Deck 1: Understanding-Business-Communication

Question 1

Successful communication involves messages that are sent,received accurately,and understood.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

An example of a communication barrier in the communication system is an employee who is too busy to read an important email.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Ideally,the communication process is incomplete without a response.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The five components of communication are the need for communication,sender,message,audience,and response.

Question 5

You have more flexibility in conveying ideas to others when you use oral communication than when you use written communication.

Question 6

Facial expressions such as frowns and smiles are nonverbal messages that you formulate in response to a communication need.

Question 7

Using instant messaging at work may annoy some people,but others believe that it saves time.

Question 8

Email is the most frequently used communication medium but this use is declining.

Question 9

Written messages might be conveyed through a brochure,a blog posting,a web page,or a company newsletter.

Question 10

Individual experiences,culture,and personality affect how the communication need translates into an actual message.

Question 11

Cascading communication flows upwards and downwards from an important organizational leader.

Question 12

Employees prefer to receive bad news through the personal medium of email.

Question 13

A study of the ten characteristics that employers seek in employees identified communications as the number one skill.

Question 14

Communication flows in an orderly,linear manner from one stage to the next.

Question 15

At work,your personal email is protected free speech,thus shielded from lawsuits.

Question 16

Lateral communication typically involves persuading others who report to us.

Question 17

If you frown as someone speaks to you,you are providing the sender with your response about the message.

Question 18

An internal communication need is one that forms within your own organization.

Question 19

Employers report major deficiencies in the written and oral communication skills of new employees.

Question 20

When you choose the sender,you are deciding how you will decode the message for transmission.

Question 21

It is good business to share both good news and bad news with employees as quickly and completely as possible.

Question 22

You have achieved successful communication when your audience receives your written message,whether or not it is read.

Question 23

Managers can stop rumors by counteracting the free flow of information through the grapevine.

Question 24

The grapevine is most active in an organization when the level of fear is high.

Question 25

Jargon is technical terminology used within specialized groups sometimes called "the pros' prose."

Question 26

Over time,companies that are considered ethical and highly effective communicators provide higher returns to shareholders than companies without these characteristics.

Question 27

The grapevine is active at every level of the organization,moving information from one manager or employee to the next.

Question 28

Differences in how the sender and the audience assign meanings to the same word can become a communication barrier.

Question 29

Upward communication fosters an environment where employees can offer suggestions and feel they are important to the organization.

Question 30

When communicating internationally,you should translate important documents into the second language and then back into English to ensure correct interpretation.

Question 31

Downward communication is used more frequently than upward communication in most organizations.

Question 32

Audiences may become skeptical if euphemisms are used frequently to avoid giving bad news.

Question 33

Jargon is an efficient way of communicating specialized information to broad audiences.

Question 34

Lateral communication provides managers at all levels with the information they need to make decisions.

Question 35

Less than half of the information communicated through the grapevine is accurate.

Question 36

Messages on social media channels are most effective if they are short,personal,and one-way.

Question 37

The audience might misinterpret a word used by the sender because of the audience's personal reaction to the sender's connotations.

Question 38

The term denotation refers to "the associations you have with a word."

Question 39

Negative comments about your company,its products,or suppliers are usually acceptable if made in electronic forums not controlled by your employer.

Question 40

The organization's formal communication network consists of upward,downward,lateral,and cross-cultural communication.

Question 41

Which of the following creates the need for someone to initiate communication?

A)sender
B)connotation
C)message
D)communication need
E)denotation

Question 42

Lean media are best for routine,neutral,and simple messages.

Question 43

Research results show that all but which one of the following statements is true of business communications?

A)The top characteristic sought in job candidates is communication skills.
B)Communications is the most important area of Bloom's Knowledge for securing employment after graduation and for advancement and promotion once on the job.
C)As many as one-third of employees write poorly.
D)Employees who are happy with how their company communicates difficult decisions are much more likely to recommend their company.
E)Communication skills are more important in corporate settings than in self-employment.

Question 44

Technology that allows multitasking is likely to result in more efficient and accurate workplace communication.

Question 45

Which of these statements about the destination component of communication is not correct?

A)The sender loses control once the message enters the audience's sensory environment.
B)Communication may not occur even after the message enters the sender's sensory environment.
C)The audience might perceive the message but incorrectly interpret its meaning.
D)Once the message enters the audience's sensory environment,it becomes a filter for that audience.
E)The message is successful if it reaches its destination and the audience interprets it as the sender intended.

Question 46

Wherever possible,you should use abstract rather than concrete words to make your messages easier to understand.

Question 47

You can avoid polarization if you choose words that take the middle ground rather than words that represent an extreme position.

Question 48

An ethical message is one that is factually correct,even if it leaves out important information.

Question 49

You will not be able to communicate effectively if

A)you convey your message through verbal and nonverbal means.
B)you use lean media choices.
C)your message contains words that the audience cannot understand.
D)you fail to use current technology.
E)you are unaware of your organization's goals.

Question 50

Which component is not required for communication to take place?

A)response
B)sender
C)communication need
D)message
E)audience

Question 51

Senders filter their perceptions about the audience through differences in interpretation.

Question 52

Not all communication problems are spoken or written,some are related to how you act.

Question 53

When writing about a sensitive topic,you might use euphemisms rather than words that could offend your audience.

Question 54

If your cover letter states that you have excellent proofreading skills,a typographical error a nonverbal signal)will overshadow the actual message content.

Question 55

If what we say and what we do contradict,observers are likely to believe what we say.

Question 56

A message is not always transmitted accurately because of:

A)feedback
B)response
C)communication barriers
D)feedback mechanism
E)communication process

Question 57

Which of the following is an example of a response?

A)personality
B)culture
C)socioeconomic status
D)feedback giving to the sender by the audience
E)an individual's emotional state

Question 58

Which is an example of an internal communication need?

A)You read a memo from your supervisor requesting sales figures for the past five years.
B)While photocopying reports,you overhear two managers talking about upcoming layoffs.
C)Your office is too hot because the air conditioner isn't working properly.
D)You notice an intern pocketing money from the petty cash fund.
E)You dream about an idea for a new commercial to promote your company's product.

Question 59

An) is considered a conventional channel of communication.

A)web seminar
B)instant message
C)email
D)blog
E)tweet

Question 60

As a sender,you are encoding when you

A)select the medium for transmitting a verbal or nonverbal message.
B)eliminate noise out of an incoming communication need
C)notice and interpret an external or internal communication need
D)observe the destination of the message.
E)formulate a verbal or nonverbal response to a communication need.

Question 61

Which of the following is not a verbal barrier to communication?

A)inadequate Bloom's Knowledge
B)differences in interpretation
C)language differences
D)inappropriate use of expressions
E)specific,concrete words

Question 62

Texting may be useful for all of the following reasons except

A)providing fast client contact.
B)advertising your new product or service.
C)commenting during a speech by a client.
D)confirming deliveries.
E)sending important information in a meeting.

Question 63

Which of the following is not considered a rich medium for communication?

A)oral presentation
B)email
C)phone call
D)chat over coffee
E)formal department meeting

Question 64

Which of the following is not a relationship consideration helpful in selecting communication media?

A)Is this message confidential or private?
B)Do you need the message documented?
C)How urgent is the message?
D)Are you building a relationship with the audience?
E)How is the audience likely to react?

Question 65

Which statement about the grapevine is correct?

A)It moves information rapidly through the organization.
B)It is less active during times of uncertainty,such as layoffs,mergers,and branch closings.
C)Most of the information communicated through the grapevine pertains to personal matters.
D)Information spread through the grapevine is usually incomplete.
E)It is not an important communication network in large organizations.

Question 66

Which of the following is another term for the grapevine?

A)upward communication network
B)lateral communication network
C)horizontal communication network
D)downward communication network
E)informal communication network

Question 67

You are using the grapevine when you

A)ask top management,during a company meeting,about the company's recent merger.
B)write a memo to your boss suggesting how to publicize the company's recent merger.
C)post a news release on your company's website announcing its recent merger.
D)write an article for your company's newsletter,quoting the CEO's comments about the recent merger.
E)discuss the company's recent merger while you carpool with a coworker.

Question 68

If you put on a puzzled look as a coworker tries to explain the company's new sick-leave policy,you are

A)using a nonverbal medium to filter the message.
B)adding noise to the communication environment.
C)providing an internal communication need for your audience.
D)simultaneously sending and receiving a message.
E)eliminating the feedback portion of the process.

Question 69

When a message you transmit reaches its destination,it becomes

A)a response for the audience.
B)a communication need for the audience.
C)a medium for the audience.
D)a filter for the audience.
E)a communication channel for the audience.

Question 70

communication occurs when peers within a department share ideas,coordinate activities,and negotiate differences.

A)Upward
B)Downward
C)Lateral
D)Vertical
E)Outsourced

Question 71

Which of the following statements is not true of technology-based communication?

A)Companies will often use multiple communication channels.
B)A podcast provides short text files for downloading.
C)Wikis are online spaces where people collaborate.
D)Instant messaging allows you to know when someone is available for a quick response.
E)Social networking sites are used by people of all ages.

Question 72

A microblog cannot help you

A)present the company's perspective on a current issue.
B)report breaking news.
C)convey a complex,nuanced message.
D)respond to a customer's questions without delay.
E)connect with customers.

Question 73

As a department head,you cannot assume that your downward communication is

A)being received and understood by other department heads.
B)offering employees the opportunity to air grievances.
C)received and understood by people who report to you.
D)sharing complete information with your peers.
E)an informal network trusted by employees.

Question 74

is synchronous,overlapping communication.

A)Multicommunication
B)Geolocating
C)Instant messaging
D)Posting to Facebook
E)Handing out printed flyers

Question 75

Which of the following is an example of lateral communication?

A)Your supervisor sends you an email that lists your strengths and weaknesses.
B)Three state senators discuss the pros and cons of passing new laws against hate crimes.
C)The vice president of marketing prepares a report to share with the marketing representatives.
D)You respond to an internal survey conducted by a colleague from another department.
E)You prepare a year-end sales report for your supervisor's approval.

Question 76

A computer-support specialist who sends an email to other computer-support specialists in the same company about the need for training on the latest software is engaging in communication.

A)upward
B)downward
C)lateral
D)matrix
E)nonverbal

Question 77

Which of the following is a verbal barrier to communication?

A)A person's body language does not correspond with his spoken message.
B)Audience interpretation of a message is not the same as the sender's interpretation.
C)Two individuals have differing perceptions of a manager's comments based on their personal experiences with her.
D)People are not focusing on a convention speaker because the seats are too small and are placed too close together.
E)A customer service representative has a prejudice against customers who have a southern accent.

Question 78

Savvy managers respond to the grapevine in their organization by

A)slowing down the free flow of information.
B)identifying the filters that affect employees' perceptions.
C)sharing all news with employees,whether positive or negative.
D)counteracting the horizontal flow of information.
E)extending the network to the top of the organization.

Question 79

Which of the following is not a true statement about social media?

A)It encourages online interaction.
B)It is widely used among Fortune Global 100 companies.
C)Most online participants are teens and young adults.
D)It is based upon second-generation web 2.0)technologies.
E)Much of the online content is user-generated.

Question 80

Which of the following is not a reason why upward communication is important?

A)It provides feedback to let receivers know that lateral messages have been received and understood.
B)It helps managers recognize whether lower-level employees received and correctly interpreted downward messages.
C)It gives managers information they need to make critical decisions.
D)It provides opportunities for employees to offer input,make suggestions,and air grievances.
E)It allows information to flow from lower levels to higher levels of the organization.