Communication Skills
1. Explain the circumstance under which each of the following types of interviews may be conducted in an organization:
(i) Grievance: Conducted when an employee has a complaint or concern about workplace conditions, policies, or treatment.
(ii) Disciplinary: Conducted to address an employee’s misconduct or violation of company rules.
(iii) Appraisal: Conducted to evaluate an employee’s performance and provide feedback.
2. Explain four functions of the public relations department in an organization:
– Building and maintaining the organization’s image.
– Managing communication with internal and external stakeholders.
– Handling crisis communication to mitigate negative publicity.
– Promoting products, services, or events through media relations.
- Outline three differences between “horizontal communication” and “vertical communication”:
– Horizontal communication occurs between individuals at the same organizational level, while vertical communication flows up or down the hierarchy.
– Horizontal communication fosters collaboration among peers, whereas vertical communication ensures instructions and feedback flow between superiors and subordinates.
– Horizontal communication is informal, while vertical communication is often formal.
4. Explain four limitations of online meetings:
– Technical issues like poor internet connectivity can disrupt communication.
– Lack of non-verbal cues (e.g., body language) can lead to misunderstandings.
– Participants may feel less engaged due to the absence of face-to-face interaction.
– Security risks, such as unauthorized access to meeting links.
5. State two challenges that may be associated with the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for business communication:
– Over-reliance on technology can lead to reduced interpersonal skills.
– Cybersecurity threats, such as hacking or data breaches.
6. Outline two receiver-related barriers to effective communication:
– Prejudice or bias against the sender or message.
– Lack of attention or focus during communication.
7. List two forms of intra-personal communication:
– Self-talk (internal dialogue).
– Reflection or introspection.
8. Outline two measures that a caller may take to enhance the effectiveness of an official telephone call:
– Prepare key points or questions in advance.
– Speak clearly and maintain a professional tone.
9. State two disadvantages of diagonal communication:
– Can bypass hierarchical levels, leading to confusion or conflict.
– May result in miscommunication if roles and responsibilities are unclear.
10. Outline two reasons that make etiquette an important aspect in business communication:
– Enhances professionalism and credibility.
– Builds trust and positive relationships with clients and colleagues.
11. Identify two elements of a good paragraph:
– A clear topic sentence.
– Supporting details or evidence.
12. State two types of information that should be included in a job advertisement:
– Job title and description.
– Required qualifications and experience.
13. State two reasons that make it necessary to carry out audience analysis when preparing to write a report:
– Ensures the content is relevant and understandable to the target audience.
– Helps tailor the tone and style of the report to suit the audience’s preferences.
14. List two contents of the minutes of a meeting:
– Date, time, and location of the meeting.
– Key decisions and action items.
15. Explain three ways in which a technician in an engineering firm may demonstrate ethical communication:
– Being honest and transparent in reporting findings.
– Respecting confidentiality of sensitive information.
– Avoiding biased or misleading statements.
16. Outline three differences between an oral report and a written report:
– Oral reports are delivered verbally and allow for immediate feedback, while written reports are documented and reviewed later.
– Written reports are more detailed and structured, while oral reports are concise and interactive.
– Oral reports rely on delivery skills, while written reports depend on clarity of writing.
17. List four skills that an individual should possess to succeed in customer care:
– Active listening.
– Empathy.
– Problem-solving ability.
– Patience.
18. Explain three indicators of ineffective external communication in a marketing firm:
– Misunderstandings or complaints from clients.
– Decline in sales or customer engagement.
– Negative feedback on social media or review platforms.
19. Explain four mistakes that should be avoided when summarizing a passage:
– Including irrelevant details.
– Omitting key points.
– Distorting the original meaning.
– Using overly complex language.
20. Explain three guidelines that should be followed when drafting the agenda of a meeting:
– Prioritize important topics.
– Allocate sufficient time for each item.
– Include clear descriptions of discussion points.
Workshop Organization and Management
1. Outline three objectives that a manufacturing firm may seek to achieve through sales promotion:
– Increase product awareness.
– Boost short-term sales.
– Build customer loyalty.
2. Describe ‘limited liability company’:
– A business structure where owners (shareholders) are not personally liable for the company’s debts beyond their investment.
3. List six advantages of a sole proprietorship form of business:
– Easy to start and manage.
– Complete control over decision-making.
– Lower startup costs.
– Direct profit retention.
– Flexibility in operations.
– Minimal legal formalities.
4. Explain the concept of the law of tort:
– A civil wrong that causes harm or loss, leading to legal liability.
5. Distinguish between ‘trespass to land’ and ‘trespass to person’:
– Trespass to land involves unauthorized entry onto someone’s property.
– Trespass to person refers to physical interference, such as assault or battery.
6. Explain three factors that may have led to the growth of trade unions in Kenya:
– Poor working conditions.
– Low wages and benefits.
– Need for collective bargaining power.
7. List four effects of industrial disputes on an organization:
– Loss of productivity.
– Damage to reputation.
– Financial losses.
– Strained labor relations.
8. Explain each of the following methods of dispute resolution:
(i) Conciliation: A neutral third party facilitates negotiations between disputing parties.
(ii) Adjudication: A formal process where a judge or arbitrator makes a binding decision.
9. Explain each of the following functions of management:
(i) Forecasting: Predicting future trends and outcomes to guide decision-making.
(ii) Co-ordinating: Aligning resources and activities to achieve organizational goals.
10. Explain four leadership styles as proposed by Rensis Likert:
– Exploitative authoritative: Leaders impose decisions without input.
– Benevolent authoritative: Leaders make decisions but show some concern for employees.
– Consultative: Leaders involve employees in decision-making.
– Participative: Leaders encourage full participation and collaboration.
11. State three social services that may be provided by an industry to the community:
– Education scholarships.
– Healthcare facilities.
– Infrastructure development.
12. Outline five objectives of production planning:
– Ensure efficient resource utilization.
– Meet customer demands on time.
– Minimize production costs.
– Maintain quality standards.
– Optimize inventory levels.
13. Explain ‘marketing activities’:
– Actions taken to promote, sell, and distribute products or services.
14. Explain three roles of marketing in society:
– Facilitates economic growth.
– Improves consumer satisfaction.
– Encourages innovation.
15. Explain ‘consumer behaviour’:
– The study of how individuals make decisions to spend resources on consumption-related items.
16. List four categories of factors that may influence consumer behaviour:
– Psychological.
– Social.
– Cultural.
– Personal.
Microelectronics, Electrical Principles II, EMFD
1. Explain the function of each of the following pins in the 8085 microprocessor:
– (i) HOLD: This pin is used to request the microprocessor to relinquish control of the buses. When activated, the processor enters a hold state, allowing external devices to use the buses.
– (ii) IO/M: Indicates whether the microprocessor is performing a memory operation (IO/M = 0) or an input/output operation (IO/M = 1).
– (iii) READY: Used to synchronize the microprocessor with slower peripheral devices. When low, the processor waits for the peripheral to become ready.
2. State two advantages of flash disk over floppy disk when used as memory devices:
– Higher storage capacity compared to floppy disks.
– Faster data transfer speeds due to USB or similar interfaces.
3. State the word bit capacity for each of the following microprocessors:
– (i) Intel 8085: 8-bit.
– (ii) Intel 8086: 16-bit.
– (iii) Pentium I: 32-bit.
4. Outline the steps of installing software from a CD-ROM to a Windows PC:
– Insert the CD-ROM into the drive.
– Open the autorun menu or manually navigate to the installation file.
– Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
5. State the meaning of each of the following 8085 instruction set:
– (i) MVI M data: Move immediate data into the memory location pointed to by the HL register pair.
– (ii) LDA addr: Load the accumulator with the data stored at the specified memory address.
– (iii) ADC r: Add the contents of the specified register and the carry flag to the accumulator.
– (iv) INR M: Increment the value stored in the memory location pointed to by the HL register pair.
– (v) JMP addr: Unconditionally jump to the specified memory address.
6. State two types of damping mechanisms used in analogue indicating instruments:
– Air friction damping.
– Eddy current damping.
7. Sketch curves for each of the following:
– (i) Growth of current in an inductive circuit: The current increases exponentially toward a steady-state value.
– (ii) Discharge current in a capacitive circuit: The current decreases exponentially over time.
8. Distinguish between preventive and corrective maintenance:
– Preventive maintenance involves regular inspections and servicing to prevent failures.
– Corrective maintenance is performed after a failure occurs to restore functionality.
9. State three precautions to take when finding faults in digital logic circuits:
– Ensure the power supply is disconnected before testing.
– Use appropriate tools and equipment to avoid damaging components.
– Double-check connections and configurations to avoid misdiagnosis.
10. Define each of the following with respect to sources of test signals:
– I. Frequency stability: The ability of a signal source to maintain a constant frequency over time.
– II. Accuracy: The closeness of the generated signal’s parameters (e.g., frequency, amplitude) to their intended values.
- Sketch a pulse waveform showing the rise and fall times of the wave:
– A pulse waveform consists of a rapid rise time (transition from low to high), a flat top (high state), and a rapid fall time (transition from high to low).
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Electrical Installation II, Estimating & Tendering, Machines and Control
1. List four features of synchronous motors:
– Constant speed regardless of load changes.
– High efficiency.
– Can operate at leading, lagging, or unity power factor.
– Requires external means for starting.
2. State three types of motor enclosures:
– Open drip-proof (ODP).
– Totally enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC).
– Explosion-proof.
3. Explain electrical interlock with reference to contactor control:
– An electrical interlock prevents two contactors from being energized simultaneously, ensuring safe operation of machinery.
4. Outline two main components of a programmable logic control (PLC):
– Central processing unit (CPU).
– Input/output modules.
5. Define ‘programmable logic controller’ (PLC):
– A PLC is a specialized computer used to automate industrial processes by controlling machinery based on programmed logic.
6. Explain the term ‘wiring system’:
– A wiring system refers to the arrangement of cables, conduits, and accessories used to distribute electrical power within a building or installation.
7. State four factors considered when selecting a particular wiring system:
– Environmental conditions (e.g., moisture, temperature).
– Cost and ease of installation.
– Safety requirements.
– Future maintenance and scalability.
8. Define the term ‘wiring accessory’:
– A wiring accessory is a device used in electrical installations, such as switches, sockets, and junction boxes.
9. Explain three objectives of commissioning three-phase installation systems:
– Verify proper functioning of all components.
– Ensure safety and compliance with standards.
– Optimize performance and efficiency.
10. Define ‘phase sequence’:
– The order in which the voltages in a three-phase system reach their maximum values.
11. State four factors that determine an electricity tariff:
– Maximum demand.
– Energy consumption (kWh).
– Power factor.
– Time of use (peak/off-peak rates).
Telecommunication Systems
1. State two functions of the RF section of an AM radio receiver:
– Amplifies the incoming radio frequency signal.
– Selects the desired frequency band using tuning circuits.
2. Define each of the following with respect to AM radio receivers:
– I. Sensitivity: The ability of the receiver to detect weak signals.
– II. Co-channel interference: Interference caused by signals from different transmitters operating on the same frequency.
3. State two possible signals available at the output of the mixer stage of an AM radio receiver:
– Intermediate frequency (IF) signal.
– Image frequency signal.
4. With the aid of sketches, explain each of the following as used with antennas:
– (i) Beam width: The angle between the half-power points of the radiation pattern.
– (ii) Front-to-back ratio: The ratio of signal strength in the forward direction to that in the backward direction.
5. State the frequency range and one use of each of the following radio frequency bands:
– (i) High frequency (HF): 3–30 MHz; used for long-distance communication (e.g., amateur radio).
– (ii) Low frequency (LF): 30–300 kHz; used for navigation and time signal broadcasting.
6. Define frequency modulation:
– A modulation technique where the frequency of the carrier wave is varied in proportion to the amplitude of the modulating signal.
8. Define each of the following with respect to TV systems:
– (i) Aspect ratio: The ratio of the width to the height of the TV screen.
– (ii) Composite video signal: A signal that combines luminance, chrominance, and synchronization information.
9. List the three components of a composite video signal:
– Luminance (brightness).
– Chrominance (color).
– Synchronization pulses.
10. Differentiate between half and full-duplex data transmission modes:
– Half-duplex allows communication in both directions but not simultaneously.
– Full-duplex allows simultaneous communication in both directions.
Telecommunication Systems
AM Radio Receivers
1. State two functions of the RF section of an AM radio receiver:
– (i) Amplifies the incoming radio frequency (RF) signal to a usable level.
– (ii) Selects the desired frequency band using tuning circuits to filter out unwanted signals.
2. Define each of the following with respect to AM radio receivers:
– I. Sensitivity: The ability of the receiver to detect and amplify weak signals effectively.
– II. Co-channel interference: Interference caused by signals from different transmitters operating on the same frequency.
4. State two possible signals available at the output of the mixer stage of an AM radio receiver:
– Intermediate frequency (IF) signal.
– Image frequency signal.
Antennas
5. With the aid of sketches, explain each of the following as used with antennas:
– (i) Beam width: The angle between the half-power points (-3 dB points) of the radiation pattern, indicating the antenna’s directional focus.
– (ii) Front-to-back ratio: The ratio of signal strength in the forward direction (main lobe) to that in the backward direction, expressed in decibels (dB).
Radio Frequency Bands
7. State the frequency range and one use of each of the following radio frequency bands:
– (i) High frequency (HF):
Frequency range: 3–30 MHz
Use: Long-distance communication (e.g., amateur radio, maritime communication).
– (ii) Low frequency (LF):
Frequency range: 30–300 kHz
Use: Navigation and time signal broadcasting.
Frequency Modulation (FM)
12. Define frequency modulation:
Frequency modulation is a modulation technique where the frequency of the carrier wave is varied in proportion to the amplitude of the modulating signal.
TV Systems
14. Define each of the following with respect to TV systems:
– (i) Aspect ratio: The ratio of the width to the height of the TV screen (e.g., 4:3 or 16:9).
– (ii) Composite video signal: A signal that combines luminance (brightness), chrominance (color), and synchronization information.
16. List the three components of a composite video signal:
– Luminance (brightness).
– Chrominance (color).
– Synchronization pulses.
Data Transmission
17. Differentiate between half and full-duplex data transmission modes:
– Half-duplex allows communication in both directions but not simultaneously.
– Full-duplex allows simultaneous communication in both directions.
18. State two merits of mesh topology:
– High reliability due to redundant paths.
– Fault tolerance, as failure of one link does not disrupt the entire network.
19. State two functions of the presentation layer of the OSI model:
– Data encryption and decryption for secure communication.
– Translation of data formats between systems.
Satellite Communication
21. State two demerits of satellite communication:
– High latency due to the long distance signals must travel.
– Vulnerability to atmospheric conditions (e.g., rain fade).
