XAT 2018 — Decision Making Question 20
Answer the following question based on the information given below.
Madhuri Apte, a busy professional, rents out her studio apartment located in South Mumbai. Since she stays three hours away from the studio apartment, she uses a networked digital lock to monitor the property remotely. Each customer gets a temporary and unique access code for the digital lock that enables them to enter the studio apartment for the duration of stay. The apartment’s entrance door can also be opened with physical keys and MadhuriApte has two such keys in her possession. Madhuri Apte has employed a cleaner who has a permanent access code to enter the apartment for cleaning every day. She is available only between 15:00 hrs and 17:00 hrs. Madhuri Apte’s apartment caters largely to international customers. A customer typically stays for 3 days, paying an average rent of $125 per day. While Madhuri Apte's studio apartment gets good feedback on other aspects, many seem unhappy as they found the operation of the digital lock complicated.
Which of the following options is the best for Madhuri Apte in this context?
Answer & solution
- A
Madhuri should switch to a physical lock.
- B
Madhuri, on request, should send one of the physical keys five days ahead of customer's arrival at an extra charge of $75.
- C
Madhuri should request the cleaner to explain the working of the digital access code to customers for an extra charge.
- D
Madhuri should do nothing as digital locks shall be the norm in the future.
Madhuri should create a video manual on "how to use the digital access code" and e-mail it to the customers before their arrival.
This situation would require Madhuri's physical presence monitoring. Hence, (1) cannot be the answer. (2) will only increase the overall expense to the customer, which may be detrimental to the business. Since it is known that the cleaner is available during a particular time only, option (3) is not a correct solution. Not doing anything, as [4] suggests, is not a good option. Option (5) is cost effective to Madhuri and would be handy to the customers as well.
Hence, the correct answer is option 5.