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100+ Free CMA Inter Paper 9: OMSM Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CMA Inter Paper 9: OMSM Exam

100

Marks (3-hour paper)

ICMAI CMA Syllabus 2022

60%

Operations Management Weight

ICMAI Paper 9 Syllabus

40%

Strategic Management Weight

ICMAI Paper 9 Syllabus

20%

Production Planning and OR Block

ICMAI Paper 9 Syllabus

Group II

CMA Intermediate Placement

ICMAI Syllabus 2022

40% / 50%

Paper / Group Pass Mark

ICMAI Examination Rules

CMA Inter Paper 9 (OMSM) is a 100-mark, 3-hour descriptive paper in Group II of the ICMAI CMA Intermediate Syllabus 2022. Section A, Operations Management, carries about 60% and includes a 20% block on production planning and control with operations research and a 15% block on project management. Section B, Strategic Management, carries about 40%, split across strategy introduction, strategic analysis and planning, formulation and implementation, and digital strategy. Passing requires at least 40% in the paper and 50% aggregate in the group. This free bank provides 100 MCQs distributed across the official modules.

Sample CMA Inter Paper 9: OMSM Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CMA Inter Paper 9: OMSM exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In operations management, the transformation process converts inputs into outputs. Which of the following is the BEST example of a 'transformed resource' in a manufacturing system?
A.The factory building housing the process
B.The machinery used on the shop floor
C.The operations manager supervising the line
D.The raw materials and components being processed
Explanation: Transformed resources are the inputs that are changed or converted by the operation, primarily materials, information, and customers. Raw materials and components are physically transformed into finished goods, so they are transformed resources.
2Which characteristic MOST distinguishes a service operation from a goods-producing (manufacturing) operation?
A.Services are storable in inventory for later sale
B.Services never involve any physical materials
C.Services are intangible and typically produced and consumed simultaneously
D.Services always have lower labour content than manufacturing
Explanation: Services are characterised by intangibility, inseparability (simultaneous production and consumption), perishability, and heterogeneity. Because they cannot generally be stored, capacity management and demand matching are critical concerns.
3The 'five performance objectives' of operations are quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost. Improving which objective MOST directly reduces the time between a customer placing an order and receiving the product?
A.Quality
B.Flexibility
C.Speed
D.Cost
Explanation: Speed refers to the elapsed time between a customer requesting a product or service and receiving it. Reducing throughput time and lead time directly improves the speed objective and customer responsiveness.
4An operations strategy that emphasises a narrow product range, high volume, and standardised processes to drive down unit cost is BEST associated with which competitive priority?
A.Customisation for each client
B.Product differentiation through variety
C.Rapid new-product introduction
D.Cost leadership
Explanation: High volume, low variety, and standardised repetitive processes allow economies of scale and learning effects that minimise unit cost, supporting a cost-leadership competitive priority.
5In the product-process matrix, a 'jumbled flow' job shop with high product variety and low volume is MOST appropriately matched with which process type?
A.Continuous flow process
B.Mass / line flow process
C.Project process
D.Jobbing / job-shop process
Explanation: A job shop handles low-volume, high-variety work with a flexible, functional layout where items follow varied (jumbled) routings. This matches the jobbing/job-shop process at the high-variety, low-volume corner of the matrix.
6A plant-location decision uses the factor-rating method. Site X scores 8, 6 and 9 on three factors weighted 0.5, 0.3 and 0.2 respectively. What is Site X's weighted score?
A.6.9
B.7.0
C.8.0
D.7.6
Explanation: Weighted score = (8 x 0.5) + (6 x 0.3) + (9 x 0.2) = 4.0 + 1.8 + 1.8 = 7.6. The factor-rating method multiplies each factor score by its weight and sums the products.
7Which plant layout is characterised by grouping all machines of the same function together (e.g., all lathes in one area, all drills in another) and is best suited to job-shop production?
A.Product layout
B.Fixed-position layout
C.Process (functional) layout
D.Cellular layout
Explanation: A process or functional layout groups similar machines and operations together. It offers flexibility for varied, low-volume work, making it well suited to job-shop and intermittent production.
8Group technology and the formation of manufacturing cells primarily aim to capture the benefits of product layout while retaining the flexibility of process layout. This is achieved by:
A.Producing one identical product continuously
B.Locating the product in a fixed position throughout production
C.Grouping parts into families processed by dedicated cells of dissimilar machines
D.Eliminating all material-handling equipment
Explanation: Cellular manufacturing uses group technology to organise dissimilar machines into cells, each dedicated to a family of parts with similar processing requirements. This shortens flow, reduces setups, and balances flexibility with efficiency.
9Design capacity, effective capacity and actual output are related to two key ratios. If effective capacity is 80% of design capacity and actual output equals 90% of effective capacity, what is the system's efficiency?
A.72%
B.80%
C.90%
D.88%
Explanation: Efficiency = actual output / effective capacity = 90%. Utilisation = actual output / design capacity = 0.90 x 0.80 = 72%. The question asks for efficiency, which is measured against effective capacity.
10Which forecasting technique is a QUALITATIVE method that gathers and refines expert opinion through successive rounds of anonymous questionnaires?
A.Moving average
B.Exponential smoothing
C.Delphi method
D.Linear regression
Explanation: The Delphi method is a qualitative, judgemental technique that uses iterative rounds of anonymous expert input with controlled feedback to converge on a forecast, useful when historical data is scarce.

About the CMA Inter Paper 9: OMSM Exam

CMA Intermediate Paper 9 (Operations Management and Strategic Management) is a Group II paper under the ICMAI Syllabus 2022. Section A covers operations management (about 60%), including operations strategy, facility and process design, production planning and control with operations research, productivity and quality, project management, and maintenance. Section B covers strategic management (about 40%), including strategic analysis, formulation, implementation, evaluation, and digital strategy.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

40% minimum in the paper with 50% aggregate across the group (ICMAI rules)

Exam Fee

No separate per-paper fee; bundled into ICMAI CMA Intermediate course and group examination fees (The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI))

CMA Inter Paper 9: OMSM Exam Content Outline

5%

Operations Management: Introduction

Scope of operations management, the input-transformation-output model, goods versus services, performance objectives, and operations strategy fundamentals.

5%

Operations Planning

Demand forecasting techniques, aggregate planning, supply chain management, the bullwhip effect, and the learning/experience curve.

5%

Designing of Operational Systems and Control

Plant location, plant layout types, product and process design, capacity planning, cellular manufacturing, line balancing, and cycle time.

20%

Production Planning and Control / Operations Research

Routing, scheduling, dispatching, sequencing rules, inventory models (EOQ, ABC, reorder level), MRP, linear programming, transportation, assignment, and queuing.

5%

Productivity and Quality Management

Productivity measurement, work study, TQM, Kaizen, Six Sigma, quality tools, statistical process control, process capability, JIT, lean, and cost of quality.

15%

Project Management, Monitoring and Control

Network analysis, critical path, float, PERT, CPM, crashing, work breakdown structure, earned value analysis, and resource levelling.

5%

Economics of Maintenance and Spares Management

Preventive versus breakdown maintenance, TPM, OEE, reliability, the bathtub curve, availability (MTBF/MTTR), spares classification, and value analysis.

10%

Strategic Management: Introduction

Strategy definition, levels of strategy, vision and mission, the strategic management process, and deliberate versus emergent strategy.

10%

Strategic Analysis and Strategic Planning

PESTEL, Porter's Five Forces, SWOT, resource-based view, value chain, core competence, portfolio matrices (BCG, GE-McKinsey), and benchmarking.

10%

Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation of Strategy

Ansoff matrix, generic strategies, integration and diversification, McKinsey 7-S, structure-follows-strategy, Balanced Scorecard, and strategy evaluation.

10%

Digital Strategy

Digital transformation, Industry 4.0, platform business models, network effects, disruptive innovation, blue ocean strategy, and business process re-engineering.

How to Pass the CMA Inter Paper 9: OMSM Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 40% minimum in the paper with 50% aggregate across the group (ICMAI rules)
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam fee: No separate per-paper fee; bundled into ICMAI CMA Intermediate course and group examination fees

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CMA Inter Paper 9: OMSM Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practise operations-research problems (EOQ, transportation, assignment, queuing, LP) by hand, because the production planning and control block carries the heaviest 20% weight.
2Master network analysis and PERT/CPM thoroughly, since project management is a 15% block with reliable, scoreable computational questions.
3Learn the standard strategy frameworks (Five Forces, SWOT, BCG, Ansoff, 7-S, Balanced Scorecard) well enough to apply them to short cases.
4Use ICMAI's official MCQ bank and study material alongside descriptive answer practice for full-mark coverage.
5Memorise key formulas (EOQ, expected time, float, OEE, availability, Cp) and the conditions under which each applies.
6Allocate study time roughly 60:40 between operations and strategy to match the section weightings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CMA Inter Paper 9?

CMA Inter Paper 9 is Operations Management and Strategic Management (OMSM), a Group II paper of the ICMAI CMA Intermediate course under Syllabus 2022. It is a 100-mark, 3-hour descriptive examination.

What is the syllabus weightage for CMA Inter Paper 9?

Section A, Operations Management, carries about 60% and Section B, Strategic Management, about 40%. Within Section A, production planning and control with operations research is 20% and project management is 15%.

Is CMA Inter Paper 9 an MCQ exam?

The live examination is descriptive (essay and problem-based) for 100 marks. ICMAI separately publishes an official MCQ question bank that students use to revise concepts, which is why MCQ practice is valuable for this paper.

What is the passing requirement for CMA Inter Paper 9?

Under ICMAI rules a candidate must score at least 40% in the paper and obtain a 50% aggregate across the group to pass. Passed papers may also qualify for exemption in later attempts.

How long is the CMA Inter Paper 9 exam?

The examination lasts 3 hours and is worth 100 marks. It is conducted offline (pen and paper) at ICMAI examination centres.

What topics does Section A Operations Management cover?

Section A covers operations strategy, design of facilities and processes, production planning and control with operations research, productivity and quality management, project management, and the economics of maintenance and spares.

What topics does Section B Strategic Management cover?

Section B covers strategy concepts and levels, strategic analysis and planning (PESTEL, Five Forces, SWOT, portfolio matrices), strategy formulation, implementation and evaluation, and digital strategy.