Deck 2: Focusing on Interpersonal and Group Communication

Question 1

Listening commonly consumes more of a business employee's time than reading, writing, and speaking combined.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

A task force is an example of a long-standing team or group.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

According to the situational leadership model, a leader who listens, communicates, recognizes, and encourages is demonstrating directive behavior.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Major distinctions between a group and a team are the members' cooperative attitude and level of commitment.

Question 5

A manager who constantly emphasizes punctuality to subordinates arrives late to meetings. The nonverbal message will be more strongly believed by the subordinates.

Question 6

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, people generally satisfy lower level needs before they move on to higher level needs.

Question 7

When a confidant shows that he or she can be trusted, it leads to an expansion of the open area of the Johari Window.

Question 8

A student who is listening to instructions for a homework assignment should be using casual listening skills.

Question 9

The comment "I have never heard you speak so well" may be perceived by listeners as containing a negative metacommunication.

Question 10

Given enough time, all groups advance through the four stages of team development that include forming, storming, norming, and performing.

Question 11

While research has not determined the optimal number of members for effective group work, an odd number offers some advantage.

Question 12

Despite the growth in popularity of electronic meetings, face-to-face meetings continue to be the most-used meeting format in most organizations.

Question 13

Performance appraisal interviews between supervisors and employees frequently combine listening intensively and empathetic listening.

Question 14

People constantly send meaning through kinesic communication which is expressed by nonverbal behavior.

Question 15

The terms role and status are used interchangeably to indicate the part people play in the organization.

Question 16

Kelly, who is on Team A, constantly complains and criticizes her team members; she is playing the role of detractor.

Question 17

Effective listening involves observing nonverbal communication as well as hearing the verbal message.

Question 18

Empathetic listening is enhanced when the participants exhibit trust and friendship.

Question 19

Lilly is told by her supervisor that she is doing a good job while his body language suggests he is distracted and in a hurry; she will tend to believe the verbal message more than the nonverbal.

Question 20

In a flat organization structure, communicating among the cross-disciplinary teams becomes more important than upward and downward communication.

Question 21

Which of the following is true concerning Maslow's theory?

A) People are motivated to satisfy needs at various levels in no particular order.
B) Maslow recognized eight levels of human needs.
C) Most people in U.S. society have satisfied all their levels of needs.
D) Effective managers recognize ways to help people satisfy their needs.

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a bad listening habit?

A) Faking attention
B) Thinking ahead
C) Overlistening
D) All are bad listening habits

Question 23

Preeti is having a business lunch with Jose to discuss the downsizing of the manufacturing plant in South America. Preeti is expecting an important call on her cell phone during the lunch and answers her phone several times. Preeti is not listening attentively to Jose most likely because of the following listening problem:

A) Faking attention
B) Allowing disruptions
C) Overlistening
D) Stereotyping

Question 24

Supervisor Janet tells Juan, "Don't be late for work." Janet's probable metacommunication is

A) "I'm in charge here."
B) "You are frequently late for work and this is a warning."
C) "This is America, not Mexico."
D) "I know are doing your best to be on time."

Question 25

The most important message in the Johari Window theory is that

A) trust and openness lead to better communication between people.
B) there are things we don't know about ourselves that others know.
C) people engage in communication in hopes that the outcome may lead to mutual trust, pleasure, and psychological well-being.
D) decision-making power should be distributed to the people closest to the problem.

Question 26

Electronic meetings are preferred to face-to-face meetings when group efforts are just beginning and members are trying to build group values.

Question 27

As a student, you are concerned with making a good grade in your economics class. However, instead of taking copious notes, you outline the major points and try to listen and watch the speaker as much as possible. What type of listening are you engaged in?

A) Casual listening
B) Listening for information
C) Intensive listening
D) Empathetic listening

Question 28

According to Abraham Maslow, the desire to contribute through philanthropic channels is an example of satisfying

A) social needs.
B) safety needs.
C) self-actualizing needs.
D) ego needs.

Question 29

A job applicant appears for an interview in wrinkled clothing. What nonverbal message is the interviewer most likely to receive?

A) He didn't care enough to look his best.
B) He will dress better once hired.
C) He is a busy person.
D) He is not concerned about physical appearance.

Question 30

Management exercising strong control and motivating its employees through external incentives such as a paycheck are reflective of the ____ style.

A) Theory X
B) Theory Y
C) Situational leadership
D) Total Quality Management

Question 31

Consensus is the collective opinion of a group, even though each member may not agree with every aspect of the decision.

Question 32

An ultimate requirement of listening for information is that the listener

A) is judgmental.
B) takes copious notes.
C) avoids focusing on nonverbal cues.
D) is able to separate fact from fiction and humor from seriousness.

Question 33

After earning a scholarship for your superior grades in school, you receive a congratulatory letter from the dean. This communication interaction would be considered

A) a negative stroke.
B) a positive stroke.
C) a Theory X incentive.
D) a directive behavior.

Question 34

Which of the following is consistent with McGregor's Theory Y management style?

A) Workers are concerned only about satisfying lower-level needs.
B) Workers are motivated best by extrinsic incentives.
C) Management exercises strong control with little emphasis on the individual.
D) Management strives to balance control and individual freedom.

Question 35

Robin, task force chair, tells team member Aaron "your proposed solution to this problem is great." Robin's probable metacommunication to Aaron is

A) "You are the most intelligent member of this task force."
B) "Your idea is really not that good."
C) "You have previously expressed weak ideas."
D) "You have expressed consistently good ideas."

Question 36

Jakeel is a new sales representative with Sensations, Inc. He attends a regional sales meeting, followed by a reception. He converses with three new sales people and an hour later forgets their names. This is an example of the following bad listening habit:

A) Faking attention: he pretends to listen but misses the message.
B) Empathetic listening: he is unable to be objective because her emotions are in the way.
C) Stereotyping: the speakers did not meet his standards, so he prejudged them.
D) Failing to observe nonverbal aids: he does not take note of the body language of the sales reps.

Question 37

As the vice-president of marketing, Aricella gives her employees freedom to make their own decisions and encourages them to express their opinions in meetings. Aricella is a

A) Type A manager.
B) Type X manager.
C) Type Y manager.
D) Type Z manager.

Question 38

Which of the following is appropriate etiquette when listening?

A) Restate in your own words what you think the speaker has said.
B) Interrupt the speaker when a misstatement is made.
C) Frequently break eye contact with the speaker.
D) None of the above are appropriate listening etiquette.

Question 39

Using an electronic meeting process can reduce meeting time significantly.

Question 40

Which of the following statements about nonverbal messages is FALSE?

A) Nonverbal messages cannot be avoided.
B) Nonverbal messages may be beneficial or harmful.
C) Nonverbal messages may be intentional or unintentional.
D) Nonverbal messages are consistent across cultures.

Question 41

The MOST important reason for teams to utilize agendas and minutes is that

A) participants know what is expected of them and can track, follow up, and ensure implementation of decisions made in previous meetings.
B) written records prove to company owners that meetings aren't a waste of time.
C) written records clear team members of any legal challenges that may arise.
D) written records assure that each member participates equally.

Question 42

Which of the following stages of team development is often NOT experienced, even in long-term teams?

A) Storming
B) Performing
C) Norming
D) Brainstorming

Question 43

In Total Quality Management (TQM) programs, the emphasis is on

A) distributing the decision-making power throughout the organization.
B) limiting the role of each employee in the organization.
C) increasing functional and departmental boundaries.
D) eliminating the middle management layer.

Question 44

Describe five positive team roles. How does their presence in a team help conteract negative roles that might emerge?

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of effective groups?

A) Members have common goals.
B) Members are flexible in the roles they assume.
C) Members establish norms for behavior and expectations.
D) Members compete for the leadership position.

Question 46

Explain the increasing use of groups and teams in U.S. businesses.

Question 47

You are about to conduct a formal meeting with 25 attendees in the boardroom. What guide would you use to ensure orderly communication of ideas and participation?

A) Building High Performance Teams
B) The APA Style Manual
C) Robert's Rules of Order
D) The organizational chart

Question 48

Guidelines for effective meetings include

A) limiting meeting length and frequency.
B) eliminating conflict.
C) preparing an agenda immediately following each meeting.
D) seeking unanimous agreement on all important issues.

Question 49

Effective Communication with Telecommuter
Sue has worked from home for four years, taking phone orders for a national catalog retailer. Sue feels unappreciated for her efforts and detached from management and coworkers. In times past, Sue's performance had been very efficient, responsible, on-time, and reliable. Lately, however, her performance has faltered. Monitors listening in to her calls find she is not selling the new additional offers, as now is required. Using the theories discussed in the chapter as a basis for comment, how would you as Sue's supervisor motivate her to higher productivity and satisfaction?

Question 50

Which of the following facts makes listening difficult?

A) The human ear is unable to keep up with the speech rate of most speakers.
B) Our minds process much faster than a speaker can talk.
C) The listener often thinks ahead to anticipate future points and evaluate the ideas heard.
D) Making written notes short circuits the listening activity.

Question 51

In a team with representatives from many different departments in a company, the director of human resources keeps tension low among members. The director of human resources is fulfilling which role in the team?

A) Facilitator
B) Harmonizer
C) Leader
D) Reporter

Question 52

Negative Metacommunications
In the past few months, Rhamel has frequently called in sick to work. He has received medical treatment for a respiratory infection, but the infection continues to reoccur. He has missed several important deadlines and his sick leave is dwindling quickly. Rhamel's supervisor has been patient and supportive through this illness, but other employees have recently been asked to handle Rhamel's work in addition to their own workload. Co-workers have started to feel resentful and this is evident in their nonverbal communication with Rhamel when he is at work. Give two examples of negative metacommunication and three examples of kinesic messages that coworkers may communicate to Rhamel that express their frustration and resentment.

Question 53

Which of the following is FALSE concerning leadership in teams?

A) Leaders are optional when an organization moves to a group concept.
B) The ability of a group leader to work toward task goals while contributing to the development of group and individual goals is often critical to group success.
C) Leadership may be shared among several participants.
D) The leader establishes norms and provides motivation for effective group activity.

Question 54

In your management training classes, you have noticed that a significant number of trainees seem to be gaining little value from the sessions. Devise an activity that emphasizes how poor listening habits undermine effective communication.

Question 55

Which of the following is a characteristic of Total Quality Management (TQM)?

A) Decision making power is centrally controlled.
B) Functional or departmental boundaries are minimized.
C) Cross-disciplinary teams are dismantled.
D) Teams perform narrowly focused tasks.

Question 56

Which of the following describes the major difference between teams and groups?

A) Members of teams generally have a higher commitment to the overall goal than do members of groups.
B) Teams are usually smaller than groups.
C) Teams do not require leaders, while groups do.
D) Teams exist indefinitely while groups exist for a limited period of time.

Question 57

Which of the following is FALSE concerning face-to-face meetings?

A) Face-to-face meetings make it harder to reach consensus.
B) Face-to-face meetings are helpful when communicating sensitive issues.
C) Face-to-face meetings help establish group rapport.
D) Face-to-face meetings are preferred to electronic meetings when participants don't know each other.

Question 58

You are the supervisor of an employee who just learned that she did not receive the promotion she had anticipated. You call her into your office and ask her to discuss her reaction. What type of listening are you engaged in?

A) Casual listening
B) Listening for information
C) Intensive listening
D) Empathetic listening

Question 59

Which of the following stages of team development is marked by optimal performance levels?

A) Forming
B) Norming
C) Performing
D) In an effective team, all stages are marked by peak performance

Question 60

Competition is a standard way of life in U.S. companies, both internally and externally. What happens in a company when this competitive attitude becomes a "win/lose" philosophy? How can management help develop a "win/win" philosophy toward internal competition?