Instructions

Answer questions on the basis of information given in the following case.
Life saving Pharmaceuticals ( LSP) is India - based Pharmaceuticals Company. Their business mostly revolves around a couple of generic drugs and a few patented drugs. LSP operates in 30 odd countries and more than 50% of their sales volume is from outside India.

Question 1

If more than 50% of their sales volume is from generic drugs, which of the following options is definitely correct?
(Note : All percentages figures are with respect to total sales volume)

Solution

Option D is the correct answer. Let us examine the choices individually:

Option A: [Incorrect] [If the sales volume of patented drugs in India is 43%, the sales volume of generic drugs in India will be less than 43%.]

We can create the following 2*2 matrix to process the data [note: text in red = given information; text in blue = required value]

It is evident that the sales volume of generic drugs in India will be less than 7% (and not 43%) [For instance, the value cannot be 40% but instead must be below 7%]

Option B: [Incorrect] [If the sales volume of generic drugs in foreign countries is at least 24%, the sales volume of patented drugs in India will be above 24%.]

It is evident that the sales volume of patented drugs in India will be below 24%.

Option C: [Incorrect] [If the sales volume of patented drugs in India is 54%, the sales volume of generic drugs in foreign countries will be above 54%.]

The instructions specify that the sales volume in India is below 50%; therefore, the sales volume of patented drugs in India must also be below 50% (i.e. it cannot take the value specified in the option)

Option D: [Correct] [If the sales volume of patented drugs in India is 29%, the sales volume of generic drugs in foreign countries will be above 29%]

It is evident that the sales volume of generic drugs in foreign countries will be above 29%

Option E: [Incorrect] [If the sales volume of generic drugs in India is at least 60%, the sales volume of patented drugs in foreign countries will be above 60%.]

The instructions specify that the sales volume in India is below 50%; therefore, the sales volume of generic drugs in India must also be below 50% (i.e. it cannot take the value specified in the option)

Question 2

Mr. Sinha, a senior executive of LSP, observes that their business in India is not vibrant. LSP faces stiff competition from Indian and global players, except in rural areas. Interestingly, most of their sales in the rural area are from cough syrup, used as sedatives by teenagers. Mr. Sinha is planning the following actions to improve business in the long run.

I. Invest in development of new drugs.
II. Increase sales of cough syrup in the rural markets.
III. Try and cut costs.
IV. Recruit more medical representatives in the rural areas.

Which of the following sequences is best arranged in the descending order of appropriateness?

Solution

IV doesn't help in expanding business in long run, options D and E are eliminated. It is important to have wide range of products, I is the most appropriate one. Cost cutting also increases the profits. Therefore, I is followed by III. Concentrating on a product which already have good market also increases the profit. Therefore, the order is I, III and II.

The answer is option A.

Question 3

Mr. Rastogi, HR head of LSP, is contemplating of transferring MR. Jose, from India to their Luxembourg office. Mr. Jose’s wife is also with the HR department of LSP. The couple is expecting their first child within next four months and hence they want to be together. Mr. Rastogi is wondering whether Mr.Jose would accept the transfer. If he doesn’t, Mr. Rastogi would have to send a less competent person for this job as early as possible. The office in Luxembourg is very important for the company’s future. It is at its nascent stage and does not yet have an HR department. Hence, it is not possible to transfer Mrs. Jose to Luxembourg.
Which of the following options would be most appropriate, from the organization’s perspective, to resolve the issue?

Solution

It is mentioned that somebody has to be sent to Luxembourg as soon as possible. This implies, options C and E are eliminated. Options A and D are not the best actions to solve the issue. Giving Mrs. Jose option to work from home while in Luxembourg so that she can be with Mr.Jose is the most appropriate one.

The answer is option B.

Question 4

Mr. Khan used to work as the Vice President of LSP India. However, he had resigned from LSP India for a better job in New York. In the meantime, his wife was promoted to head the HR of LSP India. Mrs. Khan had struggled hard to reach this position and was quite popular and respected within the organization. Mrs. Khan was contemplating whether she should give up her career and join him in New York. Mrs. Khan is considering the following actions:

I. Take a break for the time being and focus on personal life. Given her reputation, she can always get back to the same job, if required.
II. Go to New York, on leave without pay for two months to help Mr. Khan settle down. After that she can come back and resume her responsibility in LSP India.
III. Request Mr. Khan to look for an equivalent job in India.
IV. Resign form LSP India, join Mr. Khan in New York, and look for a similar job there.
V. Request LSP India for a similar position in LSP USA and follow Mr. Khan to New York.

Which of the following sequence of actions can be immediately taken by Mrs. Khan to
maintain her work - life balance?

Solution

I, III and IV indicate that giving up work to concentrate on personal life. These are not correct steps to maintain work life balance. II and V are the appropriate steps to maintain work life balance.

The answer is option D.

If more than 50% of their sales volume is from generic drugs, which of the following options is definitely correct?(Note : All percentages figures are with respect to total sales volume)

If more than 50% of their sales volume is from generic drugs, which of the following options is definitely correct?
(Note : All percentages figures are with respect to total sales volume)