist the group structure.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'big data' in a business context?
- Any data stored on a company's local server
- Extremely large and complex data sets that require advanced analytical methods to extract value (Correct answer)
- A database containing only customer contact details
- Financial statements prepared under IFRS
Correct answer: Extremely large and complex data sets that require advanced analytical methods to extract value
Big data refers to extremely large, complex data sets — often characterised by volume, velocity, variety, veracity, and value — that cannot be processed effectively using traditional methods and require advanced analytics.
Question 3: In the context of information systems, what is the primary purpose of a Transaction Processing System (TPS)?
- To support senior management strategic decisions
- To record and process the organisation's routine daily transactions (Correct answer)
- To generate long-term forecasting models
- To manage employee performance appraisals
Correct answer: To record and process the organisation's routine daily transactions
A TPS handles the routine, day-to-day transactions of an organisation such as sales orders, payroll processing, and inventory updates. It forms the operational backbone of information systems.
Question 4: Which type of organisational culture, as described by Handy, is characterised by a dominant central figure and few rules or procedures?
- Role culture
- Task culture
- Power culture (Correct answer)
- Person culture
Correct answer: Power culture
Handy's power culture is characterised by a central power source (often a single dominant individual) with few formal rules. Decisions radiate from the centre, and the organisation depends on trust and personal communication.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of corporate governance?
- To maximise short-term profits at all costs
- To provide a framework of rules and practices by which a board ensures accountability, fairness, and transparency (Correct answer)
- To eliminate all business risk
- To reduce the number of employees in an organisation
Correct answer: To provide a framework of rules and practices by which a board ensures accountability, fairness, and transparency
Corporate governance establishes a system of rules, practices, and processes by which a company is directed and controlled. Its purpose is to balance the interests of stakeholders and ensure accountability, fairness, and transparency.
Question 6: In project management, what does a Gantt chart primarily display?
- The organisational hierarchy of project team members
- The financial budget allocated to each project phase
- The schedule of project activities against time (Correct answer)
- The risk register for the project
Correct answer: The schedule of project activities against time
A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart that displays project tasks or activities along a timeline. It shows start dates, end dates, durations, and dependencies, making it a key tool for scheduling and tracking progress.
ACCA AK Business and Technology (BT) Core 2
According to Tuckman's model, which stage of group development involves conflict and disagreement as members establish their roles?